Halloween is just around the corner...

Halloween is  just around the corner, but that doesn't mean you should let the kids have all the fun!  

Follow my tricks to treat your friends and family to a ghoulishly fabulous costume party with a grown-up twist!  

Hollow out pumpkins of various shapes, sizes, and colors. Drill small holes in them to create your designs. Add votive candles and arrange near the front door.

Play scary Halloween sound effects, and horror movie music as the guests arrive.

Have a door prize for the best Halloween costume.

String fishing wire over the buffet table and hang orange paper lanterns. Scatter Halloween confetti over the tablecloth.

Plan a simple party buffet menu.  A variety of soups, salads and sandwiches will make it easy on you and your guests.

Make a graveyard cake for dessert. Cut cookie dough into tombstone shapes and bake. Use icing to write R.I.P. on the cooled cookies and personalize them with guests' names. Stick the tombstones into a chocolate cake to resemble a graveyard.

Create a refreshment station. Fill an aluminum tub with ice, and pack it with all your favorite canned and bottled drinks, and let everyone just grab an go.

Or  give me a call, and let me turn it into a Monster Bash!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

PartyCharlie's September to Remember Party!

WOW!!! In a blink of an eye, the summer has flown by!  Other than Labor Day, September has always been an in-between month for parties. 

The summer may be heading into the past, and the Holiday season may be coming around the bend,  but don't let that stop you from throwing a party extravaganza!  

We are lucky to  live in Southern California, so there's no need to take your party inside. Let the outdoor fun continue, with PartyCharlie's September to Remember Party! 

Let your creative juices, shine... A September to Remember party, can be anything you want it to be, as long as it is... Memorable!

If you're having trouble coming up with a theme, don't worry, September is chock full of merriment!

Here are a few of my favorite, off-beat September holidays:

September 14, National Cream-filled Donut Day, September 15, Felt Hat Day, September 19, National Butterscotch Pudding Day, September 28,  Ask A Stupid Question Day!  

If you can dream it, PartyCharlie, can make it happen!  Give me a call, and I will create an event for you and your friends and family, that will always be remembered!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Buffet Basics - Part Two

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 27, page. 137.

Buffet Basics - Part Two

If you don’t have much of one particular buffet item, put it on the end of your buffet. That way people will fill their plates with the items of which you have plenty, then just a taste of the item of which you have little.

Don’t forget the condiments such as mustard, chutney, or relish. If you have the room, set up a separate, smaller condiment table. This moves people away from the buffet so they’re

not blocking other’s access to the food.

In order to make the party run smoothly so you’re not running around, put out the desserts that don’t require refrigeration at the same time you open your buffet. A separate table is

recommended, unless you’re pressed for space or dessert is a surprise.

Make coffee before you serve the food. You’d be amazed how many people like coffee with their meal.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Buffet Basics - Part One

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 27, page. 136.

Buffet Basics - Part One

What goes on the buffet? Plates, napkins, utensils, and food. Decorating your buffet is a great idea, but make sure you have room for your essential items.

If you’re having just one main dish and a few side dishes, you may be able to use one large buffet table. However, if you’re having a lot of different types of food, consider setting up the

buffet tables as food stations throughout your venue. At one station, you might have appetizers. At another, entrees. At another, salads. At another, warm side dishes. And finally, the dessert.

Put all your cold food together — salads, chilled pastas, and so on. Similarly, put all your hot foods together.

Always serve your cold food first on the buffet. You’ll want your guests to choose their cold foods and then decide on their hot foods. This ensures their hot foods won’t get cold by the

time they walk back to their tables.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

The Western Hoedown Party!

The PartyCharlie summer party series continues with a scorcher of a party to match the rising July heat...

The Western Hoedown Party! 

Do you have a friend that owns a farm?  Is there a barn nearby that you can rent?  No?  That's okay...  All you need is a good sized backyard, and a little imagination!

To set the mood for your Hoedown extravaganza, send creative western themed invitations to your guests.  Tell your guests to get themselves a cowboy hat, a pair of boots, and spurs and get ready to square dance the night away!

Good, stick to your ribs foods, served buffet style is ideal for this type of party.  Serve an assortment of grilled meats, beans, biscuits, and salads, served on rustic wooden trays, surrounded by bales of hay.

The line dance starts here!  Call me, PartyCharlie, and I'll have you and your guests riding into the party sunset!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

 

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

 

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

Know Your Crowd

Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide To A Successful Party -  Chapter 4, pages. 26, and 27.

Know your crowd

Instead of planning your party around what you like, consider whatyour guests like. This goes for all stages of your party, such

as your theme, music, and menu.

Garlic is great, but if it’s a cocktail party and people

are talking close to each other, think twice about the amount you use.

Consider the age group of your guests. This will tell you a little bit about their eating habits. Older people tend to stay away from spicy and chewy foods, whereas younger people like trendy foods.

For a children’s party with lots of adults in attendance, provide two menus: one for the children and one for the adults.

Knowing your crowd will tell you if you should serve beer, wine, or possibly tropical blended drinks. Maybe it’s a martini crowd.

If it’s a dancing crowd, make sure to provide music

and an area for dancing.

Themes are great, but a toga party probably would

not be a great choice for an older crowd. But then

again, maybe it will. That’s the point of knowing your crowd.

Take a minute and consider the crowd. It’s that simple!

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!

Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com

It's summer, and it's time for PartyCharlie's summer party series to kick into full gear.
 

This year PartyCharlie's summer party series will focus on the most delectable of food, fun... YEP, I'm talking barbeque! 
 

My 2012 summer series, will concentrate on unique barbeque, from around the globe.
 

This month I would like to introduce you to The Italian Barbeque Party!!!
 

Everyone loves Italian food! It is the number one food choice for restaurant patrons, around the globe.
 

When we talk about Italian barbeque, the number one component is an amazing menu!
 

To kick the party off, how about a grilled Italian, fresh mozzarella, and basil pizza!  Followed by slow, and smoked ribs, infused in a Tuscan, garlic marinade, sprinkled with, my special Oreganato  blend.
 

Dessert on a barbeque? You bet, Italian style! You will have died, and gone to heaven when you experience my Grilled Pound Cake with Espresso Chocolate Sauce!

Start your party with my Quinoa Pasta Extravaganza recipe! Check out the  video at Super Mommy... Not - a parenting website for the less than perfect parent!

Gluten free pasta was used for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite pasta size, or shape.

If you can dream it... PartyCharlie can create it!

My “Five Steps for Creating the Energy for an Outrageously Successful Party,” will provide you with all the necessary ingredients to plan and host memorable events that you and your guests will rave about. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, grand opening, holiday party or family celebration, let my 30+ years in the party planning and catering business be your guide to hosting an outrageously successful and stress-free event. Order your book today!Sign Up For My FREE Monthly Newsletter: http://www.charliescola.com