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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Kitchen Diva

partysugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:15:46 -0800

She's the queen of the kitchen, can whip up a double chocolate souffle while sleeping, and has dined at Momofuko Ko, David Chang's notoriously difficult-to-get-into restaurant, twice. Think there's nothing to get this kitchen diva - the girl whose been there, done that, got the t-shirt? Think again! She'll swoon at the site of a fabulously frilly apron and will die and go to heaven when she holds a bottle of the coveted cult classic 2004 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Or wow her with this "Red Diva" espresso machine: she'll have wonderfully fresh espresso at the push of a button!

Get more gift ideas in the widget below, or head to HolidaySugar for gift guides galore!

YumSugar Gift Guide: Bring a Little Dinner Party Cheer

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:18:31 -0800

If you're the eater in a dinner-party relationship - the person who comes over to chow down - then you may want to thank your entertainer by adding them to your holiday list. You could opt for a nice bottle of wine, but since that is so obvious, why not get them something a little more unique? There are quite a few things for the dinner party enthusiast, you can surprise them with this clever baguette tray and knife ($38) - it is a bit specialized, but is still a load of fun - or splurge and get them a new set of placemats. These Chinoiserie ones from DwellTable ($88) are a bit pricey, but absolutely charming. Scroll through the list for more dinner-party gift ideas.

Two-Tiered Dessert Server ($19.95)	Baguette Tray & Knife ($38)
Stainless Steel Champagne-Wine Bucket ($39.95)	Corelle Square 16-pc. Dinnerware Set - Simple Lines ($69.99)
DwellTable Chinoiserie Placemats ($88)	Riedel Vinum 7-Piece Gift Set ($99)

Happy Hour: Pommery POP America

partysugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:15:58 -0700

With its delightful dryness and light, fizzy body, it's easy to pledge your allegiance to Pommery POP Champagne ($11.99).

A stylish wine with a pale yellow color, POP has a floral nose, creamy mouth feel, and subtle citrus flavor. I like POP for its smooth drinkability; it's refreshing and tastes great on its own.

The French sparkler is perfect for everyday or commemorating a special occasion like the 4th of July - especially now that they've released an all-American bottle! Fill an ice bucket with a bunch of bottles for an instant festive centerpiece or bring a 4-pack to surprise your hostess.

Have you tasted POP? What did you think of this effervescent sparkler?

Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:15:51 -0800

Last year's Oscars was all about golden opulence and red accents, but this weekend the Governors Ball is looking East for inspiration. You can too, when you create the look for an Oscars viewing party. Start by running a red-carpet-like runner down the middle of your table. Serve the popcorn in a big white bowl and let guests help themselves by filling movie popcorn bags. Place the gourmet hot dogs on a pretty floral-printed plate. Metallic river stones and matching candles provide a zen, glowing atmosphere. Place champagne buckets around the room and serve the sparkling wine and cocktail in stemless champagne flutes. Throw plush pillows on the couch and arrange orchids in oversize tubular vases.

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Come Party With Me: Bedazzle Bonanza - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:15:34 -0700

At any party that involves being creative, set up several stations to create a smooth flow and promote mingling. There should be an area for Bedazzling, a place for food, and a bar with drinks. If necessary, bring in a folding table and use this as the crafting station. Cover with a plain tablecloth and Bedazzlers. Fill bowls with different colored rhinestones and studs.

On another table, serve the food on silver trays. Arrange glasses and champagne buckets near the cocktails. Don't forget paper napkins and a beautiful floral arrangement. Sprinkle turquoise drops in between the platters and on the tables.

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Chill Your Champagne, Stat!

YumSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:15:00 -0800

When you're celebrating the onset of 2009 tonight, don't fall short on chilled bubbly. If you've got a warm bottle of Champagne and very little time to make it cold, we've got a fast solution for you.

Place your sparkler into an ice bucket (or another tall plastic container). Add ice to the bottom and sprinkle the layer with a few tablespoons of salt. Continue to repeat layering ice and salt until the combination reaches the neck of your bottle; add water (the colder the better) until it reaches ice level.

In a mere ten minutes, your bottle will be chilled. This method of chilling works much faster than simply sitting the bubbly in ice. Adding water increases the chilly surface area, and salt speeds the drop in water temperature (along with ice), making your sparkling wine frigid much faster.

Have your own secret tip for chilling Champagne? If so, I'd love to hear it below.

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Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:50:41 -0800

At the Governors Ball, the majority of the stars will be sipping sparkling wine, so stock up on more affordable bottles of Cava or Prosecco. Place wine buckets around the room and fill with ice and bottles. Arrange champagne flutes or saucers nearby. Besides sparkling wine, three specialty cocktails will be poured at the Oscars afterparty. Select one to serve your friends. I like the Golden Rush, a concoction made with orange-flavored vodka, lemon juice, and sparkling wine.

Instead of mixing one libation at a time, prepare a large pitcher. For those who don't drink, serve a mocktail of cranberry juice mixed with lime soda. To check out the recipe for the Golden Rush, read more.

