THE DISH ON
DAZZLING DINNERS
Staging Fun Filled, Impressive, Themed Dinners
From Invitations to Favors
With Guidelines for Recipes and Suggestions for Simplification
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - JANUARY
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A FEAST FOR GOOD FORTUNE
Inspiration: The New Year
Let's prod fate to grant our wishes with lots of lucky foods.
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ALL WRAPPED UP
Inspiration: The dead of winter
Your guests will arrive all wrapped up and they'll stay warm and cozy with foods handsomely wrapped and suitably scrumptious.
Chapter 2 - FEBRUARY
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KISS! Keep it Sweet and Sensual
Inspiration: Valentine's Day
Let's celebrate love with foods symbolic of romance and passion.
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AN ACADEMY AWARD DINNER
Inspiration: Academy Award Winners
Stage a glamorous evening and serve dishes as deserving of awards as the Oscar-winning
"Best Pictures" that inspired them.
Chapter 3 - MARCH
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A LACE CURTAIN AFFAIR
Inspiration: St. Patrick's Day
The Irish labeled those who made it in the new world "Lace Curtain Irish." This dinner is thoroughly "Lace Curtain" with upscale treatments of Irish traditions.
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FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION
Inspiration: Mardi Gras
With festive surroundings and platters of Cajun and Creole delights, each guest will feel like Mardi Gras's "King for the Day."
Chapter 4 - APRIL
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GO GREEN!
Inspiration: Earth Day
Show ecological awareness by serving a vegan dinner with accessories and decor that honor the sustainability of natural resources.
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!LOOF LIRPA (April Fool!)
Inspiration: April Fool's Day
Gastronomic gags galore: appetizers look like desserts, the entree poses as breakfast, desserts masquerade as appetizers, and the souvenir menu turns it all topsy-turvy.
Chapter 5 - MAY
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VICTORY OVER FRANCE
Inspiration: Cinco de Mayo
Celebrate the victory on May 5, 1862 of the Mexican army over French forces with Mexican flavors dominating French preparations.
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CELEBRATING THE ARMED FORCES OF THE U.S.A.
Inspiration: Memorial Day
Make Memorial Day memorable with MRE, aka Military Rations Extraordinaire.
Chapter 6 - JUNE
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A CULINARY VALIDATION OF GRADUATION
Inspiration: Graduation Day
The new graduate shows culinary sophistication with childhood favorites in cross-cultural tradition.
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SPRING INTO SUMMER
Inspiration: Summer solstice
Good cooks eagerly await the arrival of the fresh, young foods of late spring and early summer. Your guests will understand why.
Chapter 7 - JULY
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THE ICE-CREAM DINNER
Inspiration: July is National Ice Cream Month
Ice cream in every dish. A kid's dream but not a dietician's nightmare. Indulge!
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A COOL MENU FOR A HOT SUMMER
Inspiration: Mid-summer
Relief from the heat with fun foods formed in winter symbols and an icy decor. Cool!
Chapter 8 - AUGUST
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GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN
Inspiration: The peak of summer blossoms and produce.
Showcase the gifts of the garden with fresh foods in floral presentations.
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SEAFOOD AND CITRUS
Inspiration: Hot August days
Fishing for a feast that's cool and cooling? The classic culinary combination of seafood and citrus is cast in new guises guaranteed to hook your guests.
Chapter 9 - SEPTEMBER
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Inspiration: First day of school
Keep your guests guessing with Culinary Charades.
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GRANDMA'S FOOD - NOT! FOOD OF THE 50'S REFASHIONED
Inspiration: Grandparent's Day
Grandma might think she knows what these dishes are, but she'll be blown away by their sensational new tastes.
Chapter 10 - OCTOBER
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TRICKS AND TREATS
Inspiration: Halloween
They'll bolt down the bats, gobble up the ghouls and goblins, and purely pig out on the pumpkins.
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A CARIBBEAN COLUMBUS DAY
Inspiration: Columbus Day
Set sail on a voyage of discovery where Italian cuisine meets Caribbean flavors.
Chapter 11 - NOVEMBER
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THANKSGIVING TRANSFORMED
Inspiration: Tired of turkey?
The bird is no turkey; the stuffing is elsewhere. Your guess will be thankful.
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ELECTION DAY
Inspiration: Election Day, of course
A culinary staging of an election's stages. Unlike elections, there is no boloney here!
Chapter 12 - DECEMBER
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RICH AND FANCY
Inspiration: New Year's Day
Food, fun, fireworks! Have it all with a rich and fancy, fabulous feast.
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PRESENTS A'PLENTY
Inspiration: December holidays
Christmas! Hanukkah! Kwanzaa! It's the holiday season! This festive feast features elegant foods, some presented as symbols of the three holidays, others as presents, deliciously wrapped and tied.
