Rex & Regina’s Blog

Why not add some humor to your summer tablescape? This chip and dip serving set makes me chuckle every time I look at it!  The little piggy set is available at Sur La Table.

I have a pretty serious obsession with serving trays — something I’ve confessed to in an earlier post. Perfect for entertaining and incorporating into one’s decor, they really are very versatile. One tray with books sits atop my coffee table, another hems in my toiletries in the bathroom, one is for a grouping of candles on a table, another is used for meals in bed when one of us is sick, there are two we use every-so-often for dinner on the couch… and the list goes on!

There are so many fabulous options for trays in stores, but I am very fond of these recent DIY trays that I spotted — both using cork. Cork is a sustainably-produced, natural material with a very organic feel. It is easy to work with, readily available, and fairly impermeable, making it a great material to use on a tray.

The first project I spotted came from  Design*Sponge, one of my favorite sites for inspiration. The basket-weave pattern of the cork provides texture to an otherwise drab tray (I know because I own that tray!) from IKEA. The process looks fairly simple and the instructions are easy to follow.

an IKEA tray transformed by cork

the weaving process

This Martha Stewart-inspired tray also features cork but in a completely different way. The punched cork adds a bit of whimsy to the tray and will also help to keep things from slipping.

Martha Stewart-inspired Punched Cork Serving Tray

"How to" for the Punched Cork Tray

What a great idea from L.A. event planner Lulu Powers for setting out silverware. Couldn’t you see this at a summertime BBQ? It’s so simple and easy to do — pick up some terra cotta pots, label them with chalk, and set them on a nice platter or tray. This setup will make it convenient for guests to grab their silverware as they pass through a buffet.

For more fabulous entertaining tips, check out Lulu’s new book, Food to Flowers. I know I’ve added it to my library wish list!

image via Country Living

Tags: BBQ, book, Entertaining, flatware, summer, summertime

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, everyone! Check out my guest post on the DC Ladies Blog today to read about fun ways to spice up your Mexican Fiesta tonight!

bright color florals are a must on Cinco de Mayo; photo via Martha Stewart

A dear friend of mine just had her first baby — a sweet, adorable little girl. We hosted a baby shower in her honor recently and planned it around her passion for French macarons. Guests were treated to afternoon tea with savory and sweet treats.

We came up with a vintage French market theme, evoking strolls through an outdoor market in France — with old world finds, rustic elegance, and a touch of “chic.” Burlap, accented with light pink and grey tones along with pewter and silver serving pieces, created a cohesive design.

custom-made burlap "baby girl" banner

shower invitation, designed by SugarB Designs

table setting

One of the hosts made extraordinary lemon-lime shortbread cookies and expertly decorated them. Custom tags coordinating with the stationery suite were attached to each cookie, serving as place cards.

place setting; custom cookie and tag serve as place cards

French macarons were the centerpiece of the event. Caramel and raspberry macarons from Adour were showcased on a silver three-tiered tray for guests to enjoy.

French macarons: the inspiration for the party

The menu was entirely homemade (with the exception of the macarons!) and included petit fours with pink flourishes, chocolate truffles, tuna-stuffed baguette, miniature quiches in pate brisee, black forest ham and brie tea sandwiches, and other delights.

assorted savory bites

miniature quiche

chocolate and buttercream petit fours

Each menu item was labeled with a tag to help guests more easily identify what they wanted.

custom food labels

As guests made their way around the buffet table, a pianist played children’s nursery songs softly in the background — how appropriate!

entertainment during the party

A small book that matched the theme was created so that the gifts could be recorded during the party. The guest of honor was given a gift bag at the end of the party that contained the record, additional macarons, custom thank you notes matching the stationery suite, and a special hand-decorated cookie.

record of gifts

Pink. Pink. And more pink! Pink floral arrangements anchored the tables and even the sparkling lemonade was pink! The arrangements included French tulips and the lemonade was… yes… French!

pink floral arrangements anchored the tables

tulips and other pink flowers

Sparkling pink lemonade

Countless thanks to SugarB Studio, who created the fabulous stationery suite, and to Katie McMurry, photographer, for the amazing photos! Tres bien!

Congratulations, again, to our dear friend and her new family!

Cinco de Mayo is such a quirky little holiday. I bet if you polled ten people on the street, maybe one of them could tell you what it celebrates. I would not be that one. But even if I don’t really understand the origin of the holiday, it doesn’t mean I can’t join in the celebration, right? Here are some ideas I am considering for celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year:

I adore these recycled Sol tumblers from Bambeco. They are eco-friendly, whimsical, and are likely to be a good conversation piece.

recycled Sol tumblers from Bambeco

Garlands and banners are an easy way to add color and punch to a party. Hang one of these above your buffet table and you are ready to go!

Circle Cinco de Mayo Banner from Makentake on Etsy

Mexican Fiesta Fabric Bunting Banner from SillyGoat on Etsy

Margaritas are a key ingredient for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Serve them with a twist using this fun idea for margarita ice pops — a refreshing treat for guests on a warm May evening. This recipe provides a quick, easy way to achieve the margarita flavor, though I might also suggest making a batch of margaritas and freezing them in popsicle molds for a more intense flavor.