The Golden Rush
From Wolfgang Puck Catering

Ingredients

1/3 oz orange vodka
1/3 oz simple syrup
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Sparkling wine (recommended: Moët and Chandon White Star Champagne)

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the orange vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling wine.

Makes 1 drink.

Print recipe with images | without images

Off To Market Recap: Beer Bucket

partysugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:38:10 -0700

Although my dad finds it totally ridiculous that I can no longer put beer in a regular old cooler, I think it's practically an embarrassment that I don't have a chic little beer bucket yet ( I mean I'm PartySugar!). So, the time has come for me to buy one and I recently asked for your help. I told you I was looking for a versatile bucket (one party it may hold beer and the next party it may hold mini champagne) that is durable (it should last all summer holding the weight of ice and bottles), and fabulous (no corny designs or beer logos). I was delighted to discover that you guys found some really cool buckets.

From the classic monogrammed silver bucket, to the bucket inside a mosaic tiled table - I love and want them all. My favorite by far had to be the wine glass shaped acrylic bucket that mellie_608 bookmarked. It's totally glamorous and will look cool with bottles of wine or beers. Thanks to those who participated! To take a look at all that was found, scroll through the images below.

To learn how to bookmark cool stuff read geeksugar's easy to understand explanation.

Off To Market: Beer Bucket

partysugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:18:01 -0700

I'm planning on doing a lot of outdoor entertaining in the next few weeks. Instead of putting bottles of beer in a boring old everyday cooler, I desperately need a chic little beer bucket. I'm always writing about them when I plan the look for my parties, and yet I do not own one of my own. The time has come for me to buy one and I want you to help me find it. I want the bucket to be versatile (one party it may hold beer and the next party it may hold mini champagne), durable (it should last all summer holding the weight of ice and bottles), and fabulous (no corny designs or beer logos please). Bookmark the beer buckets you find in the Yum Market on TeamSugar tagging them with the keyword Beer Bucket.

To learn how to bookmark cool stuff read geeksugar's easy to understand explanation.

Come Party With Me: Engagement Party - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:59:13 -0700

One reason to choose a long engagement after your man pops the big question is so you can have an engagement party. This week I'm planning one for julieulie and her fiancé Scott who recently got engaged, but aren't getting married until Memorial Day 2008. I thought it would be fabulously fun and original to throw a dessert party instead of a typical dinner or cocktail party. Desserts as meals are an up and coming trend, and more and more restaurants that are devoted to only desserts are showing up all over the place.

Julie & Scott's close friends and family have received their invitations to the fiesta that will start on a Saturday night at 8:30. The menu will consist of a dazzling array of divine desserts including brownie cupcakes, strawberry shortcakes, and a cheese and fruit plate. The champagne will flow like water as the invitees toast Julie and Scott's eternal love. I've painted a pretty picture of this party, but what about the decor? To see my romantic, chic, and elegant ideas, read more

A bride that knows what she wants, Julie has already selected the colors of her wedding (light blue, white, and black), so I will use these to guide me in my decorating scheme. No worries if you have yet to decide the colors of your wedding, a simple color scheme of white, black and a bold or metallic accent color will work wonderfully. Likewise, there should be no pressure to stay with these colors if you suddenly change your mind and opt for different colors.

First find the location of the party. Will it be held in the intimate living room at the bride's parents' house or the large, modern kitchen at the groom's aunt's ranch? Walk around the space and envision a party there. Where can guests sit and chat? Where should the buffet be set up? Are there tables/counters for the champagne buckets and flutes? These are the types of questions you should be thinking when you envision your fete.
To adorn the dessert buffet, begin with a long flat table that will be your canvas to create a beautiful presentation of candies, cakes, fruits, and cheeses. Place upside down cardboard boxes and large pots on the table. With an over-sized satin tablecloth, or piece of light blue fabric, cover both the table and boxes/pots pressing the fabric down the sides of the boxes/pots. The look you will achieve is one with various heights and dimensions. Now the platters of brownies can be placed on a square box and the strawberry shortcakes in martini glasses can rest at a different height on a circular pedestal.

Fill small clear bowls with the couples favorite grocery store candies: white m&m's, silver chocolate kisses, blue jelly beans.
Large clear vases in diverse shapes, a few oval, a few square, maybe one triangular, will create a stunning background when filled with water and one simple long stemmed flower such as a white orchid or gardenias. Place the flowers on each end of the buffet tables and on windowsills, banquets, or small coffee tables.

Don't forget small white plates, white napkins, and silver spoons for the dessert table.
Black accents in the form of satin ribbons, velvet pillows, and mesh runners will add a touch of mysterious sophistication.
A glowing and warm atmosphere is necessary and to achieve, so light as many candles, votives, tapers, pillars, and the like as possible. Keep the look uniform with all white candles and black votives and candelabra.

White or light blue tiny Christmas lights can be wrapped around the windows, the rim of the room, or any pillars and columns that enhance the architecture.

Got a decoration idea perfect for Julie's party? Please share it with us below. Tomorrow I'll talk about the appropriate music for an engagement party. Equally important to the look of the engagement party is the correct behavior. If you are attending, hosting, or planning an engagement in the near future, I highly recommend reading DearSugar's tips for proper engagement party etiquette.