Medieval Banquet Dinner Party with Menu, Recipes & Games

This party is both one of my most memorable and one of my most challenging.  The recreation of a medieval banquet while appeasing modern taste required a lot of recipe research.  This dinner party was hosted in full theme with rich medieval characters, we decorated in a medieval style with rich fabrics and tapestries, the dinner party included medieval games and a medieval puppet theatre.

 This party includes a 6 course banquet plan for 8 people with recipes and free printables.

Enjoy Julie

GOT Medieval dinner Party table setting

Creating a medieval table

I went with an opulent table of dark reds and gold, reminiscent of a regal banquet.  The table cloth was a baroque upholstery fabric with a rich floral and stipe pattern.  The central candelabra was gold with vine leaves to which I added red berries and greenery from my Christmas box.

Medieval dinner Party decorating ideas

Banquet tables were often decorated with exotic fruits - or meats disguised as fruits.  For this party I went with real fruit placed in vintage colourful carnival glass pedestal dishes.

Medieval Dinner Party table setting

GOT dinner party table centre piece ideas

Fresh flowers also graced our table, these were placed in vintage copper urns, the centre of the table was full of berry garlands and small gold tea lights.  Dark red velvet tie backs were used on the chairs to add richness.

Medieval Dinner Party

A Medieval menu was created for this party, all recipes are included below.  The party started with a warm mead served in vintage gold and red glasses.

Medieval Dinner Party - Mead Starter

Medieval Dinner Party Menu

The place settings used a gold charger with a vintage red and gold dinner set and gold flatware.  Napkin holders were created with wide floral craft ribbon and gold metal napkin rings.  A red berry and place name topped the plate. Our guest name cards can be downloaded here. (Set 1) and (Set 2)

Medieval Dinner Party Place Settings

Medieval gold goblets with gemstones graced the table with small brass deers.

Medieval Dinner Party Table Settings

The Menu

The most challenging part of this party was the menu.  Just what did the nobility eat in the middle ages?  They ate a lot of meat, including a lot of game. Salads, fruits and nuts when available and a lot of soups.  Hosts liked to be creative in the presentation of meals and great banquets went for many hours with many courses.  This was also a time of plague with many people opting for herbal elixirs to combat the flux.  Our recipes are all included below and you can download our menu

Medieval Dinner Party Menu

Our first course was Salad with herbs, fruit and nuts.  In medieval times salad was called "salat".  We served a version of a Waldolf Salad with edible flowers, this helped make this dish quite striking.  

Medieval Dinner Party Entree - Salad with Herbs and Nuts

Our second course was Pottage with trenches.  Pottage is a soup style dish to which you added anything that was available.  We made a hearty winter soup and added purple cabbage to provide a striking purple broth.  Given the number of courses served this day I went with Grissoni rather that a heavy trench of bread.

Medieval Dinner Party Soup - Pottage

Our third course was scallops on the half shell with sage butter.  We served these using each houses banner.  You will read more on this later.

Medieval Dinner Party entree - Scallops on the half shell

Our fourth course was a herbal plague elixer.  This was a lovely basil and lime sorbet, a perfect fourth course. This was served in a vintage champagne glass with vintage ornate Asian spoons.

Medieval Dinner Party entree - Plague elixer

Our fifth and main course was a crown roast beef served with potatoes and green beans.  You will require a good butcher to create the crown.  The beef was served with a rich gravy, roast potatoes and garlic and a green bean and pomegranate side.

Medieval dinner Party Main Course - Crown Roast Beef

Medieval Dinner Party Sides - Roast Potato

Medieval Dinner Party Sides - Beans with Pomegranate

Our sixth and final course was spiced poached pear with mead.  The mead was served warm in a petite glass

Medieval Dinner Party Dessert - Poached Pear in Red Wine

Medieval party decorating

The trick to this style of party is to plan well ahead so you can slowly collect objects to help transform your home into a medieval castle. It's amazing the effect that plastic stone wall has on a room, while tricky to get in place it really helps to create a medieval castle ambience. 

