Food Fun and Love

CATEGORY >

BY MICHELLE NOWAK, EVENT PRODUCER, GOOD GRACIOUS! EVENTS
You know it's summer when the lobster dinnerware, and nautical colors hit the stores and even better, we'll create any excuse for a BBQ!! Sarah and Chris growing up on the East Coast could think of nothing more exciting than to see their East Coast friends and family enjoy a Lobster/Clam Bake West Coast Style for their Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, and where better to host it than on the MALIBU PIER!! With a full moon and summer breeze, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect summer night!
Guests were welcomed by The Cape Codder and McGoo Signature Cocktails waiting for them on the upper deck above the pier and overlooking the magnificant ocean and Malibu beach, a view you can't beat even if you tried. As the surfers soaked up the last waves before the sun went down, guests enjoyed hors d' ouevres of Celery Bay Popcorn served in Lobster Cones, Clam Choweder Oyster Cracker Shooters, Lobster Mac n Cheese, and Crab Cakes , lined up on service trays with Anchor images giving the finishing touch.
Cocktail tables where tied with a Square Knot and buoys of blue yellow, red and white lined the white fences to feel like you were about to board a yacht! Guests were asked to dress in Nautical colors and sailor gear.
For dinner we constructed a long tent down the length of the pier with fellini lights strung above,creating the perfect ambiance for a casual yet intimate gathering. The tables were lined in blue linens, with white accents, nautical centerpieces of fish netting, buoys light houses and flowers picked up the pop of yellow with boat rope tied around. To finsh off the place setting, delicious cherry Lobster Lollipops for each guest to take home and enjoy!
Dinner consisted of all the summer favorites bbq chicken, corn on the cob , ceasar salad, confetti rice and black bean salad, and of course lobster and clam rolls!
Chris & Sarah's jobs takes them all over the globe. With Bride Sarah as part of the Clue Crew on the game show Jeopardy,on the show she offers remote clues for the contestants all over the world. Her co-host on the show, Jimmy McGuire, was her emcee for the evening. He came prepared with questions and answers about the couple which had everyone rolling in laughter with his great impersonation of Johnny Carson’s The Great Karnak.
The evening was unforgettable and we felt honored to be a part of it! Congrats to Sarah and Chris!
Thanks for amazing photos from Chris Schmidt Photography!!
Share on:
By Pauline Parry

Every year  Wildflower Linen puts on a fashion show in Orange County using owner and creative director Youngsong Martin's fabulous linens as the dresses. It's a lot of fun and is always on trend. In this case, the mixture of pastel tones, lace looks, taper candles, silver and low floral centerpieces was the perfect forecast the next season of event "fashion."

The guests were the ladies of Chapman University. The Mille Fiori designed the flowers and Good Gracious! Events created a menu rich with style and taste (and just a touch of humor). 
 
PREVIEW
Curried Lobster Cucumber Cup
lightly curried lobster nestled
in a crisp cucumber cup topped
with watermelon radish
Mac and Cheese Sturgeon Cup Cake
petite mac and cheese cup cake topped
with American sturgeon caviar a
pearl of crème fraiche

Spinach Chicken Fortune “Cookie”
baby spinach with a ginger chicken sriracha
hoisin mixture nestled in a crispy wonton
“cookie” served with a fortune

 

BEGIN
Sweet Pea and Caprese Salad
new season sweet pea soup with a touch of
tarragon served with grape heirloom tomatoes
with burrata and virgin olive oil aged balsamic
glaze and basil sprig


The details, such as this napkin ring carried by Wildflower Linen, were stunning.


MAIN
Lemon Pepper Salmon
pan roasted lemon pepper salmon roulade
served on a golden cauliflower grainy mustard
mash topped with a nest of new
season asparagus sticks

Dessert! Perhaps one of the more popular runway looks.


INDULGE
Espresso Cappuccino Milkshake Float
espresso with caramel ice cream shake topped
with a vanilla cream float served with
chocolate hazelnut flatbread with pistachio cream



Photos by Gene Higa



Share on:
By Pauline Parry

Ooo la la, she's having a bebe! In honor of my son, Ross, and daughter-in-law, Lauren, who will be having a baby boy this summer, several friends and I threw a Parisian bebe shower at the magical showroom of Rrivre Works.


Where else in Los Angeles can one say "meet me under the Eiffel Tower?" 

Guests entered the party through a wrought-iron gate and after getting a glass of champagne ...
...or blueberry lemonade, donned berets and joined their amis for the beginning of a lovely lunch.
 The hostesses!

A flower cart was a charming buffet filled with an assortment of French cheeses and gourmet popcorn and illuminated with vintage white lanterns.

