We’ve come across some designer’s entertaining tips for upcoming holidays that appear to be confusing.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve-they are creeping up on the calendar and that means the season of entertaining, including breakfasts, brunches, lunches, cocktail parties, dinners, and whatever other creative event you can imagine. The November issue of House Beautiful is build as the Ultimate Entertaining Issue and covers everything from soup to nuts! Designers, party planners, authors, bloggers, actors, shop owners and probably some other people I’ve missed, have offered their ideas about 101 party do’s and don’ts. The problem is that some contradict others. Here are some examples.
Designer Richard Mishaan advises not to just serve white liquors due to fear of spills. On the other hand, Robert Couturier, architect and designer, says his grandmother did a lot of entertaining and said, “Serve only white-colored liquors and wines so they don’t stain.”
“Get everything ready the day before” says designer Suzanne Kasler for her entertaining tips. But Ruth Reich, former editor of Gourmet magazine writes that she finds that the best parties involve a degree of serendipity. She tries to leave some things to be done so guests can pitch in and help in the kitchen. She says it’s a great ice-breaker. I guess it depends on the type of party.
As far as party attire goes, Chesie Breen of clovermag.com thinks it’s safer to give guests an idea of what to wear instead of saying, “Whatever you’re comfortable in” unless you want to chance them showing up in their PJ’s. It seems designer Larry Laslo is willing to take that chance stating, “Don’t impose a dress code on people. What is dressy attire anymore? Forget it-leave them to their own devices and just see what turns up.”
How many to invite for dinner? Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan of The Kitchen.com by Apartment Therapy, thinks the perfect number is six to eight. That assures festive conversation without it always splitting up. Designer Andrew Fisher would assure festive conversation by crowding the table a little with more people. That way no one can ignore their neighbor.
Once at the table, “Don’t be a bore. Don’t monopolize the conversation.”, admonishes designer Eric Cohler. Designer Sara Story suggests moving to another room for dessert and coffee thereby creating a new atmosphere and keeping the flow of the evening going.
But designer Michael S. Smith doesn’t agree. “Don’t move people around too much. If you move people off the dining table it can be sort of a cue to leave and can break up the conversations.”
Now, is all this perfectly clear? Not to worry. There is agreement about some entertaining issues. Don’t be late and don’t wait for late guests because people resent being hungry. Don’t use plastic and never use paper napkins.
Don’t try a new recipe for a party. Be sure to soften the lighting and have a music play-list that lasts the entire evening at a comfortable volume. No colored or scented candles. Turn off all cell phones. Don’t leave without saying good-bye to the host. Continue being polite after the affair by writing a thank you note but not (one of my pet peeves) on a note emblazoned with the words THANK YOU. If, heaven forbid, I didn’t have any stationery in the house, I’d fold or cut a sheet of white paper and stick a snippet of a Casart wallcovering design on the front. (I amaze myself sometimes when I discover new uses for this wallpaper.)
One of my favorite decorators, Peter Dunham, is interviewed in the same issue for one of his designs featured in a piece titled Warm Welcome. Peter was asked what kind of party he’s like to give in the home. His entertaining tips answer, “I’d have a full-moon dinner buffet outside for 75 people with lots of candles and lanterns and Great Gatsby-era music. I could see Cary Grant and Grace Kelly tumbling in after playing tennis to have a swim. Jake Gyllenhaal will have been sunning himself by the pool, and Reese Witherspoon will be there. It’s very all-American. It’s in L.A., but I could have created it in Greenwich, Connecticut.” Peter, who is known for his easy, at-home entertaining style, even shared a recipe for Shepherd’s Pie, which he makes when he invites friends for a casual dinner.
Whew! I feel like I’ve been reading Emily Post. I’d love an invitation to one of Peter’s dinners but, for now, I’m going to serve myself some take out in its styrofoam carton. I’ll use regular utensils, not the plastic ones that came with the food, but I will use the paper napkin provided because it’s a generous size instead of one of those itsy bitsy ones. And like Scarlet, I’ll worry about the holidays tomorrow!
– Lorre Lei
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