Margarita Ice Pops; recipe from Bon Appetit; photo by Brian Leatart

Be sure to check out my previous posts on Cinco de Mayo, including one focused on margaritas and one that lists cinco ways to celebrate the day!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

Football fans everywhere, are you ready for the 2010 NFL Draft?  Starting tonight and through the weekend we’ll watch, wait, and pray as our favorite teams make their picks. (Patriots, don’t do me wrong!)

So as you are watch the painstakingly long and often nail-biting process, you may want to invite your friends over to enjoy another kind of “draft”… of the “hops” persuasion.

Instead of bottles and cans at your Draft Day party, why not try a beverage dispenser (or, using a term I haven’t heard since college, a kegerator)?!

The Krups Beertender at $99.00 is a nice, entry level, accessible model. It’s small enough to fit on your countertop and can be easily stored away when you aren’t using it. One downside is that you can only use it with Heineken 5L DraughtKegs. But if you like Heineken, you can’t go wrong. It’s an easy way for guests to serve themselves and it is likely to be a good conversation piece!

Krups Beertender

If this model is too “pedestrian” for you, you can always go for the cadillac of kegerators: Viking’s 24″ Built-in Beverage Dispenser. It can accommodate a half barrel of whatever beer you can order.

Viking's Built-in Beverage Dispenser

After you’ve setup your beverage dispenser, you’ll want to set out some glassware for your guests. Chilled mugs are always appreciated. I particularly love these pint glasses from Sur La Table.

Pallino Ottimista/Pessimista Beer Glasses from Sur La Table

Baccarat and beer seem like an unlikely pairing to me … but, nonetheless, these Baccarat Oenology Pilsner-style beer mugs are beautiful.

Baccarat Oenology Beer Mug, available through Geary's

Finally, I remember traveling in Belgium years ago and being amazed at how each brand and type of beer was served in its own special glass designed specifically by the brewery to ensure optimal flavor.  While not quite to that extent, this collection of glasses follows that line of thinking. The set includes a glass each for pilsners, wheats, ales, and stouts.

Mikasa "Brewmaster's Collection" Varietal Glasses, Set of 4, available at Macy's

With all of our “Draught Day” equipment, I think we are ready to watch Round One and hope for the best for our teams…

Go Patriots! (Skins fans, no taunts or jibes, please!)

My guest post on DC Ladies Blog today focuses on the etiquette and customs around seating people around a dinner table. Some may find the guidelines outdated, but I contend that they really can create a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests.

Learn the guidelines and tips by reading the full post at DC Ladies Blog!

French fries are a weakness of mine.  I wish I could be as disciplined as my friends who choose a side salad over fries with their sandwich or burger… but I just can’t! And when they are labeled “frites” on the menu, forget it — they somehow become even more irresistable!

Serving “cones” of fries at parties is not a new thing. Caterers often fold parchment or other paper into a cone and present the fries in the cones. That’s easy enough to do at home, as well, but now it’s even easier…

I spotted these wire containers on Crate & Barrel’s site recently… just in time for summer BBQs! I am pretty sure the Truffled French Fries featured on Epicurious would fit very well in one of these!

Bon Appetit!

French Fry Holder & Burger Basket with Liners, from Crate & Barrel

french fries presented in a wire cone with fun paper

This Spring tablescape from House Beautiful caught my eye today. The fuschia flatware adds such a nice pop to the table. I also love the use of herbs in the arrangements — and even the sprig of rosemary tucked into the napkin ring. Herbs are so readily accessible — especially this time of year — making them so easy to throw in to a tablescape. And, they are inexpensive and aromatic!

Spring table setting from House Beautiful

When faced with the choice between a cocktail, a glass of wine, or a flute of champagne, I will choose the latter every time. There is something so festive and refined about champagne, and a good champagne flatters the tongue with its effervescence.

It’s really no surprise, then, that Maria C. Hunt‘s The Bubbly Bar: Champagne and Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion is very likely to be the next book added to my library. Hunt has designed custom champagne cocktails for Preston Bailey, Alicia Silverstone, Hall & Oates, and countless brides and grooms — each using fresh ingredients combined in sophisticated ways.

The Bubbly Bar, available at Amazon.com

Specialty cocktails and signature drinks are a great way to personalize a party. Serving them as guests arrive, along with sparkling water for those who may not wish to partake, is a welcoming touch.

Champagne Bars are another stylish way to serve the bubbly beverage. Offering fresh fruit juices, herbs, and speciality liqueurs to complement the champagne adds a creative and interactive element to a party.

At the Washingtonian Bride & Groom’s Unveiled event recently, Design Cuisine offered a version of a Champagne Bar and included herbs in their list of ingredients. I love how they displayed them — a great focal point for the Bar. (Forgive the iPhone photo!)

Herb "tree" from Design Cuisine

Try a Champagne Bar at your next gathering. Let me know how it goes!

Cheers!