GOT Medieval Dinner Party Decorating Ideas

An alter was created for meal serving complete with tall wooden candles, tapestries, rich vintage fabric and faux hides. Our Hosts were of viking decent so we included horned helmets.  The medieval people were also deeply religious so a small shrine was included, complete with bible

Medieval Dinner Party Decorating Ideas

Medieval Dinner Party Decorating Ideas

Our deer (bob) fit in really well for this party.

Medieval Dinner Party Decorating Ideas

Medieval Party Games

The party was held in character with the hosts Ragner and Lagetha inviting three formidably medieval couples to a winter solstice banquet.  The night evolved often in character with each couple performing a puppet play and trying to murder the opposition using a "find the card game"  Prior to the party each guest was sent specific party instructions, these included formal character descriptions for the evening, a brief bio on the other guests, some puppets to form a play and a house banner to make.  The party games can be downloaded using the following links:  Game instructions and character overview, Large Banners, Banner cards, Game Cards one, two & three

Medieval Dinner Party Games

The arrival of the house banners represented the arrival of our guests.  Each house was asked to prepare a play for the medieval puppet show, our puppet theatre was made using cardboard boxes, pane velvet and a hand pained backdrop of the country side. House banners were displayed on tall candelabras.

Medieval Dinner Party Banners

Medieval Dinner Party Puppet Show

Medieval card holders were made with vintage style jewellery and velvet. These were used for a game of medieval guess who.  The game included medieval occupations, such as “Master of the Privy” and a “cupbearer” and items found around the standard castle.

Medieval Dinner Party Party Games

Prior to the party, small images of the house banners were hidden through the dining and lounge area, as they were found they were placed on the corresponding house banner, the first couple to receive 12 cards on their banner met an awful death.

Medieval Dinner Party - Party Games

Medieval Dinner Party - Party Games

Medieval Dinner Party Party Games

The invitations were delivered a few weeks in advance, I dressed my children as young vikings for the occasion.  The invitations were secured within ornate flocked paper and sealed with a ribbon and wax seal. The invitations were in a box with party instructions, banners  and puppets.

Medieval Dinner Party - Invitation delivery

Medieval Dinner Party Invitations

The Recipes

For this Medieval Dinner Party we did a lot of research on medieval banquets and the meals consumed by the wealthy in the middle ages, we then applied a modern overlay to transform some potentially unpalatable options to modern times.  The menu also took into account what can be achieved in a normal domestic kitchen and served while entertaining guests, recipes are for 8 guests.

While the recipes were not difficult it did require a good plan to ensure the meals hit the table on time.  I also asked different guests to assist with plating the various courses and this was invaluable help.

How I approached the cooking.

  • Some of these ingredients will not be available at your local supermarket, specifically edible flowers and micro herbs, find suppliers well in advance

  • Start the soup a day in advance

  • Order the crown roast a month in advance and ask your butcher to age the meat

  • Start the plague Elixer a day in advance

  • Prepare the dressing for the Salat a day in advance

  • Ensure the table is all set at least a day in advance

  • Have all the serving ware close at hand and ready to use

 

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Salat with Herbs, Fruit and Nuts

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Salat with Herbs, Fruit and Nuts

Salat with Herbs, Fruit and Nuts.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard

  • 200g creamy Blue Cheese

  • Pinch sugar

  • Salt & Pepper

  • 4 tablespoons lemon Juice

  • 200 ml Olive oil

  • 400ml sunflower oil

  • 4 tablespoons warm water

  • 8 Granny Smith apples

  • 4 Celery Sticks

  • 200g Walnuts

  • Watercress

  • 50 grams creamy blue cheese

  • Edible flowers (Pansies)

Method

  1. For the dressing, cream the egg yolk, mustard, cheese, lemon juice and salt and pepper until smooth

  2. Slowly add the two oils while slowly whisking the mayonnaise to form an emulsion, If the mayonnaise becomes thick half way through add the water and continue adding the oil while whisking. Season if required.

