The Beach Feast
Just home from the royal festivities in London, I spent my 33rd birthday celebrating my client's 40th with American Idol's Pia Toscano!
Together with his sweet wife, I had a blast putting together this surprise intimate fantasy birthday for 60 people on my client's bayfront Newport property. Wouldn't have wanted to spend my birthday any other way!
My private client was an complex, interesting one to create a party for ...I didn't know him really ......but did some information gathering to build an appropriate , unforgettable night for him.
My investigation concluded he was low-key with world-class taste, easy to please yet hard to impress, a fine wine lover, man of God, a great guy who is a best friend to his family and an aficionado of old Medieval European Castles and beautiful flowers. Also he had always wanted a "beach feast" at his house and he loves American Idol ---especially Pia Toscano!
Oh, and he often books globe-trotting trips , so cross your fingers if he will even be here for the party!
Armed with my new 411, I created an event which would combine the beach feast idea with a bit of Medieval Castle flair done in a modern way with a bit of summer- in -the -Hamptons touch.
I designed a fabulous invite with Where's the Party ......gave a call one and only Paul Fenner to create floral.....made a visit to
Patty at Hi Times Wine Cellar .....gave the job of capturing the night to the incredible photographer , John Schnack and partnered with
TEI Entertainment to book the queen of this season's American Idol , Pia .
The night came, and under a luxury fabric tent, guests dined on the feast from Chef Matt : Free Range TurDuckEn (Free Range Turkey Served Boneless, Stuffed with Muscovy Duck, Jidori Chicken and Stuffing made from Freshly Baked Ciabatta, Housemade Sausage and Sage Parmesan Sweet Cream Butter), Kurabuta Pork Leg Porchetta, Pork Belly or Suckling Pig (Berkshire Leg of Pork Roasted and Stuffed With Granny Smith Brown Butter Sage Apple Puree and Leg Bone In), Whole Roasted Claire Island Salmon
(Wild Caught Salmon Stuffed with Rosemary, Marjoram, Lemons, Roasted Garlic and Shallots) .......complemented with world -class wines from France and the world. The table was decked out with fine linens, silver candelabras, ornate flatware , succulents and white casablancas in stone urns. Guests were also treated to thick-high quality grey cable knit blankets to keep warm and take home .
Brett Young serenaded the guests as little children danced, toasts were told and conversations started.
As the night was seemingly coming to a close, the birthday boy opened up a cheesy card -the kind you can record your voice on. I had Pia record a sweet birthday message at rehearsal -which I must say ---she spent a lot of time perfecting earlier in the day.
As my client put it up to his ear ---confused ---Pia came around the corner and started singing Happy Birthday ........after a few more seconds of confusion .....he was blown away ....and guests were invited to the stage area which I had converted into an intimate setting of coffee tables and chairs. As she began singing with her gorgeous voice, neighbors trickled onto the beach to watch the special show. It was truly spectacular ....
A big thank you to all my vendors that made it happen and all my gratitude to my lovely clients for commissioning me with such a special night .........
