The theme of Dinner Party 01 was : A Progressive Dinner Party (with a twist) for Single, Eligible, Strangers. The meal would consist of four courses: apertif, starter, main, dessert. Each course would be hosted in a different home. The meal would be documented real time to a blog by the hosts through a variety of medium including text, video, & stop frame.
Synopsis:
1. Four sets of ‘hosts’ in the Dalston vicinity were secured. Each agreed to allow six strangers into their home and serve them one course.
2. Numerous single candidates were approached and finally three girls and three boys agreed to attend a ‘dinner party project’ from 7 – 10.30pm on Saturday night in Dalston.
3. Invitations were posted to the guests with the location of the first course.
4. A blog was created and invitations were emailed to members of the public to attend the dinner party online.
5. Hosts were given a timing plan of when their bit was. The choice of food, music, and amount of social engagement provided was left entirely up to the host. No course had to relate to another.
6. On the night the hosts welcomed the six guests into their home, fed them the course, and then at a specified time sent the guests on to the next destination. The guests had no idea that the party would be shifting premises.
7. As the guests moved to the next destination the hosts were asked to write up their thoughts of the experience and upload them to the blog, along with any video or photos they had captured.
8. After the dessert course all the hosts and guests congregated at the pub at which point the blog was revealed to the guests and the dinner party complete.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
AT THE MOUSTACHE BAR
Janna, Phil, Sian & Robin
Jimmy & Simon Dalston - of We Play Music
Michael & Robin
AFTER DESSERT...WE MEET AT THE PUB... AND THEN
The hosts started congregating at the Marquis of Landsdowne pub at around 10pm to wait for the guests to arrive from their final course. Phil and Janna were there first, post-kebab, securing the area. Sian, Vera and Marg arrived next, having been given the signal that the guests were nearly done. Vera was digging the 70s choonage basslines. Marg was up and down like a meercat watching the window. Sian rung Brad and told him to hurry up.
The guests finally arrived, delivered by Denise, all in high spirits. Marg met Toby, Robin and Christina for the first time. Frivolity prevailed. Emma arrived with a gang who had been following the action from home. Audrey made her way on a bus. Pints and the like were consumed. Denise swapped places with Brad. Vera disappeared into the night with her rucksack full of chef gear. The party made its move further up the road to the Moustache Bar...
Simon and Jimmy of We Play Music were on the decks, (see www.weplaymusic.co.uk ) Not entirely sure what went on so dark and heaving it was... However... we did just make out Catherine and Toby in a corner. [!]
And after that they still wanted more! So we trooped down the road to Brad and Denise's who hosted, once again, this motley crew. Not around a table this time, but flung across the sofa, the floor, and taking turns on the bean bag. Simon and Jimmy rolled. We had the three Beastie Boys tracks. GIRLS. Eugenia and Michael wandered home around 4 [!] ...the rest of us were hoofed out at 5. And there it was!
The guests finally arrived, delivered by Denise, all in high spirits. Marg met Toby, Robin and Christina for the first time. Frivolity prevailed. Emma arrived with a gang who had been following the action from home. Audrey made her way on a bus. Pints and the like were consumed. Denise swapped places with Brad. Vera disappeared into the night with her rucksack full of chef gear. The party made its move further up the road to the Moustache Bar...
Simon and Jimmy of We Play Music were on the decks, (see www.weplaymusic.co.uk ) Not entirely sure what went on so dark and heaving it was... However... we did just make out Catherine and Toby in a corner. [!]
And after that they still wanted more! So we trooped down the road to Brad and Denise's who hosted, once again, this motley crew. Not around a table this time, but flung across the sofa, the floor, and taking turns on the bean bag. Simon and Jimmy rolled. We had the three Beastie Boys tracks. GIRLS. Eugenia and Michael wandered home around 4 [!] ...the rest of us were hoofed out at 5. And there it was!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Deeeeelightful!
