All countries in the European Union must notify consumers when foods contain any of the top 14 allergens that the E.U. regulates. At an MPI event in Poland, organizers wrote on the table covers to indicate which allergens were present in the buffet items. Stuckrath says she would like to see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration adopt a similar requirement. “The more transparent you are up front the less headaches you’ll have from questions,” she says.
Photo: Tracy Stuckrath
Beetroot Salmon Blinis and Quail’s Egg, Crayfish, and Caviar Blini
“I love the vibrant fuchsia of the salmon next to the pop of black caviar on these blinis," Taylor writes in Party-Perfect Bites.
Photo: Helen Cathcart
Planners and other event pros said that cake pops and other desserts on a stick are played out.
Photo: Jihan Cerda
Boston Ballet Ball
At the March 29 gala, the Boston Ballet celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ball at the Castle at Park Plaza. To mark the occasion, appetizers were passed on trays that said "50 Years." Items included tuna and mango cubes with pickled-ginger glaze.
Photo: Michael Blanchard
At this year's Dining by Design, the annual fund-raising event hosted by Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Smartwater's space aimed to reflect the brand's natural water purification process, which is mirrored after rain clouds. The fluffy fixtures lit up like a storm above the simple table setting. The event took place at New York's Pier 92 in March.
Photo: Cornelia Stiles/BizBash
Lucite chairs, candles, and sleek white linens dressed the 150-foot tables at the Joffrey Ballet gala in Chicago in 2010.
Photo: Greg Davis/Powell Photography Inc.
At a 2013 brunch for L'Oréal, designer and producer Joe Moller added subtle branding to the setup on the Viceroy Miami's outdoor terrace, adding L'Oréal lettering to the backs of chairs and using shallow gold vases filled with products as tabletop centerpieces.
Photo: Joe Moller
The Women's Wear Daily Beauty Summit in 2013 had a sleek, all-white design from Shiraz Events. Guests sat in clear Miro chairs at communal tables topped with white linens and simple birch vases holding cobble moss balls.
Photo: Sean Smith
At a benefit for New York's High Line in 2011, fresh vegetables provided by Bite were displayed on a simple buffet spread.
Photo: Jeeyun Lee/BizBash
At the Elle Women in Hollywood awards this month at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, long-time producer Caravents worked with Elle event director Katie Crown on the overall vision and event design. Blush tones in details from the linens to the roses created a feminime feel along with graphite mirror runners with clear cylinder vases.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
At Diffa Dining by Design's New York iteration in 2013, Kenneth Cobonpue placed plates and cups in organic shapes on a spare wood table. The minimalist setting allowed eyes to focus on the living centerpiece: a cluster of moss topped with bowls that held live Betta fish.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
The "Imagining the Lowline" fund-raising initiative's co-founders hosted a New York dinner billed as an "anti-gala" in 2012. Van Wyck & Van Wyck used reclaimed wood dining tables decorated with traditional taper candles and organic centerpieces made up of potted mint, lavender, rosemary, geranium leaves, and olive branches.
Photo: Andrew Martin/BizBash
For an event for Munchkin baby products in Los Angeles in November, Jeannie Savage of Details Details used toys on the tabletops to "evoke childhood memories," she said, for the bloggers, event planners, and influential mom guests in attendance.
Photo: Jessica Claire
At the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS' Dining by Design benefit in New York in 2012, David Stark's installation for Benjamin Moore used real books and hand-made pop-up books to highlight the concept behind the brand's slogan: “A whole new chapter in paint color technology is being written.”
Photo: Ronnie Andren for BizBash
Chicago Botanic Garden's Harvest Ball
The Chicago Botanic Garden hosted its fall fund-raiser on September 19. HMR Designs handled decor and aimed to bring an "outdoor garden party" look into the tented dinner space. A tall potted ficus tree was placed at the center of the space, and Frost provided overhead string lights. Tabletop decor included silver-speckled glass, votive candles, and lanterns in various sizes. Floral arrangements held succulents, white hydrangeas, and orchid blossoms with autumnal accents of artichokes, black grapes, berries, and seasonal greenery. Teak wood troughs surrounded by birch bark held the arrangements.
Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
The Art Institute of Chicago's "Gates of the Lord" Exhibition Event
To celebrate the opening of its new "Gates of the Lord" exhibit, which showcases Indian Krishna paintings, the Art Institute of Chicago hosted an intimate dinner earlier this month. HMR Designs handled decor, and created floral arrangements that showcased rich, autumnal colors. Flowers included red and coral roses, green and gold cymbidium orchids, green hydrangeas, and wine-colored Sumatra lilies.
Photo: Robert Kusel
At an event for the Knot, held at the New York Public Library in October 2014, executive chef Robin Selden of Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning hung small crystal orbs filled with two types of salad—a fruit and kale one with shaved coconut and a wheatberry salad with mushrooms, caramelized shallots, and roasted fennel—from a tree.
Photo: Courtesy of Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning
At the How I Met Your Mother holiday party in Los Angeles at Fox Studios in December 2013, the show's cast and crew ate and played at a gingerbread-decorating station set up by Marina del Ray-based Schaffer's Genuine Foods.
Photo: Courtesy of Schaffer's Genuine Foods
Deutsch LA's Studio 54-theme holiday party, held at Hangar 8 in Santa Monica, California, in December 2014, featured a new classic—peppermint cake pops by Schaffer's Genuine Foods.
Photo: Sherri J Photography
After launching in 1998 in the Hamptons, Super Saturday debuted in Los Angeles in 2014. It will expand to Las Vegas this month.
Photo: Lara Solanki
Exploring the Bloody Mary
A display of spirits and yellow and red cherry tomatoes provided on-theme decor at the Exploring the Bloody Mary tasting seminar February 22 at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.
Photo: Zoltan LeClerc/Getty Images
Flavors of India
Clothespins provided an unexpected serving presentation idea for a dish at the Flavors of India dinner.
Photo: Nicolas Stipcianos/Getty Images
Harlem Shake Dinner
Served during the reception at the Harlem Shake Dinner, compressed watermelon with feta cheese “snow” had a striking color contrast. Chef Marcus Samuelsson hosted the event with Charles Gabriel, JJ Johnson, and Christopher Lee on February 20 at the Forge restaurant.
Photo: Zoltan LeClerc/Getty Images
Hazelnut sponge cake layered with praline crunch and crémeux, lemon marmalade, and chocolate parfait, topped with a gianduja glaze, by Puff ‘n Stuff in Orlando
Photo: Courtesy of Puff 'n Stuff Catering
Winter Caprese skewers with apples, red beets, and mint, by Fig Catering in Chicago
Photo: Dominick Mastrangelo for BizBash
Hot apple cider with spiced rum, garnished with apple slices, cranberries, cloves, and cinnamon sticks for stirring, by Paramount Events in Chicago
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Events
Instead of traditional mother-of-pearl spoons, Peter Callahan serves dollops of caviar on tasty flatware made of Parmesan cracker dough, topped with crème fraîche and accompanied by a chilled shot of vodka.
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Callahan Catering