  3. Roast the walnuts in a preheated oven at 180 C for 6 minutes cool completely

  4. Wash and peel the celery, cut into 5 cm long thin sticks, keep them in a zip lock bag in the fridge until needed.

  5. Wash apples and watercress.

  6. When you are ready to serve remove the core with an apple corer, then use a mandoline to slice the apples into 2 - 3 ml thick slices. Keep the apples together to make them look as if they are whole again.

  7. Lightly dress each slice with the dressing and place the apple in its natural shape in the centre of a plate.

To Serve

  1. Arrange the apple in the centre of the plate in its natural shape

  2. Arrange the celery, walnuts and watercress around the apple and crumb the cheese. Spoons the dressing lightly around the plate and add some of the dressing. Place some edible flowers around the plate as a final touch

GOT Dinner Party Soup - Potage

GOT Dinner Party Soup - Potage

Pottage with Trenches

Ingredients

  • 3 lamb shanks

  • 4 litres of water

  • 1 onion

  • 1 stick celery

  • 4 carrots

  • 2 potatoes

  • 1/2 small purple cabbage

  • 1 stick extra celery

  • 1 turnip

  • Salt / pepper

  • Packet Grissini sticks

  • Chives as a garnish

Method

  1. For the stock, place lamb, water, roughly chopped onion, celery salt and pepper in a pan.

  2. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook cover for 1 1/2 hours.

  3. Cool the stock and refrigerate overnight.

  4. Next day, strain stock and discard any fat, return the stock to the pan, add the roughly chopped meat from the shanks and ring to a boil

  5. Add chopped carrots, potatoes, turnip, extra celery and cabbage and simmer covered for 1 hour.

  6. Season as required.

To Serve

  1. Place two Grissini sticks and long chives on the side of a vintage bowl..

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Scallops on the half shell

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Scallops on the half shell

Scallops on the half shell with sage butter

Ingredients

  • 24 scallops on the half shell

  • 1 tablespoon olive oli

  • 40 grams buter

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 tablespoon chopped sage leaves

  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives

  • Lemon wedges to serve

  • Micro herbs to serve

Method

  1. Heat a medium frying pan over high heat. Add oil, butter, sage and garlic and cook for 1 minute

  2. Remove the scallops from the shells, reserving the shells.

  3. Add the scallops to the pan and cook for 30 seconds each side.

  4. Place cooked scallops back on the shells.

  5. Add lemon juice and cook for a further minute, then add the chives.

  6. Spoon the pan sauce over the scallops to serve

To Serve

  1. The scallops were evenly arranged on the plate with a lemon wedge and micro herbs.

  2. A house banner was inserted into the lemon - you can read more about house banners in the Medieval Games section.

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Herbal Plague Elixer

GOT Dinner Party Entree - Herbal Plague Elixer

Herbal Plague Elixer

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups caster sugar

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 2 whole star anise

  • 1 1/4 cups fresh lime Juice

  • 30 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

  • Extra lime for plating

  • micro basil for plating

Method

  1. Bring sugar and water to the boil in a small saucepan; allow to boil 1 minute, then remove from heat.

  2. Combine the above, lime juice and basil in a blender until they are a fine puree.

  3. Pour the mixture into a container deep enough to allow you you to use an ice cream scoop

  4. Ensure the container is completely covered to avoid icing, then place in the fridge for 2 hours.

  5. Remove from the freezer and place in the blender for a second time until very smooth. Return to the container, cover and freeze until ready to use.

To Serve

  1. I used vintage champagne glasses with a gold pattern around the rim, these were placed on a set of three graduated plates. The spoons were a vintage set from Thailand with a wooden handle and brassy coloured metal spoon.

