The life of a party

While growing up in Juhu Shilarna Vaze had two dreams To live in Goa and eat good food I realised this was possible if I became a chef says coowner of Gaia Gourmet who is out with her first book Party Like a Star PenguinShe says the email ID she used back in college was throwingapartyyourhousecommdasha sign of things to come It turns out in 2008 she met Christrophe Perrin now her husband and business partner on a Goa trip Together they started Gaia a beachfront restaurant on Ashwem Beach moving back to Mumbai in 2010 to start the sushi delivery service Ninja Sushi and later Gaia Homechef which is now a highend catering serviceI grew up in a family obsessed with food and around amazing cooks When we returned to Mumbai one good catering account led to another says Vaze who has catered for everyone from Katrina Kaif to Karan Johars mother Hiroo and Sonam Kapoor to Alia Bhat Vazes menu was even served at Priyanka Chopras engagement party last yearThe title of her book is legitimate for she writes from experience and shares hacks she has picked up on the job The book is for anyone who wants to throw a shindig from an intimate house gathering of 10 to creating the perfect setting for a brandWe are not star struck I grew up in Juhu and my husband is from a village in Switzerland Vaze humours us From having planes set to collect ingredients to photographers being flown down to take portraits of guests the lavish soirees Vaze has catered at are usually GatsbystyleThe book will turn you into the host she is someone who has everything under control We got Vaze to share with you some firsthand tipsWhats your party type Vaze breaks every process down meticulously according to the type of gathering she is planning for First it is crucial to identify the type of partymdashcasual formal celebratoryChef Shilarna VazeAll parties can be slotted into one of three categoriesmdash1 to 10 guests 10 to 100 guests and 100 to 300 guests This leads to the decision on whom to invite Mixing crowds in an intimate group is something Id never recommend Vaze points outGuest relations For guests there is only one red flag if the alcohol is over its time to go home she says But hosts on the other hand should look out for lulls In case of awkward silences do a round of shots play a game change the music or just start serving the food Sometimes people are just hungry and waiting to eatReign the floor In India guests want to eat late especially when theres a bar open It is something my Swiss husband never understands Why cant they eat first and then drink It wont give them a hangover he wonders However hosts should give a leeway to late eaters but keep a timeline that is comfortable for them advises Vaze When you are throwing a party you are likely to get overwhelmed One thing Indians dont do easily is ask for help It is a great idea to rope guests who want to help to set the table or fix a salad Delegating is key When the group is larger than 25 its a good idea to hire a caterer and bartendersMenu planning and execution Vazes thumb rule is to use all the appliances in the kitchen This is instrumental if you want to simplify the menu execution Make one dish that you can bake in the oven one that needs the gas a cold salad that can be assembled on a table and think of a dessert that can be frozen and stored in the refrigerator in advance She thinks biryani is a good main since it can be prepped three days in advance Do the shopping three days prior prepare the masala curry paste fry the onions ready the saffron water and garnishes On the day all you have to do is assemble the mix and put it on the stove to cookParty like a celebShahid Kapoors birthday brunchMira Kapoor and Vaze planned a brunch around the theme summer sundowner and lemons at their beachfront house with a vegan menu comprising Asian Mexican and Mediterranean food Mason jars were filled with sand and hung from jute ropes wooden crates were used to set up the buffet table and a blackboard listed the mocktails Big lemons were cut in half and used as name tag holders Brunches are all about food so think colourful tables inspired by Pinterest Plan easy starters cold food one or two hot mains and ask friends to get dessertAlia Bhatts house partyTake inspiration from Alia Bhatts birthday party menu which had circulating starters like lotus root kebabs with pudina aioli glutenfree pizza burnt garlic prawns with lemon caviar to mains of kacche gosht ki biryani lagan ka murg and homemade baingan bharta In the book Bhat confesses that she loves