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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Holiday Tizzy

"I misremember who first was cruel enough to nurture the cocktail party into life. But perhaps it would be not too much too say, in fact it would be not enough to say, that it was not worth the trouble." ~ Dorothy Parker

***

I don't blog about work much. I'd really like to because I think you'd find the stories entertaining and we would be one of your better soap operas/fabulous reality shows, but right now I am just super-duper happy to have a job at all and I don't want to screw that up.

I know I have mentioned the whining, though. People here are expert at this. I cannot even begin to tell you about the rigaramole that has cropped up about our Holiday Party, but let me say that if someone complains about it at this point, the results could be dire (for them) because I had the unique distinction of jumping through all of the hoops by myself this year and am the sole Creative Party Planner and Go-To Festivity Organizer Person this time around.

Since I can't go into details, I will placate you by sharing the menu because if I tell more, I'll never stop tattling and then that would be bad for my economy.

***

Hosted Premium Bar and Reception Station

Antipasto: Select Artisan Cured Meats, Marinated Summer Vegetables, Marinated Olives, House Cured Wild King Salmon House Made Sea Salt Crackers & Grissini


Winter Buffet Dinner

Organic Young Carrot Bisque
Young Forni Brown Lettuces, Garden Herbs and Champagne Vinaigrette
Chef's Choice Vegetarian Pasta Dish
Bloomsdale Spinach Salad, Caramelized Onions, Applewood Smoked Bacon
Organic Heirloom Chicory Salad with Dry Cured Olives and Fresh Mozzarella
House Cured Wild Salmon, Young Lettuces, Fresh Shelling Bean Salad
Garlic Chive Crepes, Local Wild & Cultivated Mushrooms
Stuffed Baby Heirloom Squashes & Eggplants
Wood Roasted Young Chicken with Endive, Frisee and Goat Cheese
Roasted Sonoma Coast Lamb Leg, Garden Herb Crust
Devils Food Cupcakes with White Chocolate Ganache
Organic Apple Confit, Gingersnap Crumble and Vanilla Chantilly Cream
Pear and Huckleberry Tarts

***

Christina, did I do good? It sounds fancy shmancy. I just hope they have enough drinks beforehand to be happy campers. I threw darts at the wine list.

Vintage coolness and the photo I swiped come from Vintage Martini.

27 comments:

P December 10, 2008 at 12:42 PM  

Oh my God, that sounds amazing! I am so bummed that we canceled ours, but I guess they can't very well lay off 40% of the company and then go drink up.

Red Shoes December 10, 2008 at 12:42 PM  

Oooh. Sounds glorious.

tangobaby December 10, 2008 at 12:49 PM  

I actually told the Big Guy to take what he was going to spend on a party and just divide the $$$ between the staff (I wasn't kidding) but he didn't go for it.

I have to tell you that this was done on a pretty tight budget so it better taste good too...I can't say anything about the staffing situation here because I think that's going to be interesting after the holidays.

Needless to say I did not buy a party outfit. I am going to wing it.

will December 10, 2008 at 12:50 PM  

Well, AT MY OFFICE... (uh, I really don't have one, 'cept this computer and my workshop and studio) - and because I'm self-employeed with only me as management and staff ... And at my party (actually there is no party) but if there was a party, I'd ask you to send a few morsels my way! I think your menu is marvelous.

tangobaby December 10, 2008 at 1:03 PM  

Bill, maybe I can send you some of the antipasto platter. I think that would keep well. I can't take credit for the food, only for finding something in our budget.

Maybe you can spring for some egg nog and a gingerbread cookie? The staff might really like that.

julochka December 10, 2008 at 1:04 PM  

this does not look like the menu of global economic crisis...and is "house made" the new word for "homemade" or is my BFF dr. house involved? because if that's it, i'm so crashing this party...

tangobaby December 10, 2008 at 1:14 PM  

I think we are having our global economic crisis *after* the party. And I detest the word "housemade" even more than the words "play date."

Housemade is on every frikkin' menu in town and it really bugs me. Grrr.

Red Shoes December 10, 2008 at 2:22 PM  

Only word worse than "housemade" is "moist".

Think about it.

Anonymous December 10, 2008 at 3:29 PM  

At this point, it would be inconceivable that your party would be anything less than stellar.

Blue Sky Dreaming December 10, 2008 at 4:28 PM  

This menu is wonderful...I'm drooling, err excuse me. Just watch...they will all elbow up to the buffet table and empty the serving platters. Wear something shiny, drink before and a little after as a buffer. Happy Holiday Party!