  2. Using an ice cream scoop, place one scoop per glass

  3. Place a wedge of lime on the glass and some micro basil

GOT Dinner Party Main Course - Crown Roast Beef

GOT Dinner Party Main Course - Crown Roast Beef

Crown Roast Beef

Ingredients

You will require a good butcher for this roast.  I ordered this roast a month in advance so our wonderful butcher reserved and aged the beef.  I used a wing-rib sirloin which the butcher secured into a crown with string.  You will require approximately 12 ribs to form a crown.  Ensure you ask your butcher to chine the beef joint between the upper spine bones so you can easily slice between the ribs.

Method

  1. Remove the meat from the fridge a good hour before cooking

  2. Preheat oven to 240c

  3. For medium/ rare roast at 240c for the first 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 180.

  4. Calculate time using 17 minutes for each 500 grams. If using a meat thermometer cook until internal temperature reaches 65c

  5. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes in a warm place or double layer of foil

To Serve

  1. We served the roast on a large platter and carved between each rib at the table.

  2. The roast was served with sides of roast potatoes and garlic and green beans and pomegranate and a rich gravy.

GOT Dinner Party Dessert - Poached Pear in Red Wine

GOT Dinner Party Dessert - Poached Pear in Red Wine

Spiced Poached Pear with Mead

Ingredients

  • 750 ml dry red wine

  • 1/3 cup caster sugar

  • 2 whole star anise

  • 2 cinnamon sticks

  • 1 vanilla bean, split

  • 8 Just ripe pears, peeled with the stem attached and base trimmed to stand straight

Method

  1. Combine wine, sugar, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla bean in pan large enough to hold the pears.

  2. Cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves

  3. Add the pears and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer, turning occasionally for one hour or until pears are tender (note: this can take longer if the pears are very firm)

To Serve

  1. Place the pear in the centre of the plate

  2. Drizzle with the cooking juice.

  3. Add vanilla ice cream

  4. Decorate with small African violets.

  5. Serve warm Mead to accompany the dessert.

Medieval Dinner Party Guests

In conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our GOT Medieval Dinner Party and games, it was a lot of fun, our guests fully participated with lovely dresses and great banter on life in the medieval ages. While we all enjoyed the games, it would also be a lovely party with decorations and food alone.

Cheers Julie

Credits: Ornate Medieval frames were purchased from Digitalya

 

Blue and Gold Christmas Shabby Chic Table

This year I was looking for for a slight twist for our Christmas table and settled on a blue and gold palate using lots of vintage pieces. This was a subtle, subdued table that looked great in both the evening and day time.

We trust you enjoy our blue and gold Christmas table.

Julie

Blue and Gold Christmas Table

The place settings included a vintage red and gold Christmas setting by Meakin and vintage champagne glasses filled with blue and gold ornaments.

Blue and gold Christmas Table - Use Vintage Champagne Glasses filled with Baubles

A vintage gold candlestick was adorned with blue birds and the centre of the table was filled with meters of gold beads, gold candles and a vintage glass blue bowl filled with chocolates.

Blue and Gold Christmas ideas

Use lots of gold beads to decorate the table

Our table cloth was made from heavy upholstery fabric, it is a subtle blue with florals and birds.

Blue and Gold Christmas - Explore upholstery fabrics for table cloths

Finishing touches includes blue and purple Singapore orchids and brass deers

Singapore Orchids can add colour

Brass deers grace the table top

While this was photographed in the evening, the colour palate works wonderfully in the day light.

Blue and Gold Christmas table decorating ideas

The Addams Family Halloween Party

I’ve been wanting to host an Addams Family Party for Halloween for a long long time and this year managed to make it a reality. This was a large party with lots of decorating, a dessert table and cocktails for the adults. We based this party around the original TV series from 1960’s with references to many of the characters in the show. A set of printables have been created as a free download.

We hope you enjoy. Julie.

The Addams Party Ideas, Gomez’s Train Set and “Thing”

Grandmama’s panty was a joy to create, I collected a lot of eclectic old leather clad bottles, vintage books, skulls and more to create a spooky pantry for grandmama.