3 bootiful ladies and 3 gorgeous guys arrived, had some dessert and some limoncella and entertained us mightly, twas a great success and much fun was had by all... at least that's what I reckon :O)
Poem about the dessert.
this.
is.
dessert.
(..
note the cho-
colate saus
e being liber
ally applied!!>
).
MNGHH!
(ugh.)
THE END.
Dessert...
Here is a time-lapse video of our guests, already nice and merry, and clearly enjoying themselves.
Apple strudel, ice cream, chocolate sauce, limoncello, coffee and a spliff later; they are now off to the next of the evening's festivities...
Apple strudel, ice cream, chocolate sauce, limoncello, coffee and a spliff later; they are now off to the next of the evening's festivities...
Vera's impressions
Scents of sage and caraway... a marvellous green coat with a small white stain on the collar... red or white?... Taste the Difference... girls at the warm end and boys by the door... Heigh Ho Heigh Ho It's Off to Work We Go... Who heard the Disney?... a moment to breathe... and then a gift of a perfect lotus cake, replete with a special little sachet... do I sprinkle it on top?
Scents of sage and caraway... a marvellous green coat with a small white stain on the collar... red or white?... Taste the Difference... girls at the warm end and boys by the door... Heigh Ho Heigh Ho It's Off to Work We Go... Who heard the Disney?... a moment to breathe... and then a gift of a perfect lotus cake, replete with a special little sachet... do I sprinkle it on top?
Vera & Sian do mains
our happy guests arrived and were served their delicious meal. the plates were hot and they were ready for culinary brilliance by the hand of vera. wine flowed, cutlery clinked (as we heard from our rookery) and the conversation ranged from professional food tasting to children in iraq, and all shades in between. we sent them off to their final course after recording some thoughts, steeped in gratitude for a mysterious and delightful evening of wonder.
Oh... Another thing...
Thought we might lubricate the "spin-the-bottle" game we'll be hosting with a load of limoncello...
Line's and Eugenia's observations of STARTERS
Picked up the guys from downstairs, they all seemed very excited and rather confused!
Tried to ask us questions about what was going on, but obviously we gave nothing away!
Seated them in the kitchen with spanish themed starters and red wine and left them to it, all seemed to be enjoying themselves, they even went for a second drink, all agreed that they liked their drinks, particular their sambuca, but apperently not tequila ( someone had a bad experience once....)
Well, dont think we can comment on who got on with who ( they are probably still figuring it out themselves;) but we definitely think there was a flirty vibe there.
Sent them of for mains at 8.20, as they were walking down they all agreed, that it was a brilliant way to spend an evening, instead of just being stuck in one room all night, as one commented, so lets see what happens next.............
Tried to ask us questions about what was going on, but obviously we gave nothing away!
Seated them in the kitchen with spanish themed starters and red wine and left them to it, all seemed to be enjoying themselves, they even went for a second drink, all agreed that they liked their drinks, particular their sambuca, but apperently not tequila ( someone had a bad experience once....)
Well, dont think we can comment on who got on with who ( they are probably still figuring it out themselves;) but we definitely think there was a flirty vibe there.
Sent them of for mains at 8.20, as they were walking down they all agreed, that it was a brilliant way to spend an evening, instead of just being stuck in one room all night, as one commented, so lets see what happens next.............
DESSERT PREPARATION
The preparation of the 3rd course has now commenced. There is much laying of tables, fluffing of filo pastry and general sorting out going on.
Dessert Menu:
Organic free range apple strudel lightly dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. Served with icecream and Belgian chocolate sauce...
