Paper Palate

Peanut butter and jelly go together about as well as Colin Cowie and party planning.  Known widely in celebrity circles for his lavish affairs (Oprah’s 50th birthday bash anyone?), Colin Cowie knows what he’s doing.  Whether it’s an intimate dinner party, or an all-out, no holds barred shin-dig, he’s got a certain je ne sais quoi for pulling events off with aplomb.

In the Summer 2007 issue of O at Home magazine, Colin gave a few of his tips for throwing a quality party that won’t break the bank:

- Setting a mood.  Altering a room’s ambience is a cinch when you consider smell, sight and sound.  With incense, dimmer switches and music (Colin has 24 speakers hidden in the rooms and on the terraces), he can control the mood throughout the apartment.

- Being flexible.  A bronze urn that serves as a vase for bamboo shoots might double as a shrimp bucket.  Furniture is moved from room to room, as the event dictates.  Take stock of your supplies, Colin says, and be daring in the ways you use them.

- Taking it easy.  “You shouldn’t be an indentured servant,” Colin says.  “If the baker down the road makes a better cake than you do, buy it.  It frees up your time and allows you to serve your guests the best.  Today’s savvy entertainer is a resourceful entertainer.  You get no medal for slicing and dicing everything from scratch.  I like to entertain as easily as possible.  I’m not making drinks one by one - I make a pitcher of one special cocktail.”

- Letting there be light.  “There is something mesmerizing, seductive and glamorous about candlelight - besides the fact that it takes years off your face,” Colin says.  “There’s no such thing as too many candles, though I never use scented ones near food.  I don’t like the idea of smelling vanilla while I’m eating lamb.”

Want more ideas? Check out the current issue of O at Home and Colin’s website.