A-list entertaining at everyday prices

Published Dec 11, 2014

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Be the hostess with the mostess this festive season, without breaking the bank, thanks to glam party recipes and ideas from Vicky Crease

“One of my greatest pleasures is creating joyful occasions and giving my family and friends happiness through beautiful food experiences,” says Vicky Crease. “I love sharing fabulous moments with my favourite people.”

And it’s not only her friends and family who benefit from the fabulousness. As the stellar owner of Vicky Crease Catering + Events, and the dynamo behind A-list parties for clients including Nelson Mandela, Elton John, Celine Dion and Sir Richard Branson, Vicky has won awards aplenty, including a Glamour Women of the Year 2014 award in the style category (yes, she dresses amazingly, too). So who better to advise on gorgeous, purse-friendly, festive entertaining?

First up, ace the basics: “Candles, fragrant flowers and a good playlist are crucial to create a warm, celebratory mood,” explains Vicky. “But the key to great entertaining is a happy, relaxed hostess.”

When it comes to the decor, “a uniform palette, like the red, fuchsia and gold I’ve used here, goes a long way to ensuring a polished, elegant feel.

“Create a talking point with an interesting table centrepiece. I used ballet shoes as they’re feminine, unusual and festive, since they allude to dancing. Fruit or flowers also work. To DIY the gold fruit and sprigs seen here, buy fruit or pick foliage from your garden, dry and spray with a high-gloss spray paint from a hardware store. Do this a day in advance so that the paint can dry, but the pieces last for your party.”

Vicky’s festive menu was inspired by her mix of Greek and South African heritage, and she chose chilled options for the welcome drinks and dessert: “It’s great to refresh guests at the start and end of the night,” Vicky says. Enjoy!

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