10 March, 2001
NY Post - "ENTERTAINING
IDEAS – TEMPTATION – EYE CANDY" - by Judy Allen
"Temptation
Island? No -- tempting islands of candy used as lavish
and unusual centerpiece or displays. It's time to move
away from traditional floral arrangements and have some
fun with creative eye candy...."
Judy Allen shows you how to entertain like, and for,
the pros. Whether you are entertaining guests,
throwing a party or showing off to celebrities, these
creative candy ideas will leave them talking for months
to come (and yes, several are our
creations)! And the best part is that
you don't need to spend a whole lot doing it!
Jump to the
Creative Chocolates of Vermont, Inc. feature in the article...
"ENTERTAINING
IDEAS – TEMPTATION – EYE CANDY"
Temptation Island? No -- tempting islands of
candy used as lavish and unusual centerpiece
or displays. It's time to move away from
traditional floral arrangements and have some
fun with creative eye candy.
You may have been taught not to play with
your food – but introducing a sense of play
and whimsy to your centerpieces is what we are
about to do.
Picture red tablecloths with centerpiece
platters made of bright shiny candy red apples
that are covered in M&M's for a festive
feel – one that will be pleasing to both
kids and kids at heart of all ages. Or, apples
that have been covered in thick creamy gooey
caramel and drizzled with milk and white
chocolate set out as part of your centerpiece
display on deep rich brown linens.
You will find when using items such as
tempting candy apples instead floral
arrangements at your next party, that your
centerpiece will become edible artwork at the
end of the evening. Clear cellophane bags can
be distributed at each place setting and your
guests can take home a sweet reminder of the
evening to enjoy at their leisure. . . if they
last that long. Chances are they will be
sampled on the drive home – unwrapped the
moment they set foot in their car. Too hard to
resist no matter what your age.
A recent hit at children's parties has been
the “smash cake” centerpiece of sponge
toffee. At the conclusion of the meal the
“smash cake” is literally smashed into
pieces for all to enjoy. A tiny hammer is
provided to break off chunks of the sweet
confection.
What about including a sweet table that is
exactly that -- filled so full you can't see
the table -- with monster peanut butter cups,
logs of fudge decorated with Oreo's, gummies,
rocky pop (caramel popcorn), jelly beans,
replica jelly bean dispensers and an array of
delectable chocolate and other mouthwatering
treats.
Meltaway chocolate spoons can be served
with coffee – for a cost of just over a
$1.00 each (plus shipping and handling) – in
a variety of flavors ranging from Mocha to
Grand Marnier and Mint or chocolate dessert
sticks can provide a sweet ending to your
evening.
For a gala touch, there are full size
chocolate champagne bottles that can be
displayed in silver buckets and serve as your
centerpiece. Following dessert and coffee, the
chocolate champagne bottles can be broken open
to reveal a sampling of decadent and
delectable truffles inside.
These are just a few of the delightful
offerings that can be found at the Rocky
Mountain Chocolate Factory (outlets can be
found across North America) or by emailing rockymountain@ilovechocolate.com.
*
Now think retro-fun candy, which can be
found at www.retro-fun.com
(they will ship their specialty items
worldwide). Be it a birthday celebration,
anniversary, movie premiere or corporate
milestone, think in terms of having
centerpieces created from candy and
memorabilia that best depict the time you are
celebrating. Individual loot bags can also be
used in addition to the centerpieces or as
part of the take home gift. Guest names can be
written on the individual loot bags turning
them into place setting name markers.
Think 50's and think of Pixy Sticks, Lik
M'aid, Cracker Jacks, Sweetarts, Lovehearts,
Toostie Rolls, Mary Jane's, Sherbet Fountains,
Candy or Bubble Gum cigarettes, Golden Nugget
Bubblegum, Candy Necklaces and Candy Buttons.
For a 40th bash, move to the 60's and add in
Fruit Stripe Gum, Wax Lips, Blackballs,
Jawbreakers and for the 70's Pop Rocks,
Razzles and Astro Pops.
Centerpiece displays can be created
entirely out of candy or be combined with toys
and other items reminiscent of the era –
don't worry if you can't find original
nostalgic items – what was old is now new
again. New Pez candy dispensers can step in
for the collectible kind as can reproduction
lunch pails which can anchor the display.
Reproduction lunch pails are available in a
multitude of styles from Hot Wheels to the
Beatles, Elvis, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, I
Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, The Three
Stooges and of course the ever popular Betty
Boop. They can be found for $20.00 to $30.00
(plus shipping and handling). Of course
originals can still be found – Happy Days,
Bee Gees, and Spiderman – are just a few
samples of original lunch pails that are
available through www.retro-fun.com.
And they also have an original RoadRunner Pez
dispenser among others. Collectible items can
range in price from $50 - $1000.00.
