Throw a Formal Dinner Party on a Budget

Well - this clip stands out because the author Angela Gala is suggesting how to plan an elegant formal party on a budget as opposed to just any old dinner party..

I agree - just because times are tough at the moment, doesn't mean we can't be a little more creative and have a formal theme for our next dinner party.

Angela comes up with all sorts of ideas and suggestions about the invitation, decor,drinking vessels, food and wine - she has it all covered..

It's worth a read..

Throw a Formal Dinner Party on a Budget | hitched

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Summer Garden Party Tips

This article includes some great advice on how to transform your outdoor space into a Summer Oasis full of flowers and color! You'll find great decorations and outdoor essentials.

"When it comes to summertime food, seasonal veggies and fruits add flavour and zest says Melissa Jenkins-Gray in her article for canada.com

And don't forget to check out the cool summer beverage ideas..

The summer garden party

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How to cook with port - Times Online

"Don't leave the port until the end - Mark Frary makes the most of it at a dinner-party cookery course at Brook Hall, in Bucks"

This course sounds terrific - and I love the statement - don't leave port until the end"which is what we would normally do.. Think outside the box and cook outside the box.. and the cooking tips from an expert don't go astray!

"Cockburn’s Dinner Party Cookery Course is a mixture of demonstration and hands-on practical elements and the idea is to learn to prepare a seasonal dinner party menu with dishes made from or for serving with various types of port (hence the Cockburn’s connection). It is one of a number of different courses Brook Hall runs."

If only I didn't live in Sydney! No, I actually love living in Sydney but when I see what is on offer in other parts of the world I wish I could be here, there and everywhere.. like the New York underground supper clubs for instance..

But back to cooking with port - check out the menu that Stephen Bulmer prepares by clicking into the article link.. sounds delish!

How to cook with port - Times Online

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Summertime Entertaining

"To ensure a perfect dinner party, whether you’re doing it at home informally for a few friends, or in an organized gala setting, the primary guiding principle is the same: Pick a theme and follow through with a menu and supporting tabletop décor", so say the women at Party Chic who specialize in devising creative table settings.

To demonstrate what’s possible, the two women created three original tables explaining their creative process - read more in this article about:

- the green garden table
- the Champagne supper
- the Asian buffet

Summertime entertaining | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader

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