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“So far so good” murmured his wife.

The last time she said that it was almost involuntary and his fingers were two buttons away from removing her blouse.  But this time it was different – there was a bit of romance in it.  This was a pat on the Leo’s shoulder for the imminent success of a socially critical dinner party held in one of Manila’s favorite restaurants.  To him, it was of course all work.  To the rich – and let’s not forget attractive – wife, it was a generous helping of glamour and glory.  But he was not complaining.  Just as an NYPD officer would say in a life TV interview after taking a bullet in the (lower) cheek during a drug bust, “I’m just doing my job”.  

Everyone at that table agreed that most formal dinners were a plunder of a poorly conserved national treasure called time.  But his well-rounded 49-year-old demeanor blended seamlessly with his understated good looks to exude a certain attractiveness that charmed the table of 10 from salad to soup. 

Karina is the 37-year-old gorgeous other half – very desirable but very taken.  She was secretly congratulating herself too, for the choice of this restaurant to hold this dinner, and the choice of this husband for everything else.  Clearly this was what marriage’s about.  Strangely enough, he loved it and he loved her.

After 10 dinners a month for the last 6 months in succession, this sort of things can seem exceptionally insignificant to the host.   After all, most formal dinners tend to be well sculpted effusion of extravagant mediocrity.  It must be destiny then, that someone should antithesize this socially thriving couple.  As the quails were being served on rustic chinaware, the 24-year-old aspiring dancer/waiter performed a stunning feat that would have been considered death-defying back in a more civilized era a couple of centuries ago.  She poured the wrong wine into the wrong glass.  Or was it the wrong wine into the right glass, or the right wine into the wrong glass…?  Heck, the wine in the bottle was red (Pinot Noir) and the wine in the glass was red (Merlot) – Pwede Na!  Not since the warring medieval times did Burgundy face Bordeaux with so much contempt, now a mere echo of inspiring battle cry “Today, we fight!”

You have a very important dinner for 10.  Gentlemen will be in jackets and ties, ladies in cocktail dresses.  The good news is you have a license to kill P 60,000.  The bad news is you are the host.  News could get worse in a hurry if old Murphy (Murphy’s Law) came uninvited.  Murphy always works overtime to spice up your act with a few effervescent disasters.  Then there’d be plenty of publicity of the most effective kind – word of mouth.

There are actually two ways to skin this cat. 

Option one – you can do what most people would do without thinking and that is to throw the dinner at an upscale restaurant.  In terms of money matters, P 3,000/head, times 10 totals P 30,000 for food and drinks.  Add another P 25,000 for 7 bottles of forgettable wine.   But you can’t make it too ordinary or else your guests might just notice them with dubious interest.  Hmm let’s see – that’s P 55,000.  How about tips?  OK, let’s call it an even 60 grand.   Push away from the table and call it a night before restless guests ask for a desert wine to end the evening.  That’d be another even 10 grand, thank you very much.

 Clear Accumulator.  Now let’s look at option two.  Entertain your guests with a stylish dinner at home, using professional help.   Again, let’s start by counting the beans.

If saving P 15,000 doesn’t do much for you, here is a kicker – The much neglected dining room would appreciate a little life and romance too.   But does it really work?  Oh yes, it does and here’s how, piece by piece.

Personal Chef 

A troop of culinary personnel works swiftly behind the scene.  Only one chef and his commissary land on your driveway on D-day.  They are armed with mise-en-place from their production kitchen.  Four hours before curtains, curious boxes march into your kitchen through the back door.  This might be a good time for you to take that very long bath.  There isn’t much fun to watch the preparatory work of a major illusion, even if it is David Copperfield’s?  And yes, you will need to surrender command of your regular kitchen staff temporarily to the visiting culinary commanding officer.  Who knows, the kitchen staff may learn a few things from this joint exercise.

Shopping

The major problem with entertaining out (as opposed to dining in) is with that quintessential anathema of culinary document called “menu”.  Most menus don’t change for many months, even years if you go to the average steak house.  They are uninspiring.  Even when “special menus” are devised for special dinners, it is usually a feeble remix of tired old tunes made up ingredients hibernating in the freezer for months.  How can your dinner excite your guests then?

When you dine in, your personal chef goes to market and grabs the best stuff around.  There is no reason for him to do otherwise.  He doesn’t have to answer to food cost.  But there is a shopping budget of course.  After all, this is not Heaven, you know.  What a refreshing change from his pressure-cooker life in the kitchen?  For this dinner, he has P 10,000 in his pocket to indulge.  Without a doubt, he can’t help but stretch the peso to the limit – an occupational hazard.  This menu is what he has in mind for an affair of this stature.

