the Affair

Party Around the World

Are you hungry for travel? Do you thrive on experimenting with new cuisines? Embrace your curiosity and throw an "Around the World with a Fork" dinner party.

Start the preparation by choosing a different country/region for each course you will be serving. Love Thai food? Try Yum Hoi Mang Pu (Mussel Salad) for an appetizer. Take your guests to Greece for the main course, and serve Lavraki sto Fourno se Harti, (Herbed Sea Bass baked in paper). For dessert, why not visit Germany with Pflaumenkuchen (Plum Pie).

Of course, no meal is complete without a cocktail or wine, so be sure to pair each course with a complimentary drink. I like to begin the evening with a cocktail, then graduate to wine with the main course, and finish the evening with a liqueur or ice wine. A rule of thumb to follow relates to where your food comes from; if you are serving a tapas of Jamón Serrano, it makes sense to pair it with a wine from that region, such as a young Rioja. When in doubt, try pairing your dishes with beer - New Belgium Brewing Company has some great ideas.

To really set the mood of each unique region, be sure to feature music from the corresponding country with each course. You'd be surprised how a little "Ooompah!" music can really get the party started!

Finish your evening with a goodie bag for your guests, filled with a CD containing the evenings playlist and recipes for the meal. ไชโย!, Yamas and Prost!

- Kiersa Notz, Creative Director, the Affair