intimate gatherings where you meet people you love eat drink and make memoriesAamir Khan and Kiran Raos Diwali bashAamir and Kiran threw a big Diwali party in 2017 instead of the intimate evening they usually do around the festival It had a chaat station galouti kebab station a biryani station and Gaia Gourmets famous taco stationBe a smart hostMake sure you clear out your fridge and freezer before you go shopping for the partyFinish cooking before the guests arrive Make sure your house nor you smell of garlic and garam masalaFlowers candles and lights are the easiest way to lift the ambiance Once you pick a look two or three items should help you achieve it Focus areas must include entrance dinner table and bar counterWhen planning an outdoor barbeque or picnic look up online how to set a grill and use charcoal Ask friends and family to chip in for a potluck These are the best parties to include all age groups Youll need an ice box for meatsOrange Almond CakeYield One baking tray 9 inches X 7 inches Prep Time 15 minutesIngredients1 malta 4 eggs 1 cup castor sugar 1 frac14cup almond powder 18 cup allpurpose flour swap with quinoa or rice flour for a glutenfree version frac12 tsp baking powder Orange marmalade for glazingMethodPreheat the oven to 180 degree CelsiusPressure cook the whole malta with peel for three to four whistles till it is cooked and soft After it has cooled remove the seeds and blend into a paste peel and others You should have frac34 cups of pasteSieve and weigh the flour castor sugar and almond powder into a mixing bowl Add the baking powder to this mixtureStart whipping whole eggs and add sugar gradually till soft peaks formSlowly add the dry ingredients and the orange paste Use your spatula to make a cut in the middle of the batter and fold gently till everything is mixed well togetherLine the baking tray with butter paper and bake for 20ndash30 minutes at 180 degree Celsius Insert a toothpick in the centre of the cake to check if done If it comes out clean the cake is ready If there is any residue continue cooking until doneGlaze with orange marmaladeSpanish Paprika PrawnsYield For 3ndash4 people Prep Time 30 minutes for the sauce 15 minutes for the prawnsThe sauce for this dish is a dream to have stashed in your fridge Toss up everyones favourite aglio olio pasta with it or simply use as a dipping sauce for freshly baked bread It also works amazingly well with fish and chickenIngredientsAglio olio sauce 1 cup chopped garlic 150 gm frac14 cup chilli flakes 30 gm frac14 cup oregano 10 gm 1 tsp salt 1 frac12 cup olive oilapproximately 360 ml Spanish paprika prawns 12ndash15 pieces tiger prawns or 1 kg mediumsized prawns 1 tsp sea salt frac14 cup lemon juice frac14 cup creamGarnishCouple of sprigs of parsley chopped Crusty bread Lots of lemon wedgesMethodAglio olio sauce Add olive oil and chopped garlic to a saucepan and let it cook slowly on a low flame for 20 minutes while stirring Take the garlic off the heat and add chilli flakes oregano and salt This sauce keeps for two weeks in a glass jar at room temperaturePrep the prawns Keep the shell on the prawns Use kitchen scissors to cut down the middle to remove the vein Wash and pat dry Rub salt on the prawnsSpanish paprika prawns Take 1 tsp of just the oil from the garlicandchilliflakes mixture Heat a large wide pan till very hot Add oil and prawnsPress the prawns down so that the shell gets a nice char After 2 minutes on each side add about frac12 cup of the aglio olio chilli oil and cook for 5 minutes or till doneAdd lemon juice and creamServing Take it off the heat and top with chopped parsley Serve with crusty bread and lots of lemon wedgesHome entertainmentIf you have a group of friends over to watch a match make sure the food is easy to pick with forks or fingers Keep things simple Dont slog in the kitchen Opt for a onepot dish like khao suey sort out dips or ask you mom to send her signature dish overSetting the tableYour table should have one hero dish a roast or a big bowl of burrata roast pepper orange pasta for instance It is your big presentation All other dishes will be supporting actors One tip is to place food at different heights use a big bowl a platter deep dishes and smaller utensils on stands This gives your setup a lift Decorate with plants pebbles or flowersFood preferencesKeto vegan glutenfree preferences a quinoa salad can be one safe item on the menu In case of severe allergies or fussy kids it is okay to ask your guest to carry their foodCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates