An Evening of Jazz

The best holiday parties are those hosts can enjoy as much as their guests. And the best way to maximize enjoyment and minimize stress is by bringing in the pros to do the work for you. For their intimate mid-winter celebration, John Taliaferro and Malou Flato did just that, hiring a custom caterer and jazz band to entertain friends and family with a savory spread of finger foods and a private concert at their home in Paradise Valley, Montana.

To create a setting fit for the sophisticated sounds of the Bozeman-based Jeni Fleming Acoustic Trio, John and Malou decorated their “Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-meets-logs” home's modern interiors in an inviting palette of teal, chocolate, and deep reds and oranges.

Seasoned chef Zac Kellerman, of Zac's Montana Kitchen (cookingontherange.com), provided the accompaniments, a lively menu of savory and sweet flavors inspired by the cold weather that included grilled lamb chops and Thai chicken satays with a spicy chili dipping sauce. To cap off the evening, guests were treated to a sweet spread of bite-size desserts and warm and toasty mugs of spiked hot chocolate.

FORM

PARTY FAVORS

Thank guests for their company with a small memento that will remind them of the good times you shared. John and Malou treated their friends to copies of the Jeni Fleming Acoustic Trio’s latest CD and a recipe for one of the beverages served at the party.

TIP: If you don’t have time to create your own recipe cards, have them custom made to match your invitations. It’s a great way to carry your theme throughout the event.

FUNCTION

Catering Considerations

1. What should I serve? Variety is key, says caterer Zac Kellerman, who recommends at least 7 or 8 different food choices for an hors d'oeuvres party. He suggests one chicken item, one beef, two seafood—perhaps shrimp and scallops—at least one vegetarian item, and two or more sweets. To expand the selection, consider adding wild game, pork or turkey.

2. How much food do I need? “For hors d'oeuvres, plan on at least three servings per person for each food item. Estimate anywhere from two to four glasses of wine per guest, taking into account their drinking habits,” says Kellerman, who emphasizes that it's always better to overestimate and have leftovers.

3. What does it cost? Price varies due to location, availability and seasonality, but there are certain fees you can count on. On-site fees and mileage charges often apply. Expect to pay an hourly rate for each wait staff member (Kellerman charges $20-$25 per server, per hour), as well as gratuity (typically 15-20% of the food cost). Setting the Scene
Wintry weather calls for décor that's all about warmth and comfort. John and Malou chose a color scheme of teal and chocolate brown, accented with touches of deep red and orange, to set the scene for their intimate soirée. Extra touches were simple and elegant: a roaring fire, sparkling votive candles, and modern arrangements of bright burgundy dahlias and orchids in hues of red and rustic orange. (Flowers by Paradise Custom Weddings and Floral Gallery, www.floral-gallery.com)

Architecture
“It’s a simple, small house and we live in every bit of it,” says homeowner Malou Flato of the 16' x 40' structure designed by her brother, Ted Flato, of San Antonio-based Lake/Flato Architects (lakeflato.com). “The structure is held up by a skeleton of logs and all the walls are natural fir. There’s not a bit of sheetrock,” she says. The home’s modern interiors are defined by halogen lighting (“which makes everyone look better,” says Malou), heated concrete floors, open shelving and bookcases made of galvanized pipes. “We used some cheap materials in really interesting ways,” she says.

Custom Invitations 101
Priscilla Foster, owner of Roshambo Paperie in Bozeman, MT (roshambomt.com), and creator of John and Malou’s elegant invitations, offers advice for creating custom invites that reflect the style of your event.
• “For casual afternoon affairs, choose light colored papers, accent materials and lettering. Metallic card stock is a popular choice, but it requires UV ink, so try incorporating it as a border or accent.”
• “For formal, evening events, choose darker, rich colors and luxurious papers and accent fabrics. Paper with cotton in it has a lush, fabric texture that conveys a feeling of elegance. I also recommend choosing mould-made paper that has a nice feathered, deckle edge. Letterpress printing in a dark color—black is best—adds to the formal feel.”