The Addams Family Party Ideas Grandmama’s Pantry

We used stone wall wrap and a lot of panne velvet and faux fur to transform the room. It also helps if you have access to a real deer head.

The Addams Family Decorating Ideas, Use Stone and Velvet to transform a room

Panne velvet transformed our curtains and cow hides were used on the floor. We used old leather wingback chairs with tapestry cushions to create an older style room.

The Addams Family Decorating Ideas, Use vintage furniture and cow hides to transform your room.

I had to incorporate Gomez’s train set into this party. I used two working train sets which ran in opposite directions all night and one derailed set, the TNT box completed the train set. I opted for a dark purple table cloth which worked well against all of the black decorations.

The Addams Family, Gomez’s Train Set and “Thing”

I included a small nook with grandmama, two visiting skeletons dressed for the roaring ‘20s and the Addams family graveyard.

Grandmama’s Addams corner

The Addams Family Party - Two skeletons for Halloween

The Addams Family Grave Yard

A vintage peacock chair is a must for Morticia as is Cousin IT. We used a couple of “Thing’s” in the party they were purchased on line as hand mannequins.

Morticia Addams with Cousin It & Thing

Wednesday and Pugsley Addams

Morticia was often featured in her conservatory feeding her beloved Cleopatra, I made Cleopatra with paper mache and glued dissected monster teeth into place, I then placed a collection of severed fingers at the base of the pot. The conservatory had a mix of strange looking cacti and succulents, including a swarm of bats

The Addams Family Morticias Conservatory

The Addams Family Cleopatra

As our guests arrived they were treated to our vintage chairs reserved for moon tanning,

The Addams Family Moon Tanning in the Garden

Morticia loved to use baking powder to give her that all over white glow, we created a small dressing table for Morticia featuring Baking Powder.

The Addams Family Morticia Addams Dressing Table

Our dessert table included “Eye of Newt” and “Cleopatra” cake pops, “Aristotle” Cup Cakes and sugar cookies with poison bottles and tarantulas.

The Addams Family Dessert Table

While Cake Pops can take time to make they are always well received. For the Addams family I settled on creating some green man eating plants to represent “Cleopatra” and some blue “Eye of Newts”. The cake pop border can be downloaded as a free printable, you will require a few prints of the boarder to cover your holder.

The Addams Family Cake Pops, Cleopatra the man eating plant and Eye of Newt.

The Cleopatra Cake pops were made by making a wedge slice for a mouth, We used black candy melts for the interior of the mouth and white nerds “popping candy” for teeth, purple lips and pipe cleaner leaves completed the look. For the Eye of Newt I used baking store eyes and created twisted blue eyelashes created with candy melts, the eyes were completed using mini baking cup papers under the eye.

The Addams Family Cake Pops - Cleopatra

The Addams Family Cake Pops - Eye of Newt

We based our cup cakes on Pugsley’s octopus, “Aristotle”. The tentacles were made 2 days in advance to allow the shape to set, remember to place a toothpick in the base of the tentacle when it is still soft..

The Addams Family Cup Cakes - Aristotle

We made two types of cookies for the party with small bottles of poison and tarantulas.

The Addams Family Poison Bottle sugar cookies

The Addams Family Tarantula sugar cookies

Layered Lurch’s jelly cups were created for the party with cake toppers from our printable range

The Addams Family Party Lurch’s Jelly

Two green punches adorned our table, one for the adults and one for the kids.

The Addams Family Adult Punch

The Addams Family Childrens Punch

Simple blue martini’s were made for the adults, the glasses were topped with black sugar.

The Addams Family Party - Morticia Matrini

Gomez was rarely seen without a cigar in hand so we included some chocolate covered wafers in one of my favourite serving bowls and you can find some original photos on line which look grate in frames for your party.

The Addams Family, Gomez’s Cigars

The Addams Family, Use old images as Photos

We created a range of free printables for this party including various tent cards, mini bunting, room signs, cake pop boarders and oval images that we used to make this party come to life. Please use these links for full downloads.

