More Pictures and Stories
To remind you all, the only way I could get Jacques to let me throw him a 60th party was to make it a 60's party. I also had to let him do the decorating. He went a little crazy with tomato cages, twinkle lights and cellophane trying to re-create the set of Barbarella.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/Jacques_60_2012008.jpg
He also did a sort of Flower Power collage in the entry, which was kind of weak until we borrowed a psychedelic projector to liven it up.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/DiningRoomWall.jpg
The guests fit right in
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/thegirls.jpg
Here's the MadMen contingent
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/MadMen.jpg
Andy Warhol and a friend...
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/AndyWarhol.jpg
who turned out to be Sonny in search of Cher.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/SonnyandCher-1.jpg
I kept the menu very simple as a present to Jacques--he hates it when I'm stuck in the kitchen and miss the party. Besides, the 60's weren't really all about food. Everything could be done ahead and I also hired someone to help in the kitchen so I could be with the guests.
HORS D'OEUVRES:
Nuts and Olives
Chicken Liver Mousse
Upscale Pig 'n a Blanket (slices of kielbasa wrapped in puff pastry)
Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce and Green Aioli
Cherry Tomatoes
Eggrolls (brought by my friend Dennis with a sign to go with them. Does anyone remember With Six You Get Eggroll starring Doris Day, Brian Keith, Barbara Hershey and Pat Carroll?)
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/Jacques_60_2012019.jpg
MAIN:
Cheese fondue with bread, new potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, mini bell peppers, apples (which I forgot to put out) and celery
Deviled Eggs
Caesar Salad
DESSERT:
Chocolate fondue with strawberries, angel food cake, marshmallows and pretzels
Birthday Cake: Julia's Orange Almond Sponge cake from The Way to Cook with her Orange Filling and Butter Icing from Mastering I
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/Joe/Jacques_60_2012026.jpg
The drinks, hors d'oeuvres and the two fondues each had their own table to keep people moving around. The fondues were in chafing dishes so they didn't need any fussing after being set up. I had made the chocolate fondue ahead and froze it. We had the piggies wrapped and ready for the oven, and the cheese all grated and measured for the cheese fondue; the assistant finished them both.
This was not a surprise party but Jacques did get a surprise a few days earlier on his actual birthday when three friends from France arrived on the doorstep. He hates surprises and he may never forgive me, but the look of total shock on his face was worth it. He was a little mortified by how cluttered the house was, but since I'm a slob by nature he'd have been suspicious if I'd straightened up. Anyway, he enjoyed the visit and the guests loved the party. Cheese fondue was old hat to them but they had never had chocolate. At one point someone complained they couldn't get near the chocolate fondue for all the French people hogging it.
All in all, this was one of our better parties, precisely because, (and I hate to admit it), I didn't get too carried away with the food.
