food and beverage 2012

Loopy Doopy, the rooftop bar at Conrad New York, has created a boozy Popsicle. The frozen fruit puree treat from executive chef Anthony Zamora is dipped in prosecco and served in a prosecco-filled wine goblet. The summery flavors include white peach, blood orange, mango, strawberry, and mojito.

While the cupcake trend may be feeling a bit tired, the alcohol-infused treats from Washington's Crunkcakes pack a new punch. Co-owners Faith Alice Sleeper and Raychel Sabath serve the treats at events and bars around town. The cheekily named cupcakes include the Fat Cat, made with D.C. Brau Penn Quarter Porter chocolate cake infused with bourbon, filled with salted bourbon caramel, and topped with salted bourbon caramel buttercream and a pretzel garnish.

Assaggi Osteria and Assaggi Mozzarella Bar in Washington have created four varieties of wine granitas for this summer: Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Lagrein, and Pinot Noir.  Granita or “ice water” is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, wine, and various flavorings. The red granitas pair well with game, red meats, and aged cheeses.

Chicago's Limelight Catering created this confection for this month's American Harvest Organic Spirit Launch Party at the Ivy Room. It's similar to a flourless chocolate cake bite with a chocolate and vodka ganache.

At the Atlanta stop on Tinsley Mortimer's book tour for her novel Southern Charm, guests could sample Hpnotiq Harmonie- and champagne-infused cupcakes and cake pops. The cupcakes were made by local bakery Cocktail Cupcakes.

Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss partnered with UV Vodka 80 and UV Vodka Whipped to create desserts including alcohol-infused madeleine cookie pops at the Colgate Optic White Beauty Bar this month at Nine Zero One Salon in Los Angeles.

Canard's selection of cocktail-hour fare included a tasting of gazpacho in three flavors, Peking duck pancake wraps, and an oyster bar.

Guests, including Lou Reed, Fern Mallis, and Robert Wilson, were encouraged to wear black-and-white outfits, matching the two-tone color palette of the decor.

Count me among the people who had sworn off the polo matches. The last time I went I saw a cast of thousands pawing at the bar and a number of ladies who looked suspiciously for hire. But then I heard that Polo model and player Nacho Figueras had taken over the event with a partner and was determined to make the events exclusive once again—signing up Town & Country as a sponsor was a good step. But better still was the installation of the Pointy Snout caviar bar, featuring oodles of the white sturgeon black gold and cocktails mixed by Chase White of the Experimental Cocktail Club on the Lower East Side. Yummy all the way around, right?

Finally, some peace and quiet could be found in the Meltzer’s backyard, where a pour was held to get the committee steamed up for Princess Yasmin Aga Khan’s annual event in honor of her famous and talented mother. This magnificent bar arrangement was done by Ron Wendt Design (my former neighbors, hi guys!).

Chicago-based catering firm Boutique Bites serves British-inspired hors d'oeuvre pairings of beef-and-potato puffs and mini shots of Guinness.

The snacks at the TLC event stayed on theme. Abigail Kirsch's menu included a breakfast spread of scones and other pastries, as well as a selection of sausages, potatoes, and fresh fruit.

Several hundred shoppers were treated to a free cup of tea when Visit London kicked off its "Only in London" campaign with a complimentary tea party inside New York's Time Warner Center in 2010. Staffing vendor Eye5 provided the models, clad in traditional butler uniforms, to preside over the tea service.

At the 2012 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, presenting sponsor Belvedere offered refreshing beverages made with their Lemon Tea vodka, including the Lemon Tea Classic Punch, a drink that featured sherbet, black tea, and a mint sprig garnish.

At Barbra Streisand's recent fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center in Malibu, guests helped themselves to a raw fruit and veggie bar. In place of a tablecloth, organizers used a quilt to match the vintage-inspired aesthetic of the event.

Nothing says summer like fresh seafood. At the Power Ball in Toronto, V.I.P. guests helped themselves to shrimp and freshly shucked oysters at a chilled seafood bar provided by Petite Thuet.

Petite Thuet also served a colorful dish of seafood paella at the Power Ball.

A garden-inspired dish featuring seasonal vegetables by Great Performances in New York can stand in for a traditional floral centerpiece.

En Ville Event Design & Catering in Toronto created a picnic-themed display of fruit, bread, and cheese for a summer event.

For Heineken's Inspire Tour in 2010, the food was adapted to the New York market with items like Reuben sandwiches, Chinese dumplings, hot dogs, and falafels served from street carts.

Guests at Stella McCartney's 2011 spring preview were treated to shaved ice by People's Pops in New York.

At Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 collection preview, waitstaff passed citrus-infused cocktails in Mason jars.

Also at Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 collection preview, dessert stands offered sweets from Coolhaus and Pie Corps (pictured). At the latter, guests could also pick up prepackaged jars of fruit cobbler.

McCartney's carnival-themed presentation also had a mac 'n' cheese station. Guests could grab a mini serving wrapped in a spinach cone from a Ferris-wheel stand, or opt for a full cup that could be topped with veggie bacon bits, truffle oil, jalapeños, scallions, or sriracha sauce.

For the grand opening of the Miami Airport Convention Center in Miami earlier this year, the venue's catering team created an edible garden using toasted pumpernickel crumbs as "dirt" with spears of baby carrots, asparagus spears, and zucchini, as well as baby tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella "flowers."

At this year's Luminescence gala in Chicago, passed canapes included cured salmon lollipops, displayed on beds of wheatgrass.

As part of Colgate's White Beauty Bar event in Los Angeles, Skintimate treated attendees to a self-serve sorbet station.

Boston-based event design firm LoLo Event Design recommends setting up self-service bars at summer events. The display includes premixed drinks in large Mason jars, along with fresh herbs and seasonal flowers.

For a fun spin on a summer favorite, LoLo Event Design has caterers serve passed bite-size ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches.

At this year's Tony Awards gala in New York, guests could serve themselves cups of YoArt's frozen yogurt. There were 80 different toppings, including fresh fruit and gummi candies.

Tabú nightclub at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is offering several Fourth of July-inspired cocktails this summer. The White Night (pictured) is a sweet and savory blend of Malibu rum, Frangelico, Rumplemintz, and cream strained and served over ice, then garnished with raspberries and blueberries.

At Barbra Streisand's fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center in Malibu, colorful floral arrangements in wooden vases played off the outdoor setting.

For the dinner, held inside Streisand's home, the summery atmosphere featured neutral tones and fresh-picked centerpieces.

California-based rental company Archive Rentals offers a large collection of authentic vintage Western and camping-themed items, including reclaimed barn-wood tables, camping trailers, Airstream trailers and canoes.

The centerpieces at Diffa's Garden gala in Chicago this year included candelabras wrapped in greenery and white flowers surrounded by Mason jars holding tealights.

For the Central Park Conservancy's annual "Taste of Summer" event in New York, designer Marc Wilson punched up the all-white furnishings with drapes and throw pillows in bright pink, green, and yellow hues.

The V.I.P. area of Toronto's Power Ball was styled with rustic elements for an English-picnic look. Designers used loading palettes as banquet seating and cocktail tables.

Markus Daly Ryan produced Univision's Deportes launch in New York, where picnic tables formed the bulk of the seating and found lumber was turned into cocktail tables for a neighborhood-block-party feel.

At Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 presentation, a large cart overflowing with roses and peonies stood near the entrance to the venue. As guests left, they were given small bouquets or single stems as festive gifts.

At Glossed & Found's Meredith Wendell luncheon in Chicago, A Perfect Event placed giant, colorful pool inflatables throughout the venue to set the tone for the pool party theme.

For the picnic-inspired Absolut Orient Apple launch party in New York last summer, organizers covered the floor of the indoor venue with sod, and brought in live trees and wooden barrels filled with thousands of apples.

At a Belvedere-sponsored event during the 2012 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, guests sat on haystacks covered with bright orange blankets and chevron-patterned pillows.

Chevron-patterned linens were also used on cocktails tables, and sunflower bouquets served as centerpieces.

At this year's Casa de Don Julio event in New York, the outdoor terrace was decorated with Mexican-inspired decor, with barrels and wooden benches used for guest seating and cocktail tables.

This year's Adam Smith Awards gala, which took place in Washington, D.C., had a red-white-and-blue theme.

LoLo Event Design offers hand-painted handkerchiefs that can serve as table numbers at a garden event. Geraniums in a terra cotta pot have a more casual feel than an elaborate formal centerpiece.

LoLo Event Design also creates message-in-a-bottle place cards for beach-inspired events.

At Sears' and Kmart's 2012 collection press preview, the design team brought in foliage, benches, and six live canaries. The birds chirped from freestanding cages placed around the product vignettes.

For a recent pool party, the team at Swank Productions kept the decor streamlined, with a mostly white color palette, mirrored furnishings, and plenty of sheer draping.

For an indoor summer-themed gathering, Swank producers used beach balls to create playful "chandeliers." Tables were covered in summery yellow and orange linens.