The Addams Family Free Printables - www.chicpartyideas.com.au

The Addams Family, Morticia, Wednesday and Ophelia

This party was a lot of fun to both create and host. You can collect a lot of quirky pieces from thrift shops and markets to help create this look.

We look forward to your comments.

Enjoy Julie

Nutcracker Christmas table ideas

This year we wanted a change from our traditional Christmas Table Setting, after some careful deliberation we decided on a Nutcracker Christmas table.  This table setting allows for some creative arrangements and a lot of fun.

We trust you enjoy our Nutcracker Christmas

Julie

Nutcracker Christmas Table

We decided on gold chargers and flatware and added a vintage white, gold and burgundy dinner set.  Each place setting was topped with a nutcracker.

Nutcracker Christmas table Place Setting

Our table centre piece was a very large nutcracker, we used a berry garland around the base.

Nutcracker Christmas Table Centre Piece

We used small pine cone candles to throw shadows on the table.

Nutcracker Christmas Table

Large wooden candle sticks were decorated with Christmas greenery and berries .  Small red bows were attached to the stems of our glassware.

Nutcracker Candle Ideas

Christmas Wine Glasses

We used a large selection of nut crackers in various sizes and colours.

Nutcracker Christmas table idea

A musical nutcracker was placed in a bowl of walnuts and a small nut cracker perched on the base of the candlestick.

Christmas Musical Nutcracker

Christmas Nutcracker Candle

I decided on black and gold flocked bon bons and a checked table runner.

Christmas Nutcracker Table Ideas

The table looked wonderful during the evening with a lovely warm glow from the candles.

Christmas Table Nutcracker Ideas

Christmas Table Nutcracker Ideas

Our sideboard held our favourite deer, more nutcrackers and everyones favourite chocolates

Christmas Sideboard Nutcracker decoration ideas

Zombie Apocalypse Party

Our Zombie Apocalypse party was set in a post apocalypse cafe filled with lots of tables, preserved foods and some pretty durable kitchen equipment.  

We created a game based on a skill exchange for food rather than money, a set of printables have been created for this game and are a free download.

This party complemented our Walking Dead Party and our Post Apocalypse Canapes. 

Enjoy Julie

Zombie Apocalypse Cafe

We created a number of small tables each with a table number, candle, flowers and salt and pepper.  

Zombie Apocalypse Table Setting

Zombie Apocalypse Zombie Warning

We used vintage gingham table cloths and a mix of old furniture which is what I imagine would occur in a post apocalypse world.  Zombie warning signs were positioned around the room.

Zombie Apocalypse Cafe with canned foods

This theme requires some lead time to collect lots of cans and large jars for cereals etc. 

Zombie Party Cafe

Zombie Party Cafe Counter

Our wait staff were using bloody aprons and we used some nice bats in the window.  The restaurant had a counter where you arranged your table and form or payment.

Zombie Apocalypse Party Food

Zombie Apocalypse Party Food

Sticking to our apocalypse theme we used a lot of very durable plates and cups, including tupperware and we did include some gruesome food, as it is halloween.

Zombie Party - Post Apocalypse Cafe 

Stone scene setter's were used on the wall and we added a Zombie baricaded at the window.  The television displayed a nice welcoming open fire.

Post Apocalypse Cafe

Post Apocalypse Cafe

Zombie Apocalypse Printables

The cafe was a good way to keep all the children busy.  We created a set of printables for this game that are available as a free download

Enjoy Julie

Download: Cafe Sign, Cafe Menu, Cafe table numbers or Cafe agreed payment

The Walking Dead Zombie Party

This was such an exciting party to put together, we are avid watchers of the walking dead and the battles against both the walkers and Negan.  For this party we went with a home invasion by the walkers and included elements from the governors room.  We also produced a post apocalyptic cafe serving some end of the world treats. 

