Holiday Brunch 2009

Each year, my best friend Tara Novotny and I host a Holiday Brunch for 40 guests. Our decor in 2009 was black, white, and fuscia--festive but not conventional holiday--with tiered cylindrical vases filled with ball ornaments to display food.

For the menu, we went for a twist on the classics: lox tartar, baked french toast, deconstructed Waldorf and Caprese salads, passed crab soup shooters, and cheesecake parfaits. We prep the food to be bite sized...this facilitates mingling and eating while standing.

For dessert, mini cupcakes by JoAnna Hiatt--a must at any Emily H event.

And of course, what would a brunch be without a mimosa station and Bloody Mary bar?

My thanks to my dear and very talented friend Jessica Del Vecchio for capturing these images from our signature annual event!

Baked Dates with Goat Cheese

Caprese Salad Skewers

Deconstructed Waldorf Salad

Table Presentation

Crab Soup Shooters

Bloody Bar...

...With shrimp!

Mimosa Bar

Lox Tartar with Dill Cream Cheese

Utensils

Cheesecake Parfait

Cupcakes by JoAnna Hiatt

The hostesses with the mostesses...

Some useful resources for planning your event:

Fabric in black & white damask and stripe for tables: Ballard Designs
Favor boxes: Beau-Coup
Catering quality serving pieces: Smarty Had A Party