PARTY TIMES

We're having guests 

for dinner on Friday!!!

Friday is an easy night to get together. The workweek is over.  We can all relax over a bottle of wine and a decadent dessert. Recently we've been having friends over for dinner a lot! And I love it!! Nothing better than a home-cooked meal shared amongst friends in the comfortable atmosphere of your own home!

I love to entertain and here I am sharing some simple tips to have a love-filled meal with extended family and your circle of friends:

Tip 1. …yet be flexible.

Know of a family member who’s allergic to fish? Or a friend who’s turned vegan? Keep that in mind when planning the menu for the dinner. A little thoughtfulness can go a long way in making family members and friends feel really special.

The most important thing to remember is that guests will try to make your time as simple as possible, and often respond with lines such as “I’ll eat anything!” or “Whatever you want!” The key to being a good host is anticipating things, and not accepts that your vegetarian friend “Doesn’t care if there is bacon in that”. A little time and effort will make your dinner better than any fancy soho dinner.

Tip 2. Make food you rock.

It may sound like a dream to serve cheese souffle, but unless you’ve mastered it you might end up serving cheese soup. Make your signature never-fail dish (or at least something simple) and you’ll be guaranteed success.

Tip 3. Make it special.

So you make your signature dish? Don’t eat it on same way like if you would be on Sunday night catching up on magazine reading. Sit at the table, add some flowers and nice candles; a simple meal becomes a special event. Hong Kong offers a lot of place to find nice and cheap tableware!  

If you rock in the kitchen prepare some nice starters! Fresh guacamole is always a win bet. You also can rock by trying a pack of ready guacamole or hummus with grissini or pita bread for starts before to go in to the table.

Tip 4. …the extra bits.

Dishes aren’t the only important foodie items. Make sure to have your guest’s favorite staples (orange or apple juice, coffee or tea, red or white wine).

Drinks. Try some easy and exotic drinks to warm up the night. I would offer some sparkling wine with chopped strawberries. If you guest are not drinking alcohol, try some bubbles with sparkling water, cranberry juice and some fresh blue berries. Those drinks are so easy and nice, even for somebody who is new in the kitchen arts, like my friend Yuri.

Add some nice color napkins and a very nice tablecloth; try the local markets of Hong Kong or the souvenir shops to find something on the budget.

Tip 5. Be home-y

Make your guest feel at home. Always offer them something, even if you aren’t hungry.  If your guest feels at home, the pressure is off, so even if you do attempt that soufflé, a fail wouldn’t be so bad.

Friday night is the perfect time to pull out your casual dinner party ideas. Everyone is glad it’s the end of the week and nobody expects gourmet. In fact they probably prefer to come over, pour a glass of wine and gather round as you pull together easy dinner party ideas. Enjoy!

by Paola. 

Hong Kong Party Dinners.

PARTY TIMES

Perfect Birthday Party Pictures!!

SAY CHEESE!!!

Party season is here and we were inspired to write this post for two reasons.. first our own lil’ babes are turning one this summer, and second, because one of our close mom friends asked us the question: “What should I take pictures of at my daughter’s birthday party?”

So, here are some hints to focus on at your kid’s next birthday party

1. Let me start with this important idea…. Consider giving someone else your camera, a friend, your neighbor someone who isn’t responsible for serving food, cake, or chasing around a little one of their own.   Tell them to take lots of photos and to not hold back…. Remember it doesn’t cost anything for them to snap away and you can delete and edit them all later.   This way, you will be in the shots too.   If it’s not important to you, trust me it will be important to your children someday that they see you with them in photos, especially during these important events. 

2. The birthday boy or girl!  Lots of fun shots of them clapping, running, jumping around, rocking the party hat and/or outfits!  Playing with their friends. Opening gifts. Being silly… being a kid.

3. If the baby or birthday kid did in fact dig in and is covered with frosting and cake…. Get shots of their hands, close ups of their face, and anything covered in frosting.  Close up is key!  Don’t forget the before and after shots!

4. Family members, especially those that are aging, grandparents, great grandparents.  Anyone that you don’t see on a regular basis or may have traveled to come see you and be there for the party!If possible, get a generations shot… (3 or 4 generations all in one picture together) the baby/child, you, your parent(s), and their parent(s).

5. A fun group shot of all the kids together – forget about getting a perfect shot, the madness of it all is what will make this shot memorable and fun. Some kids will be looking and smiling, others might be crying, others yet will be totally distracted. (If they are old enough tell them to all make goofy faces on the count of 3)  That’s the fun of it!

6. Décor – balloons, favors, plates, cups, and the food table prior to anyone digging in.  Don’t forget the cake and the gifts!

7. Blow bubbles, lots of them even using a fancy bubble machine.  Take pictures of the kids chasing them down and blowing bubbles themselves!  Move around with them, it’s important to get different angles.  For a time, get down on the ground aiming up capturing them reaching high to pop the bubble.  Then stand up or even get on a step stool or picnic table bench and, get the shot aiming down through the bubbles capturing their amazed and anxious face as they reach for the sky!

8. Adults gathered in groups to catch up or for conversation. It will be fun to look back on who you were hanging out with at that time in your life.  Years down the road, it may be meaningful and inspire you to get back in touch with someone you lost contact with over time.  It will be meaningful and insightful for your children to see the people that were there, that everyone was having a great time, and fun to see your social circle at that time in your lives.

I personally really love looking at older photos, not only of the people in them, but the objects in the photos that speak to the time period.  Great pictures can be fun later on when the kids can look back in to the memories!!