The reproduction lunch pails can be set up
to showcase your theme candy display and can
include popular lunch time favorites from the
different decades such as Hostess Twinkies,
Wagon Wheels and other items of this nature.
Some items – can be used not only as
centerpiece props – but also as part of the
invitation. This sets the tone and builds the
anticipation of the fun that lies up ahead.
Boxes of Cracker Jack would make an ideal
invitation – promising your guests a
“Cracker Jack time” at your event. Fun
miniature retro keychains can be used – the
invitation can be attached to the keychain –
to let your guests know that they hold the
“key” to a really great time in their
hands. The miniature keychains come in a
variety of styles – from Betty Boop, Barbie,
G.I. Joe, Hot Wheels on its own racing track,
and Charlie Chaplin to miniature versions of
Clue, Twister and the Magic Eight Balls I
mentioned in an earlier column – where you
can predict a great evening ahead for your
guests. Wax lips can be sent out as a
suggestion of the smiles to come. These are
just a few sample ideas.
Remember that items can double as place
card settings and napkin ring holders as well.
Candy necklaces and candy buttons wrapped
around napkins can make a colorful accent
touch totally in keeping with the retro theme.
*
They say a picture is like a thousand
words. Creative Chocolates of Vermont (www.creativechocolatesofvt.com)
can scan any picture you provide them with
onto edible rice paper -- using edible ink --
and affix it to a solid background of
chocolate. This custom photo display can then
become the focal part of your centerpiece
display.
For a wedding, anniversary, Bar or Bat
Mitzvah, you might want to consider using
different photo displays at each table –
showing a couple or child throughout the years
or doing different activities that they enjoy.
You can also take this type of centerpiece and
turn it into a theme. For example, if your
parents loved to jitterbug, the chocolate
centerpiece may feature them dancing –
showing them doing what they loved to do best.
The music, décor and the menu can then be
designed around capturing this period of time
-- easily tying all elements together.
For corporate events, your logo can be
depicted in the same way and at a gala
fundraiser, pictures of those being helped by
the dollars being raised can serve as a sweet
(and gentle) visual reminder during the course
of the event – especially while the bidding
for silent and live auction items is going on.
For baby showers, Creative Chocolates of
Vermont offers the pitter-patter
of little feet in the form of peanut
butter baby steps. With a decorating tube of
icing, names can be easily written on each
individual footprint and serve as your place
card setting.
Brand new is their 3”
chocolate “babies” which are now being
handed out in place of cigars. They are just
adorable. Wrapped in white blankets (made out
of white
chocolate), their faces molded from a
peanut butter base and outfitted in either
pink, blue or yellow sleepers (tinted white
chocolate) they come on a stick or
individually shrink wrapped. A bouquet of the
babies in a blanket can be brought to the mom
to be to give out in the hospital. They can be
also combined with tinted white chocolate
pacifiers in pink, blue or yellow. These
delightful confections can also be used to
create a centerpiece display tucked into and
around usable props such as actual baby shoes
and the like.
Having a renovation or painting party?
Their popular Paint Can with 7 chocolate tools
and M&M paint roller, paint stirrer and
paint can be a great centerpiece to start your
party off with and keep the energy up.
Their Ultimate TV Dinner (you have to check
out their site and see it) would make a fun
centerpiece (or mail out invitation) to your
next TV Dinner Party – just have them add in
some gummie worms and chocolate bugs and you
will be all set for your Survivor II TV Dinner
Finale Party. You could also consider it for
an Oscar Night TV Dinner Party as a change
from the typical glitz and glamour invite.
Creative Chocolates of Vermont will customize
the inclusions to fit your event. At just over
$10 each (plus shipping and handling) it is
not cost prohibitive. If you need to, cut back
somewhere else, but whenever you can include
something that will be memorable and talked
about -- do it. If you send the party invites
to them, Creative Chocolates of Vermont will
package and mail each invitation out for you
-- be it their Ultimate TV Dinner or an
individual “piece of pizza” made of
chocolate to invite guests to your child's
pizza birthday sleepover party (small slice
$2.75 large slice $5.55 plus shipping and
handling). Special note: A good rule of thumb
when choosing items and toppings that children
will be eating is to select items that contain
no peanuts or peanut butter – you should
always request this – due to possible
medical concerns/food sensitivity.
...return
to beginning of article
Another idea for your child's birthday
sleepover party is to have their evening end
with “sweet dreams”. At www.nighteenight.com
you can find 41 designs of pillowcases that
can be personalized with each child's name.
For example, for hockey lovers – your
pillowcase would feature a hockey design with
the message reading “Jonathan shoots and
scores!” or “Go for it David”, for your
ballerina – ballet shoes and “Stay on your
toes Cassandra”. There is even a candy
design that can be inscribed with “Sweet
Dreams Jessica”. You can reach them at
1-800-887-5187. Tuck them in for the night
with five star sleeping bag turndown service
– with a wrapped chocolate placed on each
new customized pillowcase.