Thai garlic roasted Mediterranean baby eggplant and zucchini

Server on toasted foccacia with pimiento dressing and Japanese scallops

Palawan Lobster Bisque in Iranian saffron

Thai Duck Breast with julienne of Zambales green mango

Served with hanpicked Davao pomelo segments

In light finger chili vinaigrette

Sage Butter Roasted French Jumbo Quail

With Lardoons in apple smoked bacon with Japanese kernel corn

Over a bed of Tiger prawn risotto

And a symphony of sautéed wild forest mushrooms and parsnip shavings

Timbale of Chocolate

With berries and mint cream

This is the menu for this particular home-entertaining dinner prepared by Chef Philip Golding of the Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar.

The great chefs will tell you that 80% of their magic comes from 20% of the ingredients they use.  Cut them loose with a respectable amount of shopping money and an obscene amount of freedom, and your magical evening is 80% successful already even before sundown.

Wine Catering – working with professionals

The wine component is the perennial stumbling block in formal dinners.  So many things are dying to go wrong.  So many people are ever ready to talk about those things.  And talk about it they surely will, for so many, many weeks.

 We are not just talking about bringing bottles to the table and pouring them into glasses.  We are talking about all aspects of wine etiquette.  This means wine selection, wine pairing against food, understanding serving temperatures, appropriate decanters, wine-specific stemware and wine-specific serving standards – the works.   Nobody can expect the regular household staff know a great deal about wine service.  This is why wine catering is indispensable.  But how does wine catering work?Wine catering is not a new concept nor is it a new product in this society.  But still there are many who haven’t explored this option.   It doesn’t cost anything to avoid the next major embarrassment. 

 The wine caterer proposes a wine selection for your approval.  In this example, roughly 52 liters of wine should be sufficient, averaging a little over half a bottle per person – a civilized quantity.  Only the most ignorant of wine caterers would even spread its budget evenly over all 7 bottles.  Instead he would use a few inexpensive but decent bottles to start the evening reserving good money in the budget for “featured wines”.  The featured wines showcase the featured dishes – typically the entrees – to create a conversation piece.   Yes, it’s just show biz.

Now look at what your guests will drink for four hours this evening and talk about for the next four weeks:

                                                                                Price                       Total

          Wine                                                               Per bottle                Price

2 bottles of Bergerac 1999                               P 800                   P 1,600

2 bottles of Petite Chablis 2001                        P 800                   P 1,600

P 4,500                 P 9,000

P 7,000                 P 7,000

Wine glasses, like silverware, china and candles are as much a part of the ambience as paintings and other décor in the dining room.  It certainly enhances the experience but it can just as easily froth up colorful sarcasms if you don’t pay attention to these details.  Your guests have four long hours to notice these things.

 Good wine caterers

Marrakech is a colourful, enchanting city of contrasts, allowing visitors to immerse themselves into the vibrant traditional atmosphere of the Medina, tour the palaces and mosques, take shade in the elegant gardens, and enjoy the modern amenities of Ville Nouvelle.

There are few places on earth as exotic, or as strange, as Djemaa el Fna (Place of the Dead), the busiest square on the entire African continent, and much of the reason why travellers have been lured to Morocco for centuries. At any time of day there is something beguiling occurring on this public square, where wealthy sultans once beheaded enemies and criminals. Snake charmers, musicians, palm readers, gypsies, bedouins, dentists, men selling dried animal parts for potions, and an endless array of colours mix in a swirling rhythm of energy.

Wander around and soak up the atmosphere, or stop off at one of the stalls to sample harira soup, couscous, tripe, tajine, freshly squeezed orange juice, dried fruits or tea. For a great view and a chance to escape the hustle and bustle try one of the rooftop cafes overlooking the square, where you can relax with a cup of mint tea and enjoy the spectacle.

Named after a bazaar of booksellers that once stood nearby, the Koutobia Mosque is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture you will find in Morocco. The mosque was constructed in the early 12th century by Almohad Sultan Abdel Moumen, and is topped by three golden orbs, offered, according to legend, by the sultan’s mother as penance for missed fasting days during Ramadan. The red brick minaret stands approximately 70m high, and can clearly be seen from all points of the city. If you think the mosque looks vaguely familiar, it may be because it was used as a model for the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Seville.

Whenever you like to spend some good time, you can enjoy your holidays in Marrakech to pass your time.

