Holiday Party Planner

With all the large-scale get-togethers we attend during the holidays, an intimate and elegant three-course dinner party can be a refreshing change

Text: Allison Cook
Photos: Nancy Nolan; styled by Mandy Keener and Allison Cook
November 2007
We turned to the professionals to take care of the food, flowers, serving pieces and extra touches to make our guests feel welcome and comfortable. The round dining table affords plenty of room for our tablescape and promotes easy conversation.
We turned to the professionals to take care of the food, flowers, serving pieces and extra touches to make our guests feel welcome and comfortable. The round dining table affords plenty of room for our tablescape and promotes easy conversation. Our menu included vegetable tarts with shaved radishes, pesto vinaigrette and aged balsamic vinegar, Palette Catering in Little Rock, as the first course. The entrée was roasted duck atop mango chutney, duchess sweet potatoes and a medley of vegetables by RSVP Catering in Little Rock, and the dessert was a pumpkin and chocolate ganache cheesecake, Copper Grill and Grocery in Little Rock.
The flower arrangement by Phil Cato of About Vase in Little Rock boasts a tapestry of cream roses, antique hydrangeas, millet, figs and sunflowers for a touch of nature, while the pumpkin-inspired glass candleholder from Haus Werk in Little Rock offers a touch of warm light. The notched threads of glass in parallel lines on the Juliska water glasses create great texture, and golden tones flow from the Crane and Co. place cards from Molly’s Paperie in Little Rock to the Balcon Natural napkins from Yves Delorme in Little Rock to the mixed and matched china from Fifth Season in Little Rock, featuring Kate Spade’s June Lane Gold and Downing Street patterns atop Vera Wang’s Golden Grosgrain Wedgewood.

Whether offered at the table whole, or plated, the pumpkin and chocolate ganache cheesecake from Copper Grill in Little Rock was artful with its contrasting layers, glistening chocolate covering and mint and floral garnishes. It’s the perfect way to end the dinner with its light texture and unique, smooth flavor.

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