So retro! No, it's not the 50's but the 80's! La Diva and her evil twin Tommy and friend Jimmy in his THING outside of Lili's bar in Detroit.Darlings, how many 18-year-olds do you know that are sophisticated enough to throw their own cocktail party complete with canapes, cocktails and fabulous couture? Not many, right?
Well, that's what La Diva did! Back in the early 80's, Diva and her evil twin Tommy, decided we would throw a cocktail party for New Year's. And darlings, you KNOW it was fabulous! I did all the catering, Tommy bought the booze and provided the venue (his mom and dad were out of town!)
We really wanted something swish so everyone HAD TO DRESS UP in their finest cocktail clothes. Of course, La Diva was in a vintage 50's dress and gloves! We had our dance mix cassette, helium filled balloons with ribbon and a strobe light for our dance floor! Seriously, darlings, the party was very sophisticated and well-thought-out for teens at such a tender age.
A 21-year-old Diva wearing a vintage cocktail dress adorned with bow, collar with silver bugle beads, white kids gloves and diamante jewelry.And, like a true chef, before the party La Diva was downtown at the Eastern Market in Detroit, searching for the best produce for my party. It was around Christmastime, and I ended up finding decadently huge strawberries from New Zealand, which I hand dipped in chocolate. It was a REALLY BIG DEAL back then to get strawberries in wintertime as believe it or not, we used to only get produce that was in season! Everyone was impressed that I was able to get such a wicked out-of-season treat!
The party was a huge success and was actually pretty serious stuff for a couple of 18-year-olds, especially when I think of the kids I know today who can barely make popcorn let alone throw a cocktail party!
My siblings and cousins at a Hawaiin luau organized by my mother. (Guess which one is La Diva?) We were all drinking punch out of pineapples and found out later that the drinks were swimming with gnats! Ah well, didn't kill us!La Diva comes from a boisterous and entertaining family. My mother, having six fun-loving siblings and a father who loved to cook, was always organizing hayrides in an apple orchard or Hawaiin luaus or raucous family pool parties with all our cousins, aunts and uncles.
My dad's side of the family boasted talented musicians and most family events ended up with guitars, keyboards and musical "jams!" My bro would be playing guitar while La Diva would be on vocals. Clearly it was in my blood to be a party thrower and entertainer.
My dad's side of the family boasted talented musicians and most family events ended up with guitars, keyboards and musical "jams!" My bro would be playing guitar while La Diva would be on vocals. Clearly it was in my blood to be a party thrower and entertainer.
Fast forward a few years (hehe) and La Diva Cucina was born.
small bites, BIG DRINKS class from June 09.Want to know how to make cocktails for 60?
La Diva will show you!
La Diva will show you!
Want to feed Boozy Suzy before she gets too woozy?
Let La Diva help you feed hungry guests!
Let La Diva help you feed hungry guests!
La Diva Cucina's "small bites, BIG DRINKS'' class teaches you everything you need to throw a fabulous cocktail party in a mere three hours!
Attendees will learn how to make three cocktails and six appetizers while we laugh, eat and drink. La Diva teaches the class with sauce and sass while her DJ Nevah L8 (4 dinnah) spins hip beats!
Here's what you get:
* Three cocktails:
- Lemongrass ginger martini with Skyy Citrus Infusion vodka
- Rosangel hibiscus tequila pomegranate margarita
- Miami Sunset with classic Campari and blood orange! YUM!
* Six appetizers:
- white bean and garlic dip with crostini
- Thai red curry party bites
- pinwheels two ways: Italian turkey sausage or sun-dried tomato artichoke
- fried stuffed green olives
- mango curry shrimp cups
* Recipe book: jam packed with party throwing tips and bartending secrets.
* Door prize!
* Hip beats supplied by DJ Nevah L8 (4 dinnah) and conducted in a groovy designer kitchen!
* And most importantly, you'll now be armed with all the knowledge and recipes to throw your own fabulous cocktail party!
Price is $78 per person or $145 for two (cash or check only)
Next class is SEPTEMBER 26!!!
For more info please click here.
You can click on this link to see my blogger profile and learn more about La Diva and see photos of other classroom chaos, please click here for Facebook fan page.
Rustic and dee-lish: caramelized onion and mushroom tarts with a goat's milk blue cheese custard! YUM!In the meantime, La Diva is ALWAYS looking for new ideas for luscious libations and nom-nom nibblies! As prompted once again by the great Shamu over at Karmic Kitchen, I was asked to participate in her Dim Sum Sunday challenge for "A Little Something!" Click here to see what was the "little something" she came up with! (Sham is an amazingly patient cook!)
Meanwhile, La Diva worked on creating another dee-lish "small bite" for my class: caramelized onion and mushroom tarts with a blue cheese custard! Want to know how to make 'em? Come to the "small bites, BIG DRINKS" class!
Meanwhile, La Diva worked on creating another dee-lish "small bite" for my class: caramelized onion and mushroom tarts with a blue cheese custard! Want to know how to make 'em? Come to the "small bites, BIG DRINKS" class!
So, darlings, what ARE you waiting for? FABULOSITY IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY!
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Dammit! I wish I lived closer to you. Sounds like fun will be had by all!!
ReplyDeleteLove the retro glam ensem from the 80's!
I live in the Midwest - Patience is my middle name. I'm a huge fan of tartlets. Little hidden treasures with a lovely crust. Will be patiently waiting for the results of the blue cheese custard experiment.
ReplyDeleteMy question is what happened when Tommy's parents got back into town and found their booze had disappeared? Love the gloves but sad that we can't see your shoes.
Thanks, ladies. I can tell you what I had on my feet: 50's vintage pointy toe pink pumps with a side cut out and strap with bows on the toes! (what else would I be wearing?!!)
ReplyDeleteI tried the tarts in a variety of ways but found that to make a custard paste with flour, egg yolk, blue cheese and hot milk worked best so as not to make the tarts soggy. But need to work on more to perfect! (WF didn't have the blue cheese you suggested so I went with a goat's milk blue that was surprisingly mild)
The funny thing about the party is that we bought all our own booze, drinking age was 18 then in Michigan. But....I left at the end of the night and didn't help clean up (I was meant to come the next morning!) and Tommy's parents came home early to find him in bed with a boy!!! He got into big trouble! (for the party, the boy, not so much!) Diva was long gone! haha!
HAHA! You ARE a tartlet!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I am waiting for my fairy godmother to deposit time and money in my bank account so I can fly down there and take your class. Hmmmm . . . what I need to do is convince a magazine to send me :o).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you look smashing in your retro outfit! Like a blond Liz Taylor. And, likewise smashing today – adore the haircut!
Darlings, how many 18-year-olds do you know that are sophisticated enough to throw their own cocktail party complete with canapes, cocktails and fabulous couture? Not many, right?
ReplyDeleteA few. But of course they were all young, gay men.
Fab pics!
The sophisticated Party at 18 thing is amazing. Especially since it occurred in Detroit.
ReplyDeleteword-veri WINGS. An actual word.
Got any unusual and good Chicken Wing recipes?
You are just too fabulous for words. At 18 I was barely able to eat a proper dinner, much less throw a cocktail party.... go forward 30 years and I'm STILL not able to really eat a proper dinner.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely one of a kind Diva!
ReplyDeleteAwww shucks~ You blogging buds are SO SWEET! Makes me wish the world was just a tad bit smaller...or at least be able to teleport via the Star Trek transporter!!! (now wouldn't that be cool?!)
ReplyDeleteLe Tartlette!!! xxx