STARTERS
Hosted by Eugenia and Line
(in a new venue on Kingsland High Street. The guests have been whisked down the road in an Addison Lee)
MENU
Pechuga de pollo rebozada en kikos con guacamole
Empanadillas de queso
Tortilla de patatas
Tostas de jamon Serrano
Croquetas de pistachios y gambas y epsinacas
Vino tinto
(in a new venue on Kingsland High Street. The guests have been whisked down the road in an Addison Lee)
MENU
Pechuga de pollo rebozada en kikos con guacamole
Empanadillas de queso
Tortilla de patatas
Tostas de jamon Serrano
Croquetas de pistachios y gambas y epsinacas
Vino tinto
Introductions, Drinks, Conversation - Aperitifs, Done
It was a little daunting being the first stop off but I think it went well. Phil and I tried to give the place a nice, relaxed lounge-y feel. Low lighting, candles, Frank Sinatra in the background. Phil called it our "Mad Men" theme - who knows what the hell it was but it worked.
Michael was the first to arrive and I liked him right away - maybe its because I heard him ask Phil about our cats. I'm pretty easy to please. Everyone else arrived pretty shortly afterward - which is impressive since I am usually fashionably late for everything. Audrey even brought us Chinese moon pies - which I am excited to dig into.
The women - Christina, Catherine and Audrey - were all super cute and the same with the guys - Michael, Toby and Robin. I liked that they were all a little different from each other. I mean each of the six had a personality - not the usual carbon copy Shoreditch hipster that I'm used to seeing around the neighborhood. Refreshing. All six seemed interesting and friendly.
Everyone seemed to get along well and jumped right in to conversation. I didn't listen in much since Phil and I were trying to give the group space. We didn't want them talking to us and not getting to know eachother. Plus, it seemed a little mysterious and silly to be the hosts but not really play the typical host role. A couple people knew a little too much information about the evening's goings on but not enough to ruin anything. I was a little surprised that no one really asked us anything about what was going on other than Michael - at least not until we told them to get their coats and move to the next course. Then everyone had questions and started to wonder what the evening had in store. No one even seemed to notice that there was nothing cooking. Everyone just went with the flow.
Hoping the experiment is a success and all six get on well - I'm interested to see everyone at the end and get their impressions of the whole project.
Now Phil and I are changing and going out for a kebab - we, unlike lucky Michael, Christina, Catherine, Toby, Robin and Audrey, don't get a fabulous 3 course meal tonight.
Michael was the first to arrive and I liked him right away - maybe its because I heard him ask Phil about our cats. I'm pretty easy to please. Everyone else arrived pretty shortly afterward - which is impressive since I am usually fashionably late for everything. Audrey even brought us Chinese moon pies - which I am excited to dig into.
The women - Christina, Catherine and Audrey - were all super cute and the same with the guys - Michael, Toby and Robin. I liked that they were all a little different from each other. I mean each of the six had a personality - not the usual carbon copy Shoreditch hipster that I'm used to seeing around the neighborhood. Refreshing. All six seemed interesting and friendly.
Everyone seemed to get along well and jumped right in to conversation. I didn't listen in much since Phil and I were trying to give the group space. We didn't want them talking to us and not getting to know eachother. Plus, it seemed a little mysterious and silly to be the hosts but not really play the typical host role. A couple people knew a little too much information about the evening's goings on but not enough to ruin anything. I was a little surprised that no one really asked us anything about what was going on other than Michael - at least not until we told them to get their coats and move to the next course. Then everyone had questions and started to wonder what the evening had in store. No one even seemed to notice that there was nothing cooking. Everyone just went with the flow.
Hoping the experiment is a success and all six get on well - I'm interested to see everyone at the end and get their impressions of the whole project.
Now Phil and I are changing and going out for a kebab - we, unlike lucky Michael, Christina, Catherine, Toby, Robin and Audrey, don't get a fabulous 3 course meal tonight.
Apertif: Observations
(Pic is our lovely hostess, Janna, all dressed up)Our flat is an open loft in a Victorian-era warehouse. We lit it with candles, and played Frank Sinatra's "At the Sands" from 1966. We served Italian Prosecco and Kentucky Bourbon. 4 drank Prosecco, 1 drank Bourbon, and 1 only water. Janna and I each had a drink or two, and on empty stomachs we were getting happy. We put out some light snacks (nuts, mix, etc), but no one stumbled across them in the dim light.
