BIRTHDAYS....
...I am never one to really celebrate or make a big deal of it. That has always been my dear mothers job, and year after year she made me feel special with parties and countless amounts of Barbies.
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| one can see where the addiction comes from |
As much as these are now wonderful memories, it has also left me somewhat spoilt and always expecting my birthday to be as special as it was back when i was a little girl.
Needless to say, it never lives up to my expectations, I almost always end up quite emotional and sad towards the end of it (think its the lack of Barbies).
So, I decided this year would be different. Luckily I have a very generous and loving partner who lives in the country side in a rather large house, so naturally it was decided that my celebrations was to be held there in form of a dinner party, no expenses spared.
Wouldn't you agree that there is nothing worse than when it comes to celebrating for example in a restaurant, the bill due to be split, and all of a sudden you need to take in to consideration that someone didn't have a drink, someone didn't have dessert and so on, it really ruins the evening and the atmosphere, not to mention people not turning up because of lack of funds (my birthday always falls when everyone is broke).
No, this would be different. I started by contacting a recommended catering business not far from the house, At-Home Catering aptly named, they were very eager and willing to help, and with one phone call we had decided the menu and the theme of the party- it was that easy.
The following Tuesday the Manager of the catering business came around to the house to further discuss the menu options and to check out the utilities and dining area. He also brought some juicy muffins from their delicatessen for me to sample. So sweet!
It did feel a bit over pretentious to have 2 waiters as well as a chef and a helper for the event, but he insisted this was needed besides it was included in the price so why not.
The theme of the dining room was to be in black and gold (i was going to wear a gold dress which i worked everything around), and leading up to the Saturday I had to frantically run around and try to find gold cutlery and gold napkin rings (thank god for Peter Jones)!
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| The gold table layout and a very happy Eva |
The weekend fast approached & my friends were getting really exited expecting grand things, and finally Saturday arrived. My close friend Eva arrived early afternoon and together we made sure that everything was going according to plan.
I had had this idea to spray stones with a recently purchased gold spray to simulate gold nuggets, so the poor house keeper went out to collect some stones and sprayed them. The end result was looking like something a dog would produce on an upset stomach, so that was out the window. Me and my grand ideas!
We settled for the fake diamonds we had scattered over the table and that was in fact more than enough.
Once assured everything was as it should be, me and Eva retreated to the master bedroom and started the serious part of the evening- getting ready. We had 4 hours. We barely made it.
At half eight my girls started arriving to a champagne reception (the most delicious french boutique champagne I had sourced from Eight over Eight on Kings Road) along with some canapes in the hallway/living room area.
It’s always tricky bringing together different groups of friends at a gathering but this went so smooth, perhaps the champagne helped...
After about an hour of mingling and the last person arriving, we were all shown to the dining room to be seated. It was such a beautiful sight, the dark table and furnishings set off by sparkling gold glasses and plates and all dancing in candle light. Even the staff had joined in the theme and wore black shirts with gold ties.
Everyone seated, the starter arrived; a seafood platter containing gravad lax (I am Swedish after all), tuna tartar and crab mousse, accompanied by a small prawn cocktail and a spoon with a very succulent scallop. It looked divine but after all nerves and running (unnecessarily) around i did not have much of an appetite.
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| The stunning seafood starter |
The main course was presented shortly after in the shape of a thick piece of fillet beef with red jus, glazed vegetables and potato gratin, and sea bass for my vegetarian guests.
The sight of it was over whelming and the taste beautiful.
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| Beefy main |
Towards the end of the course my friends started looking rather full and content, more champagne was rapidly needed!!
In-between the main course and the dessert was a completely unnecessary but impressive cheese course. Melted cheese was being scooped out of a round tray and serves with salad and chutney. I tried my hardest to eat some, and so did my guests, but it was just too much food!!
At this stage whisperings started going around the table so I knew what was up, and before I even had a chance to look surprised everyone stood up and started singing Happy Birthday, I was brought out the dessert with a tea light on top (apparently the latest craze on birthday cakes, or rather a lack of birthday candles).
Presents were opened and included Hermes leather bound note books as well as some fox fur earmuffs and Jo Malone candles, i’m so lucky to have such amazing generous friends who knows exactly what i need!
Everyone was happily tucking in to their melted chocolate fondant with mint ice cream and fresh raspberries, I don’t have a sweet tooth so I was quite content in watching the others.
1am came sooner than expected and a few of my friends who had commitments in the morning called for cabs, the rest stayed.
And after the party is the after party...
As we were busy saying goodbye to the friends leaving, my friend Yoanna took a stroll around the inside pool area and somehow managed to slip on the step and sit down in the shallow end, I so wished i had had my camera ready! With one person soaked we decided we might all as well get in, so bikinis came on as the jacuzzi started bubbling. Our drinks were brought to the pool side and we sat there relaxing and talking for a couple of hours. The water felt amazing and it was such a perfect end to a perfect evening.
All in all I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday party, my close friends were fed and had a nice time and i didn’t have to worry about a things throughout the whole night, Amarou, the Manager of At-Home Catering and his staff took care of everything with such elegance. I recommend them highly to anyone thinking to do the same.
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| Shoes worn on the evening; nude Highness Louboutins As it stands now, I really can not wait for my next birthday! |
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