Have you seen the new film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? If not, you must make plans to do so immediately! This beautiful film not only explores the complex range of human emotion in regard to aging, love and relationships, but it also has a fantastic cast, and is set against the gorgeous backdrop of Jaipur, India. My head has been swimming with pinks, golds and all the beautiful colors of India, so I thought it would be fun to put together a blog on how to host a fabulous Indian/Bollywood-inspired luxury dinner party. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, read on!
Whether you’re an experienced host or an entertaining rookie, this is your chance to get creative and host a memorable dinner party where your guests can discover new tastes and exotic flavors.
The Menu
When it comes to planning, the best way to avoid feeling overwhelmed is to start with the element you’re most comfortable with. For many, that means the menu. You don’t have to adhere strictly to Indian cuisine for this event, unless you want to, of course. If most of your guests are only vaguely familiar with Indian food, it might be better stick with foods that aren’t too challenging but would still be rich, spicy and exotic.
As for the Indian dishes you do decide to make, try to stay as true to authentic recipes as possible. Look for dishes that originated in India and not in England. You could also try a couple of fusion dishes, meaning a traditionally American or English dish with an Indian accent.
The Table
With a menu in place, then it’s time for our favorite part: table décor! India is a colorful country, so this is a great chance to experiment with fun hues and textures. For this event, you could even drape the walls, ceilings, or furnishings with colorful tapestries and throws and stack them with pretty cushions in gorgeous summery hues. For this look, why not choose a palette of peacock blue, gold and red?
The Details
To create a stunning table centerpiece, try pouring water in your prettiest glass bowl till half full. Add some colored marbles or glass beads and float flowers and candles in it. Using lots of candles to light the room instead of turning on the lights makes for amazing atmosphere! You can also burn incense, but make sure the scent isn’t too overpowering. You can also pick up a few popular Bollywood tunes or movies from your local Indian store or online. Play them at your party to set the perfect mood.
Photo Credit: John Rent
Table linen: Mandarin Miramar – Reversed
Table runner: Mandarin Miramar