An Authentic Thai Dinner Party
Guess what? I am perking on another shindig: A Thai Dinner Party! My friend Aaron Blue of The Charis Project is in the states for a few days to drum up some money for their cause and they asked me to put together a little dinner party for the occasion. You don’t have to ask me twice. I am so excited! I LOVE Thai food and I never say no to party planning.
So far I have secured a venue (a fabulous house!) and ordered some colorful paper globes and parasols. I’m planning to make Thai iced tea and serve it in my tall, skinny bud vase glasses, perhaps garnished with some dendrobium orchids if I can figure out how to do that without anyone ingesting them. Aaron will cook something way off the usual California Thai restaurant menu (Possibly pad krapow! Though we’re not so sure how that will go down on an electric stove..) and I will provide some kind of elaborate (carved?) fruit platter and some veggie spring rolls. I love spring rolls.
I still have some lose ends though. What kind of alcoholic beverage should I serve? I don’t want things to get too rowdy so maybe basil mojitos should stay off the menu and I should stick to beer and wine? Also, where can I find those bamboo boat plates? Or something pretty and cheap to serve our fancy food on? Banana leaves? Has anyone thrown a Thai themed party before? I’d love any suggestions!
I’ll keep you posted on my progress and if you live locally, email me. If you’re nice I’ll see if I can score you an invite, though space is limited.
photo credit:
1. vegan spring rolls 2. pad krapow 3. fruit and vegetable sculpture 4. homemade thai iced tea 5. paper parasols 6. bamboo boats (?) 7. dendrobium orchids
3 Comments
Alyssa
I love cooking Thai food! I’ve had several Thai dinner parties and have a suggested menu in this post, complete with a mango/coconut cocktail. Maybe it will help?: http://www.alyssaandcarla.com/2014/01/22/fried-wonton-wrapped-shrimp/#more-3170
Megan
I’ve found bamboo boats here: http://www.greenpartygoods.com/greenware-bamboowarebiodegradable-c-12_4.html
love the ideas, so colorful and bright!
Katy Potaty
Whilst I don’t think I can jet across from Australia, I’d love to be there in spirit!
I’ve actually hosted a South East Asian dinner party before, and it was a fantastic theme!
Decorate your table with cheap paper or silk fans from your local Chinatown grocer, and you can generally get a handful of banana leaves for free from a greengrocer or Asian grocer if you are buying your rice and other staples there.
Make sure your dessert is appropriately coconutty, and grate coconut and stir coconut cream through your rice, it’s absolutely delish!
Thai culture is actually very blingy, so bring out all your mismatched jewel-toned glassware, tea light candles and decor, and pair it all with some sparkling flatware. Don’t forget the chopsticks too!
Lucky bamboo at each plate setting it a great gift too!