Megavision Arts created 2-D and 3-D wall projections as a nod to the pool theme at a party to celebrate newly renovated Los Angeles venue Nic's Beverly Hills.

The recent Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows 100th anniversary bash kicked off with a performance by the Aqualillies, a troupe of water-ballerinas.

At the Power Ball in Toronto, piñatas made for a kid-friendly activity.

At the Seersucker Ride and Social in Washington, D.C., guests enjoyed music from a 1920s jazz band. As a nod to the theme, participants dressed in seersucker and Jazz Age fashions.

Guests also played lawn games like croquet at the Seersucker Ride and Social.

At last year's Stella McCartney spring preview, guests played ping-pong at a table set up outside.

Zen Arts in Southern California offers an array of entertainment that can take place in or around a pool, including their transparent spheres that hold performers and float on water.

At the Power Ball in Toronto, guests took a ride on wooden swings in the main party area.

At Sunglass Hut's summer block party in Miami, family-friendly games included corn hole, bocce ball, ping-pong, and hopscotch.

Pop-a-shot basketball was a popular activity at Sunglass Hut's summer party.

For Yahoo's Genome relaunch party in New York, organizers brought in a trio of synchronized swimmers from Gotham Synchro to swim in the venue's indoor pool. The water dancers sported alien-inspired body suits as a nod to the event's futuristic theme.

Dubbed "Hannah Mermaid," model Hannah Fraser is available for corporate events, and specializes in underwater "aquabatics" and open-water diving.

At Glossed & Found's book launch party designed by A Perfect Event, guests took home summer cocktail recipes provided by Grand Marnier.

The Key West seafood martini includes poached jumbo shrimp, bay scallops, avocado, chopped red onions, peppers, and scallions, tossed in a tangy key lime dressing and served cold in a miniature martini glass. 

Hispanic culture has had a prominent influence on the Tampa region. Good Food Catering Company will serve grilled, citrus-marinated flank steak, drizzled with cilantro chimichurri and served with yellow rice, black beans, and charred corn salsa.

Convention goers will dine on crispy, pressed quesadilla triangles filled with steak, Gorgonzola, and caramelized red onions.

Many of the events during the Republican National Convention will be receptions, where networking is the focus and the food needs to be portable. One of the items Good Food Catering Company will serve is a Caprese skewer on a pipette of extra-virgin olive oil.

Lacassin is using local ingredients in his menu items whenever possible. He plans to serve Gulf shrimp with smoked sausage, onions, and peppers in a white-wine cream sauce over cheddar cheese grits.

For a new spin on canned tuna, Lacassin will serve seared ahi tuna topped with wasabi sauce on a bed of seaweed salad, all in a single-serving can.

“On the Rocks” station, by A Joy Wallace Catering Production

Make-your-own citrus drink bar, by Design Cuisine in Arlington, Virginia

Crudite, dip, and shrimp display, on an antique cart, by L-Eat Catering in Toronto

Blueberry pie pops, blueberry cobbler in iron skillets, and Guinness stout cake, by A Divine Event (770.587.9117, adivineevent.com) in Atlanta

Dessert and artisanal tea buffet, by chef Tomas Rivera for Poko Event Productions in Los Angeles

Tapas bar, by Good Gracious Events! in Los Angeles, displayed on sustainable bamboo risers from Cal-Mil (800.321.9069, calmil.com)

Spring hors d’oeuvres table with lobster tacos, parmesan truffle popcorn, beef short rib sliders with mini shots of Guinness, shrimp tempura lollipops, and mac ’n’ cheese canapés, by Boutique Bites in Chicago

In July at Travel & Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards in New York, sponsor Patrón displayed a sleek wall that housed five tanks of Patrón-based cocktails from which guests could pour their own drinks.

Beauty brand Fresh’s 21st anniversary party in New York included an interactive mixology bar by Shiraz Events with a wall of drink tanks filled with purées and infused juices. Guests filled their cups from the dispensers, then brought them to bartenders who added Belvedere vodka.

Chicago-based Redmoon Theater’s annual benefit in March had a performer topping off guests’ glasses with the company’s “Wine Bike,” which features a spinning chandelier of wine glasses and a series of gears that pour bottles of wine.

The Los Angeles launch party for Zing vodka in July had a unique take on a shot bar: Gloved hands emerged from a rose-covered wall to offer guests glasses of the new spirit.

At Hendrick’s Gin’s “Voyages Into the Unusual” event in Chicago, a bar dubbed the Monster Box was manned by a server wearing a fuzzy “monster paw” who stood behind a curtain. When guests approached, the beastly hand poked through holding a drink—the particular concoction that each guest received was a surprise.