People were a little cautious, but in good spirits. Everyone took care of introducing themselves, and congregated together in the most open part of the flat, near the kitchen. They didn't stray too far: no one wandered over to check out the couches or the sitting area. I think they were all having fun just chatting... and maybe a little nervous.
Specific thoughts? Everyone was attractive. Girls were gorgeous, guys were handsome. Not all clones of each other - everyone had their own look and attitude. "Right" age, I guess. Late 20s to early 30s, more or less. Its not like we had a 16 year old and a 60 year old both walk in, that might have been awkward.
Janna and I were mostly busy answering the door and pouring drinks, and when we had a free moment we stayed out of the way and let the 6 guests interact with each other. Weren't able to hear too many specific details of the conversation, but some common themes:
- Where do you live?
- Where are you from?
- How long have you been in London?
Don't think I heard too much work talk, thankfully, but I did catch the guys talking a little football at one point.
Pretty much what I would have been talking about if I were in their shoes. Nothing too intimate at first, right? Light, polite conversation. Pretty evenly spread about - either most of them together, or two groups right next to each other.
Alcohol consumption: Michael, Catherine, Christina each had two small glasses of Prosecco; Toby had one glass; Robin had a taste of Bourbon; Audrey was just drinking water - but smoking. One entire bottle of Prosecco finished.
Once the car called and said they were downstairs, I announced that was the end of this phase, thanked them for coming, then Janna walked them to the door. They had to navigate back out through the building and to the car themselves.
Overall, the Apertif phase went off without a hitch. Hope their next phases are just as smooth, if not a little more lively. Its not fun if everything goes according to plan, right?
DESSERT
They are there now eating it!!
Hosted by Brad and Denise
Hosted by Brad and Denise
MENU
Apple & pecan strudel with ginger ice-cream
Apple & pecan strudel with ginger ice-cream
Coffee
Limencello
Limencello
MAINS
the guests are now at the third venue...
Hosted by
Vera 
and Sian
MENU
Autumnal duck with potatoes and spiced red cabbage
Provenance: Moën & Sons (organic flying-high-in-the-friendly-sky meat) and Brixton Market (inorganic how-low-can-you-go vegetables) ]
Choonage: Do you see the noses growing, wonder where the truth is going?
Autumnal duck with potatoes and spiced red cabbage
Provenance: Moën & Sons (organic flying-high-in-the-friendly-sky meat) and Brixton Market (inorganic how-low-can-you-go vegetables) ]
Choonage: Do you see the noses growing, wonder where the truth is going?
THE GUESTS
This evening’s special guests are…
Boys: Mike Robin Toby
Girls : Audrey Catherine Christina
They have been invited to take part in a dinner party project and that is all they have been told. They are single strangers (as far as we know) and are about to meet each other in the home of Phil and Janna.
Boys: Mike Robin Toby
Girls : Audrey Catherine Christina
They have been invited to take part in a dinner party project and that is all they have been told. They are single strangers (as far as we know) and are about to meet each other in the home of Phil and Janna.
Less than three hours to Dinner Party 01
7PM TONIGHT
Six guests will be meeting in a Dalston home on Kingsland road.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
*newsflash* Dinner Party 01
The first dinner party in the series will take place on the evening of
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2008
Watch this space for details of the menu, guests
and the event as it unfolds...
with gastronomic love...xxx
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2008
Watch this space for details of the menu, guests
and the event as it unfolds...
with gastronomic love...xxx
About
Dalston and Beyond presents...
The Dinner Party Project
A series of dinner parties in Dalston homes
where 6 strangers meet,
eat homecooked dinners
and be merry for a night
Event orchestrators : Marg Laing and Emma Hogan
Email : dalstonandbeyond@googlemail.com
The Dinner Party Project
A series of dinner parties in Dalston homes
where 6 strangers meet,
eat homecooked dinners
and be merry for a night
Event orchestrators : Marg Laing and Emma Hogan
Email : dalstonandbeyond@googlemail.com
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