*
For those who normally don't indulge in
candy, chocolates or other items of a sweet
nature – do not feel that you are leaving
them out. The main purpose of using “eye
candy” as an alternative to more traditional
centerpieces is actually to provide a visual
feast for your guest's eyes and bring a touch
of fantasy to your event. Many of the items
can be ordered sugar free or made to meet
other dietary and health concerns such as milk
intolerance. You can always create
centerpieces that combine trinkets as well the
candy. And remember, while there will be
always be plenty on hand who will be happy to
take any leftovers home, arrangements can be
always be made to have them delivered to
seniors homes and hospitals where they will be
greatly appreciated.
*
No matter how sophisticated the event –
be it a celebrity gala with Oscar winning
guests or an elegant white-glove dinner
service event -- what I have found to draw the
most oooh's and ahhhh's is when I include
something unexpected and fun and remove the ho
hum. When I served incredibly realistic life
size hand molded and glazed ice cream in the
shape of apples, pears, bananas, clusters of
grapes and tangerines, eyes sparkled. The
apple – bright red on the outside with a
chocolate stem – revealed a creamy vanilla
ice cream center. The pear was filled with
vanilla ice cream as well but the center was
filled with Poire William (optional). The
orange was made from a delicious orange
sherbet with Grand Marnier in the center.
Bananas came with a choice of vanilla or
banana ice cream. They were plated on the ice
glass plates with a backdrop of kaffir lime
leaves or shaved chocolate to help prevent the
ice cream from slipping on the plate. Each
table was presented with an array of fruit –
I did not limit it to only one kind. Samples
were shared and requests were made for more.
Calls came in the very next day from the party
guests looking to see where they could find
the ice cream so they could serve it at their
next event. St. Clair Ice Cream ( www.stclairicecream.com
) was the supplier I used. They will ship
their product to you, packed in dry ice, which
you can then unpack and store in your freezer
for up to four weeks. I recommend serving the
full size fruit for maximum impact. Their
sorbet desserts are Kosher pareve (by National
Kashruth – Rabbi Yacov Lipschutz). And if
you want to have some winter fun – they make
fabulous full size snowballs, which have been
rolled in flaked coconut. They come with a
choice of either vanilla or coconut ice cream
and look great plated on a pool of chocolate
and raspberry. Traditional desserts -- no
matter how rich, decadent or beautifully
plated – can begin to look the same after
awhile, for the same cost you can include
something a little different instead of run of
the mill. “Make your own” sundaes have
been known to light up faces at even the
grandest affairs – especially if they are
done over the top – or made delightfully
different. I once did elegant banana splits in
perfect miniature – using melon ballers as
ice cream scoops – and scaled everything
down. One major airline even serves ice cream
sundaes as part of their first class fare.
Designing events that include eye candy as one
of the elements touches a chord in all of us.
*
For those of you watching the Grammy's last
week – you may have seen the Blue Man
Group's performance, which included the Mylar
streamers and fountain gerbs (indoor
fireworks) I talked about in my “theatrical
touches” column. What hadn't been put in
place, from what was televised, was the
immediate removal of the streamers from the
stairs leading to the stage. This made it
extremely awkward for anyone wearing high
heels – think Badgley Mischka or Manolo
Blahnik – to maneuver. The cameras could
have gone for a close up and focused on the
next presenters while clean up took place
quickly and quietly, instead television
audiences saw first hand what wasn't done as
one winner struggled to the podium. What
should have been a graceful walk to the stage
wasn't. Streamers are usually done at the end
of an event when there are no more guests
coming onstage. When they are used mid-way as
part of a performance, provisions must be made
so that they can be instantly cleared away.
*
Wedding Planning Season is in full swing.
Gala Fundraising Events are coming down to the
wire with last minute planning and event
operations. Premieres and openings abound.
E-mail your event planning and entertaining
questions – event design, logistics,
production and orchestration for social,
corporate or home entertaining to judyallen@on.aibn.com.
Buy
Judy Allen's Event Planning
Judy Allen is the President of Judy
Allen Productions. Judy
creates-produces-directs custom special events
worldwide for up to 2,000 guests, including
Michael Eisner /Disney's gala opening of
Beauty and the Beast (Toronto opening) and the
co-ordination of Norman Jewison's 25th
Anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof. From small
intimate affairs to multi million dollar
extravaganzas, Judy is a Master of event
design, timing, logistics, budget management,
show flow and event orchestration. Judy shares
her event planning principles with you in her
new book, the international best-selling,
EVENT PLANNING: The Ultimate Guide to
Successful Meetings, Corporate Events,
Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Incentives and
other Special Events (John Wiley & Sons)
which is already in its second printing. As
well, Judy is the special event expert for www.dreamlife.com
founded by renowned motivational speaker
Anthony Robbins and on the Board of Advisors
for www.ersvp.com
a leading web-based registration and response
event management company.