Dutchbaby December 10, 2008 at 4:28 PM  

Okay, I'd like a photo of Young Forni and just how cultivated are the mushrooms? Are they mushrooms of fine mind? Does "Stuffed Baby Heirloom Squashes..." sound like the beginning of an unfortunate headline to you?

Kidding aside, sounds delish! I guess you can't reveal who's cooking...

Gill December 10, 2008 at 7:50 PM  

OMG.
Hungry now. You've outdone yourself Tango. I'd like an invite to this soiree please, and thank you.
:)
xo

Yoli December 10, 2008 at 8:52 PM  

Wow! Girl can you organize swanky holiday party! Very impressed. I am notorious for skipping holiday parties but I would go to this one. Are you going to go appropriately dressed in period clothing from the 40's?

A Cuban In London December 11, 2008 at 1:51 AM  

That was good organisation. Well done.

Greetings from London.

Char December 11, 2008 at 7:26 AM  

anyone that quotes Parker must be alright with me.

tech December 11, 2008 at 7:28 AM  

KKKKK

Wendy December 11, 2008 at 7:35 AM  

Sounds great. I wish you were here helping me with my Christmas festival organizing fiasco. I'm doing one for the city (we have a very SMALL city) and we're closing off the town square to party down. I vacillate from the horrifying prospect that nobody will show up to the horrifying prospect that EVERYONE will show up and I'll run out of food. I'm so neurotic.

d smith kaich jones December 11, 2008 at 7:57 AM  

Have you seen that you are A Blog of Note on Blogger?

Good things coming your way this week!

Congratulations!

Debi

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 8:26 AM  

We have ours tonight and I do plan to put on all the glitter and sine. I'm so busy with work and other projects that I only have time for a shower and a ponytail. So this should show that yes... I can look like a girl :P

Congrads on Blog of Note

Amy Owens December 11, 2008 at 8:37 AM  

It sounds wonderful!

Amy

PS - Congratulations on being a "Blog of Note".

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 8:38 AM  

The crepes and cupcakes sounds incredibly delicious. Thanks for sharing your menu, and congrats on the Blogs of Note status!

Unknown December 11, 2008 at 8:48 AM  

Oo, sounds delicious! Also, I can sympathize with the party planning whining. I'm in charge of secret santa in my office, and everybody's a critic. Just give gifts secretly and stop complaining!

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 11:14 AM  

I too, have been the sole party planner this year and guess what? I got laid off last week! BUT I am to continue working through the end of the month (so that I can continue planning, Im sure) They want all of us "lay-offees" to attend the party. I just do not think I can do that. How awkward? SO, while I've planned a nice party on a very tight budget, I will not get to see my final product. Here's my menu:

shrimp cocktail, imported & domestic cheese display, gourmet crudites, lobster crab & artichoke dip, pan seared chicken cutlets with sage browned butter and fried capers, beef sirloin tips with wild mushrooms in a rich demi glaze, yukon gold and sweet potato gratin with shallots and fontina cheese, baby zucchini and patty pan squash in herb butter, caesar salad with tobacco onions and shaved parmesan, ginger pumpkin pie and holiday cookies. How'd I do?

christina December 11, 2008 at 11:30 AM  

Now this sounds wonderful! You did a splendid job!

I agree, make sure there is lots of booze.

I swear I would not get passed the cured meats.

Is the dinner going to be served? I'm just asking, because if you need me to set up a few carving stations or a get your tilt on area, I mean sommelier for wine selections, I'm ya girl!

tangas usadas December 11, 2008 at 12:27 PM  

http://www.usadastangas.blogspot.com/ fantastic blog

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 1:47 PM  

he, he, ha my goal this holidays is to take it easy on those drinks. its always hard waking up the next day and not remembering the whole month of december or january or any month with a y in it. i have been sober 1 hour and would like to report that i am doing well

Nancy Ewart December 11, 2008 at 7:54 PM  

WHERE is this party and can I gate crash? That menu sounds fabulous. You have to be careful about work stories but me, I'm retired so I can dish UCSF as much as I want. Back in the day, during my last two years at the EvilMedicalEmpire, we got a new Department Head. To call her worker unfriendly would be an understatement. Since I did the purchasing for the department, she decided that I would also buy the food for the DOCTORS' Christmas Party. A party to which the staff were not invited except as wait staff and clean up staff (also, we were not to touch the food or drink). To add insult to injury, we were told that if we wanted to take off early on Christmas Eve, our pay would be docked. Furthermore, if we (the lowly peons) wanted to have a pot luck party for the lowly staff members, we could not have it on UC's time or at work. It had to be our time. The doctors' food came from general slush funds and added up to a cool $5000 - $6000 dollars. Furthermore, none of the doctors stood up for their hard working staff. They came, they drank, scarfed the food, partied and left us to clean up the mess.