The Walking Dead party - Zombie Invasion

For our table scene we positioned our dressed skeletons on the table with two animated zombies.  We made the scene quite gruesome by creating gut cavities that held various organs and intestines that were spilling onto the table. 

The Walking Dead Zombie Guts

The Walking Dead Carnage

The intestines were made with packing peanuts and liquid latex, you can find intestine tutorials on line, we used various organs including a beating heart.  Generous sprays of blood were used on the victims clothes.

The Governors Room

Ah, the governors room.  I can clearly remember the first scenes in the governors room with the rows of zombie heads in fish tanks.  This look was easy to create with skulls, latex zombies, fishtanks and pebbles.  We blacked out the sides and top of the tanks to make them look more gruesome.

The Walking Dead Zombie Heads

The Walking Dead Zombie Heads

In candle light, the zombie heads look very gruesome and the eyes tend to follow you around the room.

The Walking Dead - Zombie home Invasion

Tall candles and large vases of blood spattered roses completed our table.

The Walking Dead severed hands

The Walking Dead Entry Hall

We included severed hands and feet, reminiscent of many a butcher scene (aka Bob) and managed to find a zombie head scene setter that was perfect in the entry hall with another zombie.

The walking Dead Zombie

Zombie Front Door Protection

We used a lot of stone wall scene setters on our interior walls and card boards on the front door in an attempt to lock out the walkers.

The Walking Dead Post Apocalyptic Cafe

After much deliberation we decided to dress as zombies (a very comfortable option for halloween).  To keep the younger ones entertained we created a post apocalyptic cafe and post apocalyptic canapes.

Please Enjoy

Julie

The Walking Dead Party

Zombie Canapes from the Post Apocalyptic Cafe

In creating these canapes I asked the question:  "If it really was the end of the world, what would be left at the supermarket?".  After perusing the canned and bottled goods aisles I came to the conclusion that spam, gerkins, smoked oysters, champiginons and pickled cocktail onions could be contenders.  In isolation, many of these foods are completely palatable, but when you load a tray with mixed canapes with only these foods it becomes another matter.

Our canapes were skewered with long tooth picks and Zombie mini bunting.  These are available as a free download.

These are a must at your next walking dead or zombie party.

Enjoy - Julie

Zombie Canapes

The trick with these is to make each slightly different.  They can get quite tall so a tooth pick is a must.

The Walking Dead Canapes

Spam Canapes

Present the canapes on a vintage silver tray and be sure to make each guest try at least one!

Zombie Canapes

Zombie Party With Dessert Table

This party was a lot of fun to create.  Zombie's are currently very on trend with more than a few Zombie Apocalypse  movies and television shows available.  For our zombie party we created a zombie dessert table using a graveyard theme with tombstones and a grave digger.  This party includes free printable products so you can create this at home.

Enjoy Julie

Zombie Party Dessert Table

The dessert table was created as a zombie graveyard.  We used a plastic rock wall scene setter as the back drop.  We then added a black graveyard fence, tombstones and skulls.  Our stand out piece was our animated zombie grave digger complete with shovel.

zombie graveyard cupcakes

Zombie cake pops

Catering was keep simple but looked fantastic with graveyard cupcakes, eyeball and zombie cake pops, tombstone cookies and layered jelly cups.

Zombie cake pops

Eyeball cake pops

We made two types of cake pops. We made crazy green Zombies with bulging eyes and eyeball cake pops which we served with a fork.

Graveyard Cupcakes

graveyard and coffin cookies

The cupcakes were very effective, yet easy to make.  I made a basic chocolate cupcakes then iced with chocolate icing.  The tombstones were achieved by finding the right shape biscuit and giving them a generous chocolate coating, the ground was crushed chocolate ripple biscuits and a green plastic hand completed the look.  We included sugar cookies in tombstone and coffin shapes.  

