Cocktail Club Starts With Beauty and Basil!

It was a wonderful night and it went off without a hitch! Being the first event in our cocktail club, I wanted to really go all out. After all, God is in the details! I started with the theme of Beauty and Basil. I used this invitation from Paperless Post!

I even used a green crocodile liner. I know, I know. I am always extolling the virtues of paper invitations, but for this club wanted it to be easy peasy.

I wanted to have all forms of beauty at the party. Beauty you could see, taste, hear, touch and create!

First, husband had to get the pool and backyard looking smashing. And he did! Sod was in! Mama was happy! Before the party started we had to take of photo of our color coordinating Beauty and Basil attire!

I literally walked into Macy's with an exact idea of the dress I wanted and it was waiting for me. I love that place! Husband looked smashing in his Nantucket reds, green gingham Vineyard Vines shirt and blue blazer!


When our guests arrived they were treated to two signature cocktails from our bartender Robin.

One was a Cucumber Basil Martini with Vodka....

And the other was a Strawberry, Basil Mojito!

We moved outside for our cocktails. Aren't we a colorful and festive group!

 

Soon our Fabulous Chef Manouschka Guerrier of "Single Serving Bytes" was ready with our appetizers!

You may recognize her from Food Networks, Private Chefs of Beverly Hills! You can follow her on twitter @singleserving.

The menu:

Sliced Filet on a Crostini with horseradish

Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Fontina Cheese

Lemon Basil Shrimp with Creole Cocktail Sauce

Tomato, Basil, and Watermelon skewers with balsamic simple syrup

Ahi Tuna Tare Tare Kiss

and guava cream cheese tartlets!

We were loving it! Soon my special guests arrived.

Danielle and her cellist . She was amazing and breathtaking! We listened and also watched the movie "Under The Tuscan Sun", playing on our outdoor wall.

Magical!  Throughout the night my guests painted on canvases with acrylic paints I had set out for them. One canvas per couple.

The guys got into it!

At the end of the night each guest left with a bottle of Santa Barbara Collection wine and a basil plant! A fabulous evening!!!