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July 2008
Black Enterprise
Dine and dash: event architect Juan H. Montier III designs a progressive dinner party that unfolds in three homes
AN IMPRESSIVE SOCIAL EVENT STARTS WITH A BIG IDEA for interior and event designer Juan H. Montier III. The task at hand: A soiree that allows his clients in an affluent subdivision of Roswell, Georgia, to network with executive colleagues during a three-course progressive dinner party, where guests visit several homes to dine and mingle. Montier; a chef by passion and an architect by training, is the principal of Montier Designs (www.chezmontier.com), and to his clients "the consummate go-to guy," able to conceptualize menu and decor themes, orchestrate the flow of an event, and provide impeccable catering. Montier shams his blueprint to creating a lively dinner that keeps guests on the move.
Lead the way. Building a team of like-minded people is the delicate starting point that requires careful navigation and a leader who can set the tone and manage any change in hosts. "For any successful joint venture, you need a leader," Montier says. "If an event coordinator [is involved] then it's that person, or the person who is the genesis of the dinner party, or that person can identify a leader. The leader will also underwrite the shortcomings of other individuals--because the show must go on," Montier adds. The selection of hosts is based on established relationships, Montier says. "You have to intuitively know that each person will deliver at the level that you anticipate.
Divvy-up duties. There are a host of commitments that have to be assigned that, aside from decor and menu, include invitations, entertainment, and valet service. Establish a timeline for executing such tasks.
Kathy Lamar relies on referrals from friends and associates for vendors who meet her standards. "Surprises are not welcome on the night of the event," she says. "Always prescreen vendors." Budget limits are relative to the size of the dinner party. An intimate gathering accommodates less than 25 people, while a large event has more than 50 guests. Montier's clients usually establish a dollar-per-person budget.
One of Montier's clients spent $149,000 just on new China for a benefit dinner with 150 guests. "Of course, that is not necessary to pull off a fabulous soiree--it's really about panache."
Announce your centerpiece. Montier, 48, chose a travel theme with passport-style invitations that had rubber stamps bearing the name of each host, the date of the event, and the course offering per household. He suggests each home's menu and greeting card be positioned on a table in the foyer. "If food is the centerpiece of the party--at my functions it is--then you celebrate that centerpiece on your invite," Montier says. For example, if one home is serving artichoke and organic tomato bruschetta with crispy parmesan mile, a thin crisp cookie, and another is featuring Thai chili black bass and hand-rolled maki, announce that on your invite. He says beverage experiences focused on the year's Beaujolais, premium champagne, Yemenese coffee, or a cordial such as Grand Mamier can be an alternate centerpiece. The key is to build decor to complement--not overpower--your menu.
Connect your theme. Decor in each host home can be dissimilar but have a common thread. "If it's an Asian theme, each home can use the same palette of flowers," Montier says. Adjust each floral setup to the scale of the food presentation, then place florals at the entry and in the sightline of the food." If it was a French [theme], I would use heavily ornate silver urns," Montier adds. He also says he might arrange florals with ikebana-style dishes for an Asian theme or utilize oversized casbah lanterns and swags of velvet pillows to evoke a Moroccan mood. "Do not underscale the things that you do so that they are lost," he says. He recommends employing an interior designer when you are stumped on how to establish scale and create ambiance lighting. He also suggests taking scale cues from the lobby of upscale hotels or reading Inspirations by Preston Bailey (Bulfinch; $45), a great source on party planning and floral arrangements.
Stylize servings. At medium and large parties, servers are important to prevent guests from dropping anchor around a buffet. In fact' Montier suggests offering a single buffet of small bites for a large party and having one server per 15 guests. The menu can have a regional theme. For him, a taste of France begins with seared foie gras over organic field greens with truffle vinaigrette. Small bites from southeast Asia include tamarind shrimp and saki-glazed dungeness crab, while a night in Arabia is incomplete without sampling fig and sesame tart with cardamom orange cream. Use recessed lighting and candles to enhance food presentations. "Remember, unlit food looks drab," he says.
Tend to details. Montier suggests using musical instruments to cue guests to transition to the next house for the next course. A balophone, miniature gong, or swish of a harp can tie in to various decor themes. For large gatherings, Montier prefers a ceremonial statement with trumpets or dramatic chords from Beethoven's 5th Symphony. "I make sure guests have a drink as they arrive, [provide] a small gift for each guest at the dinner table, and offer vegetarian and non-alcoholic options," says host Jeanne Simkins Hollis. Check out A Passion for Parties by Carolyne Roehm (Broadway Books; $50) for an array of pointers.
End on a mellow note. Use soft lighting to signal the close of the evening. Montier establishes an indirect lighting scenario to serve appertifs and delectable desserts. "Lighting is a tool that [can] evoke or enhance your mood," offers Montier. "It is invisible unless it reflects off of something." If you anticipate some guests would appreciate a Montecristo or Cohiba cigar, set up a smoking room stocked with Johnny Walker, perhaps, he says.
A progressive dinner party presents the opportunity to promote camaraderie, build networks, and even nurture your philanthropic spirit. Consider incorporating a silent auction to benefit a nonprofit group or charity, and approach sponsors to underwrite a jazz band, pianist, and sextet from a youth orchestra so each course is savored with a soothing soundtrack. "I review the purpose of the event--[such as] dosing a deal--and refine my guest list based on those who are instrumental to the overall purpose."
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