Zombie Dessert Table

Zombie Dessert Table

The stone wall extended to the ceiling creating a formidable look for a graveyard

Graveyard with swarming bats

Zombie party dessert table

Graveyard with haunted Tree

To extend the graveyard look we extended the stone wall and created a cemetery using the same fencing and tombstones as the dessert table, this was completed with swarming bats and large spiders.  The front door was guarded by a creepy zombie and a haunted tree completed the look.

Zombie party dessert table

Zombie and eyeball cakepops

The colour palate of green and blue worked well with the grey stone and injected some colour into a dark palate.

Zombie party free printables

We created a small set of dessert table printable products for this party, these are available as a free down load (Download 1) - (Download 2).  

If you liked this Zombie party please see our Walking Dead party with a post apocolyspe cafe.

We hope you enjoyed our party 

Enjoy Julie

 

 

 

 

 

Zombie Brain Shooters

The perfect shooter for a Zombie party has to be a Zombie Brain Shooter. These are a great visual shooter and they are simple to make but require a slow steady hand to get the right separation of layers in the glass.  We served these at our Zombie party and they went were a real hit.

These are very nice indeed - Enjoy  Julie

Zombie Brain Shooter

To make a zombie brain shooter fill a shot glass 3/4 full with peach schnapps. Then very gently pour Bailey’s Irish Cream on top, I have found that pouring over a teaspoon can slow the flow to get a better result.  When almost full add a small amount of blue Curacao then grenadine syrup or a good heavy red cordial.

Swimming Pool Party Ideas With Dessert Table

In the summer months we always find it hard to extract the children from the pool, so a pool party is always an enjoyable option.  For this party we created a carved shark watermelon, beach ball cake pops, mini pavlova swimming pools and a pool styled birthday cake.  

For a different type of favour bag, we created small pools from plastic storage containers, filled them with goodies and topped them with a swimmer and umbrellas.  A range of printable items were created and are free to download.

A great day overall, a pool party is a must over summer.

Pool Party Dessert Table

Mini Pavlova Pools and beach ball cake pops graced the dessert table.  Mini Pavlovas have to be one of the easiest items to make, we used store bought pavlova shells then filled them with whipped cream with a touch of blue food colouring.  We decorated cake pops with simple edible glitter and topped with a silver ball.  The cake pops were placed in a styrofoam holder covered with blue celephane and a printable boarder.

Mini pavlova pools

Beach Ball Cake Pops

Fresh fruit is always great for a party and we loved this carved shark with a mouth full of fresh fruit skewers and an old barbie doll with some red syrup on the legs for good measure.  The eyes were also simple with olives and tooth picks.

Shark watermelon carving

Cup cakes are a must have and are always devoured, we includes some life savers in the spirit of a pool party and some blue jelly cups.

Pool Party jelly Cups and Life Savers

Pool Party Cup Cakes

Pool Party Birthday Cake

Our birthday cake was also pool inspired and was simple to make with a garden of crushed chocolate ripple biscuits and coloured gel for the pool.  These were topped with some pool sun lounges made from royal icing, palm trees, umbrellas and flowers.

Swimming Pool Birthday Cake

Pool Party Decorating Ideas

As this party was mostly outdoors we tried to refrain on the indoors,  just a nice water image table cloth and lots of balloons.

Pool Party Table ideas

Pool Party signs

Pool Party Favours DIY

I like to get creative with party favour's and this one was quite simple but very effective.  We purchased small blue plastic containers that were filled with goodies and covered with blue cellephane.  We added a thank you card, a swimmer and a couple of umbrellas,  The thank you cards and swimmers are available as a free down load.

Pool Party Games

Most of our games revolved around novelty pool races including races while sitting in rings or on kick boards.  We did have a number of team relays and you can download our team selection cards here.  These were laminated and used to create teams .  We included one treasure hunt using water proof items and making it slightly harder by naming some of the pieces.  

Pool Party team selection cards

Pool Party treasure hunt game

Free Pool Party Printables

Pool Party Free Printable products

We have created a range of printable products for this party that are available as a free download.  We had a lot of fun at our pool party and it is a very easy option for summer birthdays

Enjoy Julie