Majorelle botanical garden, owned by French fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent since 1980, is quite stunning and offers a wonderful break from the otherwise dry, dusty cityscape – it is an oasis in the city if ever there was one. The blue hues, lush green plants from five continents, and small lily strewn ponds show a side of Morocco that you shouldn’t miss. Designed by the expatriate French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924, the shade of bold cobalt blue which he used extensively in the garden, and on the studio walls is named after him, Majorelle bleu.

The Bahia (meaning “brilliance”) Palace was built in the late 19th century by Si Moussa, Grand Vizier of the Sultan, also known as Abu Ahmed, a black slave who rose to power and enormous wealth. With plans to create the most magnificent palace of its time, Ahmed commissioned craftsmen from Fez to design the ornate building for him and his favourites concubines. Blending Moroccan and Islamic styles, the buildings are highly decorative and elaborate – arguably too much so for most modern tastes. A central, two-acre garden is surrounded by rooms intended for his concubines and is one of the highlights of a tour.

Containing centuries-old olive groves and palm trees, the country retreat of Menara Gardens is an ideal place to flee the chaos of the city. To this day the original underground canals innovatively irrigate the 30,000 plus olive trees. Replacing older buildings from the 16th century, the current pavilion was rebuilt for Moulay Sulieman in the early 19th century and has a stylised European appearance, with arched openings and faux red bricks trimming them.

Situated in the north-west of the Kasbah, the beautiful Saadian Tombs date back to the mid 1500′s and feature stunning coloured tile work, intricate carvings and grand marble pillars. Sultan Ahmed Al-Mansour, who ordered the construction of the mausoleum complex, was also the first to be buried there, and his tomb, not surprisingly, is one of the most ornate. The tombs were sealed in the early 1700′s and nearly forgotten until 1917 when they were reopened.

This medersa (Koranic school) was built in 1565 for Sultan Moulay Abdullah el-Ghalib of the Saadians and was the largest in Marrakech with several hundred teachers and students. In its heyday it was the preeminent medersa in Marrakech, but it was closed in 1960 and is now open solely for visitors. The complex is centred on a lovely courtyard, with a fountain and reflecting basin. The walls and doorways are ornately decorated in a variety of materials: look out in particular for the fine prayer hall containing the mihrab (prayer niche).

The ancient quarter of Marrakech inside the city walls is where most of the population resides and the major reason for its nickname “the red city”. The 16km-long city walls and over 200 towers that circle the Medina all have a reddish hue that has become one of the city’s defining characteristics.

The sprawling maze containing many souks follows the most traditional way of life, and its thick high walls conceal many treasures. Plain fronted doorways open out into pretty courtyards, revealing beautiful riads, restaurants and shops. Without question, the Medina is the most interesting part of the city. If you get lost, you can always pay a child to lead you out.

Also known as the modern city and Gueliz, this section of town to the west of the Medina is filled with wide boulevards, modern shops, business amenities, hotels and restaurants. Though not nearly as atmospheric as the old town, it has its own charms and is a good place to stay. Being modern, it has a more international feel to it than the rest of the city, and is thus popular with expats and wealthy Moroccan business people.

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Southwest décor is a fun and exciting way to bring out the beauty of your home while allowing your unique personality to shine through. When you choose to decorate with this décor you will find many unique items available that are simply beautiful. These handcrafted pieces are very inviting with their earth tone colors and amazing designs. Many of the images used in designing southwest décor have a rich history that gives you a great way to keep customs alive while still creating a feeling of warmth to your home that is very relaxing.

Here are a few examples of southwest décor that would look great inside or outside of any home:

· Throw Rugs

· Cactus Moon Weather Vane

· Buffalo Wall Art

· Chili Pepper Clock

· Cactus Wall Mirror

· Pottery Metal Art

· Collectibles

· Cactus Welcome Signs

· Roadrunner Wall Art

· Metal Sun Face

These are just a few of the many different southwest décor products that are available for you to choose from.

There is such a wide variety of items available there is something that would be perfect for any home. This is one of the main reasons that decorating with southwest décor is so popular.

Using the southwest décor is an excellent idea when you are decorating dining rooms, living rooms and dens. Red, orange, green, yellow and brown are the main colors used for southwest décor and these colors provide a relaxing feeling to any room that will make it warm and cozy. Take some time to discover all the options that southwest décor has to offer and you will see for yourself why it is so popular.

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Several people make it a task to develop an own garden where it not that easy. Many do accept it but there are people who find it very difficult.

