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Home ยป Homes ยป Top tips for entertaining at home

Top tips for entertaining at home

15 May, 2020 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/tips-for-entertaining-at-home-in-hong-kong/

Sad about all the event cancellations in Hong Kong? Turn your FOMO into JOMO (joy of missing out) by getting people around to your place for some fun! Who better to share expert secrets to entertaining at home in Hong Kong than JOHN MCLENNAN? Heโ€™s the founder and executive chairman at Indigo Living, a brand recognised by you (our readers) in our recent Readersโ€™ Choice Awards 2020, where it won a slew of awards, including Best Interior Designer or Home Stylist.

Top tips for entertaining at home

#1 Update Your Dining Setting

“New placemats and napkins are one of the best ways to provide a fresh look for the table. If you have simple coloured dishes, then go for a bolder set of napkins and placemats in a colour coordinated to the napkins.

`A bold new centrepiece is also always a sure-fire way to give the table a new look and feel. Add some candles as a finishing touch to set the mood and create ambience.

With these three simple updates, youโ€™ll feel like youโ€™re dining in a whole new room.”

Entertaining at home - cheese platter

#2 Create Distinct Spaces

“In a small flat, you need to divide the space for appetisers from the dinner area, if possible. I believe in doing drinks and appetisers in the living room first, amidst comfortable seating and in a casual setting โ€“ this acts as the perfect counterpoint for a slightly more formal dining space.

After dinner, we move back to the more cosy living area for coffee or a nightcap. This is the perfect way to end the evening, keeping guests circulating and conversations lively.”

#3 Control the Mood with Accent Lighting

“Divide the lighting into two zones: overhead, and tabletop or floor lamps. This allows you to use the overhead lighting when you need it to be bright all over the room and then you can lower the levels with table or floor lamps that act as task or accent lighting.

If you can add a dimmer to the overhead lighting, that also helps and acts as another option โ€“ itโ€™s not costly and usually only involves a new wall switch.”

Indigo living room

#4 Subtle Scents

“Itโ€™s always nice to walk into someoneโ€™s home and catch a subtle scent in the air. Try something light and airy in warmer weather and something a bit heavier when itโ€™s cooler. Itโ€™s a disaster to have that scent overpower everything, though. You still want to be able to smell your glass of wine and, of course, the dinner being served. Anything too strong and you risk it taking away from the overall ambience.”

#5 Be Sustainable and Stylish

“You donโ€™t need to give up one for the other. Candles are a stylish way to light the table. To decorate the table, faux flowers are unbelievably realistic these days and can be used again and again in different arrangements. The fact they are reusable ensures a reduced carbon footprint, which in the long term is better for the environment. If you prefer fresh, then Iโ€™m a big believer in supporting local businesses, so visit your florist and decorate with their locally grown flowers. Try to stay away from single-serve table-top ware (especially disposable plastics) and opt for wooden or ceramic bowls. Lastly, never, never, never serve anything with a plastic straw.”

#6 Devise a โ€œWowโ€ Moment

“Nothing says โ€˜bring on the party!โ€™ more than wheeling in a bar cart filled with drinks for the evening or with dessert and cheese at the end of a meal. I personally like to have my bar cart filled with my collection of whiskies and roll it out for guests to pick their favourite and enjoy an after-dinner tipple. The bar cart is so versatile that everyone should have one at home, even if it only holds a small collection of favourite things and a plant until itโ€™s needed for the next party.”

Entertaining at home - drinks trolley
Entertaining at home - bar

Heading Out?

“For quality of food and service and great value, I love to grab a gang and head to Beef & Liberty in Lan Kwai Fong. Itโ€™s relaxed, casual and perfect for catching up with friends. If Iโ€™m in the mood to really go all out, I will do it at my home where I can design the menu, cook the food and set the table to impress. Nowhere is better if you donโ€™t want to be in a hurry to have the evening end.”

indigo-living.com

 

Like this? See more in our Homes section:

Property news: what’s on the market
Inside a chic beachside home in Repulse Bay
Design tips, trends, & what to avoid!

 

This article first appeared in the Spring 2020ย  issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.

Categories: Home Dรฉcor Homes Tags: Dining Indigo Living

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Thanks Julianna for this delicious 
Easy Blueberry Oreo Cheesecake to start the weekend!
Serves 4, or 2 if you're hungry๐Ÿ˜‰

Preparation time: 15 mins Ingredients:
โ€ข 6 digestive biscuits
โ€ข 50g butter 
โ€ข 250g cream cheese (1 brick) 
โ€ข 6 Oreo biscuits
โ€ข 125g blueberries (1 box)
โ€ข 100g milk or whipped cream 
โ€ข 5 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:
For crust:
1. Crush digestive biscuits in a big bowl and add melted butter.
2. Press together at the base of the cake mould.
3. Set aside to cool.

For filling: 
1. Beat cream cheese, sugar and milk or whipped cream on medium speed in a bowl until it is smooth and creamy. 
2. Add crushed Oreos and beat until they mix evenly. 
3. Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
4. Freeze for two hours and top with blueberries!๐Ÿซ
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Recipe: Flourless Pecan Cranberry Brownie

Ingredients

Brownie base:

2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Chocolate Protein
1.5 cup of pumpkin puree
1 cup of hazelnut butter or almond *
1/2 cup of raw dark cacao powder
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
1/3 cup of dehydrated cranberries
2 teaspoons of Manuka honey ** Optional
White chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons of Erythritol
Dark chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
3 tablespoons of raw dark cacao powder
1 teaspoon of Erythritol
Instructions

Brownie base:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Grease a square baking tray with coconut oil and line tray with parchment paper.
In a large blender, mix all the brownie ingredients together until smooth.
Pour the brownie mix into the pan and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
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Chocolate drizzle:

You will need two separate mixing bowls for the white and dark chocolate drizzle.
Melt the cacao butter at low temperature and mix with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the chocolate drizzle over the cooled brownies.
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Good morning! Weโ€™ve got another delicious recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness ๐Ÿ’•

Recipe: Persimmon Vanilla Chia Porridge

Serves 2

Ingredients

PERSIMMON-VANILLA-CHAI-PORRIDGE.jpg
Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

1/2 cup of chia Seeds
1.5 cup of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Vanilla 
1 tablespoon of tahini paste
2 Medjool dates
2 slices of fresh persimmon
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

1 whole persimmon chopped
1/2 cup of coconut yoghurt
2 tablespoons of coconut flakes
1 teaspoon of almond butter
Instructions

Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together apart from the chia seeds.
Once the mix is well blended, add the chia seeds and mix well. Place in a glass jar and leave overnight in the fridge.
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Place in a glass jar, leave overnight in the fridge.
The next morning you can enjoy your porridge by layering your chia porridge with the persimmon porridge.
Optional: Add in between crunchy texture by sprinkling some raw buckwheat groats already activated or quinoa puffs
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