Odyssey America Goes Medieval With Castle Setting
Regal decor, actors in period costume, and a feast fit for a king created a stately ambience at the reinsurer's client appreciation dinner.
February 15, 2006
Odyssey America Reinsurance Corporation hosted a client appreciation dinner at Casa Loma, a medieval-style castle commissioned by Toronto industrialist Sir Henry Pellatt and completed in 1913. With soaring battlements and secret passageways, Casa Loma is a one-of-a-kind structure borne out of Pellatt's great appreciation for European art, architecture, and all things military. Odyssey administration manager Sheila Jones tapped Amanda Navarra, vice president of Presidential Gourmet Fine Catering, to help her plan the dinner. Not surprisingly, they elected to go with a medieval theme.
Caterwaiters from Presidential passed appetizers such as boursin cheese,.phparagus, and truffle wrapped in phyllo purses as guests poured in past the Adventures in Catering, Chaos A La Carte film crew shooting footage for a segment on the catering company. Actors in period costume—including a court jester—from Arato Events strolled casually throughout, chatting and acting like they lived there.
Dinner, served in the library, was presented on rectangular tables laid end to end banquet-style. Designing Trendz supplied table runners made of billowy cream-coloured fabric. Other decor included floral arrangements atop silver candelabra centrepieces interspersed with matching floral arrangements at table height.
The original decor plan called for open candles on the tables, but venue management ordered them removed in accordance with its no-open-flame policy. Fortunately, the venue was able to substitute hurricane lamps, allowed because the candle flame is encased in glass. The menu included roasted pork loin with apple and chestnut stuffing, leg of lamb studded with garlic, and roasted turkey legs.
Caterwaiters from Presidential passed appetizers such as boursin cheese,.phparagus, and truffle wrapped in phyllo purses as guests poured in past the Adventures in Catering, Chaos A La Carte film crew shooting footage for a segment on the catering company. Actors in period costume—including a court jester—from Arato Events strolled casually throughout, chatting and acting like they lived there.
Dinner, served in the library, was presented on rectangular tables laid end to end banquet-style. Designing Trendz supplied table runners made of billowy cream-coloured fabric. Other decor included floral arrangements atop silver candelabra centrepieces interspersed with matching floral arrangements at table height.
The original decor plan called for open candles on the tables, but venue management ordered them removed in accordance with its no-open-flame policy. Fortunately, the venue was able to substitute hurricane lamps, allowed because the candle flame is encased in glass. The menu included roasted pork loin with apple and chestnut stuffing, leg of lamb studded with garlic, and roasted turkey legs.
Designing Trendz provided the decor and floral arrangements for Odyssey America's client appreciation dinner at Casa Loma.
Floral arrangements added colour in the already lush conservatory.
Table decor included fresh flowers, billowy fabrics, and napkins with grape-bunch treatments.
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![Staffing outfits also tied into the theme. 'Taking our cue from [Sawaya], we looked at fashion that pulled inspiration from Dutch painter Piet Mondrian,' explained the museum's Christina Sion. 'We worked with Artists Creating Entertainment to create costumes for a dozen performers mirroring the Mondrian Collection, designed by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1965—but with a cheeky, creative twist. These human LEGO 'mini-figures' provided key guest engagement roles at the event, as well as fun photo ops throughout the cocktail party.'](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/04/SY200307_DiscoveryBall_Roaming_0002__1_.5ea366a3b1c62.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=525&w=630)
