Linnea Johansson - Perfect Parties: Recipes and Tips from a New York Party Planner

PERFECT PARTIES

Copyright 2012 by Linnea Johansson

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN: 978-1-61608-867-5

Printed in China

PERFECT PARTIES

FOREWORD

INVITING PEOPLE INTO your home for a party is an intimate gesture. Suddenly you're exposed: everything from your cooking to your wallpaper is out in the open, and you immediately begin to worry if people are going to have fun, whether they'll like the soup, or whether they'll ask for vodka when you only have wine. Suddenly the decision to throw a party has become a stressor when it should be a joy.

But the people you've invited haven't come to critique you; they've come to learn more about you. So throwing a great party is really just a matter of demonstrating a little about who you are through the food, drinks, decoration, and music you select.

For me, in the restaurant world, every event is about proper planning. But for a party in your home, the key is to both plan well and to allow for a little improvisation. That's when the magic happens. People today don't expect to sit down and be served. People want to participate. When my grandmother threw a party, she worked in the kitchen all evening and sat down with her guests only over coffee. People get very uncomfortable that way today. A party where the host or hostess mingles and introduces people and is full of energy is more interesting and more fun for everyone.

We are as different as the parties we throw, and what I love about Perfect Parties is that it gives you such a variety, and offers them in a dazzling display of visual creativity. Linnea covers everything from recipes to themes to flowers to place settings. She even touches on clothing to wear at your parties. Throwing a party is a way to express yourself; Linnea's gift to her readers is that she can inspire you with possibilities.

Everything in this book is based on classic party ideas. But Linnea adds her own creative twists which will wow your guests without overwhelming them. She makes hamburgers out of foie gras. They come with French fries, too, served with wasabi mustard and curry ketchup. She bakes cupcakes for dessert but adds chocolate truffles. She recommends mixed fruit for brunch, but grilled and on a skewer. With Linnea, tired ideas become new again, so you can still have your traditional brunch or barbeque, infused with imagination and flair.

Linnea and I have been working (and partying) in New York for many years. It is a wonderful place because there are so many different people from so many different cultures. You'll never be short on good party ideas here. But the biggest challenge for a New Yorker planning a party at home is that space is limited, especially kitchen space. Don't let that prevent you from throwing a great party. Linnea has some great ideas on how to work with what you have.

Perfect Parties is a wonderful book that can add some celebrity glamour to your everyday life. Linnea has been inspired by her many famous clients over the years. Now, it's her turn to inspire you. Read this book, and get ready to throw a perfect party.

Marcus Samuelsson

Chef & Owner

Red Rooster Harlem

PLANNING

T urning Central Park Zoo into a lavish party venue is no easy task. For me, it was one of the most challenging events I have ever pulled together as a New York party planner. With more than four thousand invitations sent out, this party had to be impressiveand impressive it was.

The penguin house was turned into a caviar bar, the polar bear den into a sushi station, and the sea lion cave into a concert hall, complete with an opera singer. But that's not all. More than a thousand colorful silk pillows were designed and made specifically for the occasion to add comfort and warmth to the otherwise bare park benches while pink Chinese lanterns dangled from trees throughout the zoo, spreading a romantic glow for all to see. It was as surreal as a scene from a Tim Burton movieit took your breath away.

Parties of this magnitude can give even the most experienced party planner nightmares. No matter how hard one may try to throw theperfect party there is always something that may go awry. The truth is, there really is no such thing as the perfect partyand that's OK. Even great parties have their snags, and despite a fewinconveniences, my party at the zoo was a success, so much so that it ended up being nominated as one of the best that year.

CREATIVE PLANNING

WHETHERyour guest list includes three or three thousand, the process is always the same when planning a party, and it starts with creative planning. Where will the party take place? What is your dcor going to look like? What type of drinks will be served? The answer to these questions, and many others, will help you decide the concept and theme for any type of party and are the focus of creative planning. As a rule of thumb, for normal-sized events with 3-25 invited guests, you'll want to start this process at least four weeks in advance. If the party will be a larger event, you'll need to start your creative planning earlier.

Just remember, the goal of any planner should always be to plan a party that can be enjoyed by you and your guests where, for a few hours, you can hang out and experience something out of the ordinary together. Sound difficult? It's not. Ask yourself these eight simple questions the next time you want to throw a party and you'll be amazed at how simple it really is!

First, start with the most important question:

1. WHY THROW A PARTY?

Maybe you got a new job and want to get to know your co-workers better. Perhaps you recently started your own business and could use a write up in the local paper. Whatever the occasion, the reason why you are throwing a party is one of the most important questions there is to ask because it decides how your party will evolve. And because every event is different, it's no surprise that each aspect of planning can differ as well. For example, an event thrown with a specific goal in mind, like getting publicity or raising money for a good cause, differs from parties thrown just for fun. In this case, the guest lists for both events will be very different. This book focuses primarily on throwing parties for friends and family.