My good friend Kate of Brooklyn Belltower asked me to join her for a white-themed pop-up dinner party in Prospect Park, Brooklyn this past weekend and I nearly scoffed at the idea of paying for a table to picnic and bring all your own food and decor.
Then I found out the proceeds went to the NYC Parks, to improve our beloved park and one of my favorite songwriters of all time, Ben Folds would serenade us after dinner. We also got to get creative with our table, so I was sold. Did I mention, we were front row to see Ben Folds perform because there wasn’t a bad seat in the house?
Kate and I got crafty and hand-made our center pieces. Kate collected sticks in the park earlier that day and painted them white. We painted bottles white to place them in for a monochromatic look.
Kate found our linens and plates from various affordable stores like Target and I scored white fans for only $1 from Pearl River in SoHo. I also collected jars and various candle holders from my backyard to paint white and put battery operated tea light candles in, also from Pearl River. Kate cleverly painted our Instagram names on charger plates en lieu of place cards.
My truffle oil popcorn is always a big hit at parties and worked nicely with the white colored theme. It also happens to be VERY easy.
ingredients:
1 cup of popping kernels (NOT microwave popcorn!)
safflower oil, or another cooking oil
truffle or truffle-infused oil
fine sea salt
-Fill the bottom of a large pot with a layer of kernels
-Coat with a layer of cooking oil
-Heat on high heat and wait until the pops go from pop, pop, pop to pop…pop…
-Remove from heat and let cool
-Drizzle with olive oil, a few drops of truffle or truffle-infused oil and add sea salt to taste.
-Enjoy and let your friends marvel as they can’t stop eating this delicious snack!
White beans and potatoes were in line with the white theme, but we couldn’t resist having some greens and a yummy salmon cake (from Whole Foods).
I made white sangria to go with the theme, which was also easy to make and a big hit. Here’s my recipe:
1 bottle of white wine (ideally Spanish, but any dryer wine will do)
Triple sec
white grapes
mint
1 Green Anjou pear
Sparkling water or club soda
Combine wine and 1/4 cup of triple sec. Wash fruit and mint. Slice grapes in half, dice pear, and remove thick stems from a handful of mint and add to the wine. Let sit in the refrigerator and add 1 – 2 cups of soda water (to taste) just before serving.
Desserts from Steve’s Key Lime Pie and Larry’s rugelach from Court Street Grocers went quickly and shared with other guests we met (spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way!).
TJMaxx dress (see below for similar) // Zara bag // Chloe & Isabel necklace (c/o) // Tom Binns earrings (sold out, but similar here) // Essie nailpolish
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