The dining table was set with a menu card branded with the same look as the invitation. Blue martini glasses and blue and white floral arrangements by Gina Kim-Park from The Mille Fiori were the perfect French accent!



 
 MENU
from the flower cart
 
Truffle Oil Popcorn
freshly popped popcorn
drizzled with
 truffle Oil

 
Cheese Gone Wild
st andre
roquefort
cantel
chevre
served with
crostini
ficelle baguettes
fig jam
candied pecans
dried apricots


TRAY PASS
Baby Croque Monsieur
croque monsieur with
country ham, gruyere cheese sandwiched
in petite toasted baguette

Red Pepper Shallot Tart Tatin
pinot noir balsamic glazed
roasted shallot and red pepper
served on a puff pastry shell


BEGIN


The French Connection
heirloom tomato salad roquefort and basil
french onion soup with fennel puff pastry crust

MAIN
Chicken Paillard Mustard
grilled organic boneless breast of
chicken with crispy skin rubbed with tons of herbs finished
with a demi glaze of mustard seed sauce
pommes frites sea salt pepper and pencil asparagus

SWEET ENDING
Champs Elysee Martini Sundae
crème brulee ice cream with hazelnut brittle
chocolate cups filled with toppings of
blue jelly beans, blue m& ms, blue sprinkles, dried blueberries, blueberry syrup

AFTER
Truffles and Marshmallow Lollipops
dark chocolate with hazelnut praline and
 white chocolate apricot truffles
fun marshmallow lollipop flavors


Share on:
  • ← Previous post
  • Next Post →
  • FOOD is my passion. I have FUN with my team and my clients and I LOVE what I do! For me, it really is all about FOOD, FUN and LOVE!
  • Our Mission... To create Fabulous Events & Delicious food for an Exceptional Experience
140x140

Pauline Parry

Founder Good Gracious! Events

About Pauline

Educated in the prestigious British hotel and restaurant management tradition, Pauline is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of GOOD GRACIOUS! Events. Professional event planners, private clients, and corporations - both nationally and internationally - seek out her innovative expertise and imaginative concepts.


GOOD GRACIOUS! Events was established over three decades ago and is an award-winning full-service LIFESTYLE food and beverage company that has earned the trust of a diverse set of clients and has a reputation for being a trendsetter in producing unique, quality and fabulous presentations in all aspects of weddings and events.


Pauline has been inducted into the Catering industry Hall of Fame for Events and Weddings and has published a book called FOOD FUN LOVE Party Styles.


Facebook Twitter Gplus RSS

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM


Joanne Purnell

Joanne Purnell
Vice President

About Joanne

Joanne Purnell is a graduate of the California Culinary Institute and before joining GG! Events worked and traveled in England and Paris to gain working experience.


Joanne has been Chef de Cuisine for nearly 20 years at GG! Events and during this time she has won numerous awards including Chef of the Year. She has been published in magazines on various food topics including presentation, trends and all aspects of cooking and is a contributor for, “Inside the Recipe Box of Catering Chefs”


Joanne is an educator in the catering industry and is regarded as a leader. Today, Joanne is Vice President at Good Gracious! Events.


Blog Archive

  • ►  2020 (4)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2019 (34)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2018 (49)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (4)
    • ►  September (4)
    • ►  August (5)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2017 (5)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (2)
  • ►  2016 (1)
    • ►  December (1)
  • ►  2014 (2)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2013 (8)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ▼  2012 (20)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ▼  July (3)
      • NAUTICAL STRIPES & LOBSTER BITES!!
      • A Luncheon Fashionably On Time and Trend
      • A Baby Shower with a French Accent
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2011 (34)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2010 (18)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2009 (4)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (3)
latest posts

Other Good Reads ...For Foodies

  • Food52
    How to Break the Ice, Not the Vibe at Your Next Dinner Party
  • i am a food blog
    Chinese Chicken Salad
  • A Cozy Kitchen
    Strawberry Biscuits
  • Recipes
    11 Cocktails to Make By the Batch
  • Donna Hay

For Wedding Inspiration

  • Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog
    Organic Romance Meets Modern Elegance at La Casa Toscana
    19 hours ago
  • Wedding International Professional Associaiton
    07 Nov 2022 : Wedding MBA
    2 years ago
  • Spendid Communications
    Measure What Matters
    8 years ago
  • Real Weddings | California Wedding Day

For Ideas and Inspiration...

  • The Business of Being Creative
    Episode 216: The Intention Reception Paradox
  • The Wedding Biz
    532 ANDY KUSHNER: Goodbye for Now
Copyright © Food Fun and Love