People find no area, water and air to grow a healthy garden in some cases. Many have not found it realistic to spend so many hours on gardening. But its good to have an own garden.

The simplest of all plants is the green beans. It needs a room’s area and it can bring so many yields. Watering and growing the plants should be just done in the start and finally it can bring so many yields.

Green beans are healthier than anything else and it contains beta carotene, lutein, vitamin K, choline, vitamin c and potassium. When it is processed it loses all the nutrients. Even it can be frozen and used in future.

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Many herbs are very easy to grow and they are not that costly. The easy to grow herbs are chives, parsley, kale, mint, and tarragon. Parsley and beans have the same lutein and vitaminK. Chives have beta carotene, folate, and vitamin K.

Carotenoids like lutein and beta carotene are effective antioxidants and have the power to intake blue and near-ultraviolet rays. These damage the eyes. When it is taken in it causes resilience of the macula lutea. This substance in the eye prevents macular degeneration.

Those who have the broad-spectrum antibiotics have lack of vitamin k. This vitamin is very much wanted for the bone, muscle and tissue development and health. Cholates are wanted for the liver function and cholesterol health. Potassium hydrates the human body.

Energy drinks are good but do have lot side effects. They cause tooth problems, weight gain and lot of money. A bowl of green beans are more filling and healthy.

Gardening is a good hobby and it needs to be done with lot of interest and patience. When one needs to have a healthy life then its time to go for a decorative and a crop yielding garden.

To find out the healthiest diets to grow in a garden then its time to check out the check my Defeat Diabetes or Beat Cholesterol guides

The activity of decorating a kid’s room can be both challenging and interesting. It depends upon how we go about the whole process of interior decoration. Ideas for kid’s rooms need to bring out the best in that particular space. The main/important thought to start with is that a kids room should appear lively and cheerful. There is scope to explore the creative skills and also one can afford to make few mistakes since, kid’s rooms do not necessarily require following any kind of strict guidelines/specifications. Let us get more into the ideas for kids rooms.

Decorating Ideas for Kids Rooms

The decoration work for kids rooms mainly includes the activity of painting and making the interiors appear better. The effects of colors on our mind, need to be taken into account before deciding on a particular shade for kids rooms.

We all know about cool and warm colors and their effect on our mind. However, for a beginner, here is some useful information on these warm, cool and earth colors. Let find more information on kids room paint ideas through the paragraphs below.

Warm Colors: Painting ideas for kids room, as stated earlier depend entirely on the colors/shades we choose. Warm colors include red, yellow and other bright ones. These colors tend to advance towards the viewer and creating a pleasant environment. Kids tend to feel much energetic and charged up in rooms with these shades. One can therefore, find such color shades in nurseries and kids stores.

Cool Colors: Blue and other similar shades are included in cool colors. Such colors, as their name suggests have a calming effect on the mind. One should make use of these shades in kids bedrooms i.e. places for relaxation. Overusing the cool colors can also have a negative impact on the mind by making the environment gloomy and depressing. Information on baby room painting ideas should prove to be useful.

Earth Colors: Earth colors include brown, beige and similar shades. These soothing colors are useful in calming down hyperactive children. Judicious use of earth colors along with cool and warm shades creates a balance which is one of the most important thing. The above mentioned painting ideas for kids rooms can lead to the creation of a pleasant atmosphere which altogether, keeps the mind cheerful. There are many kids room paint color ideas which one can make use of.

Crafts Items
Children should be encouraged to make art and crafts items for the decoration of their own rooms. Kids have many ideas to share with us and they can really create a great place to spend time all by themselves. It is only that parents need to guide the children properly and correct their mistakes or just give them appropriate suggestions. The wall decorations for kids rooms add to the beauty and comfort ; one should think about this option to enhance the appearance of kids room.

Storage Ideas for Kids Rooms
Use of bunk beds solves most of the storage problems in a kids room. It becomes easy to store many different items in the drawers and other compartments which come with bunk beds. It helps in organizing the clutter and thereby, keeping the room clean. The kids items and toys can be stacked/stored properly in these bunk beds. One could also think about buying toy boxes separately for storing toys in a proper manner.

The ideas for kids rooms presented above, take into account different activities like that of painting, creating space for storage, adding decorations by means of craft items, etc. Kids rooms need to have a lot of space for children to play. Whatever decorations we create should keep the beauty of a kids room intact; it (the room) should not get cluttered. Apart form the ideas mentioned above, one should explore his/her creative skills to create a better environment for a kids room