All the Raj
We’ll give it to you straight: you have a future filled with cartoon-character parties, room-temp pizza and countless tantrums resulting from cake-highs and gift-envy.
But birthday numero uno, when you emerge rumpled yet victorious from your first year of parenthood, is the perfect time to celebrate baby with an Indian-inspired fête while kicking back and reconnecting with your adult buds (remember them?). Take-out Indian cuisine or packaged nibblies, yummy cocktails, and accessories like tissue garlands and sexy bling make it easy – and stylish. TIP! Use saris as tablecloths, window drapes or cushion fabric.
Looks Inviting
Buy some inexpensive and enticingly jingly-jangly bangles from an Indian boutique or dollar store (ours cost about $4 per dozen). Bundle up five or six bracelets per invitation and tie them together with vibrant ribbon – paisley patterns and those with metallic gold thread are très on-trend. Print the party deets onto paper, cut to size and roll up. Tuck a scroll into each ribbon-tied bundle.
Go for the Glitz
Tell guests to come armed with the bangles from their party invitations. Then offer them jewelled bindis and pretty henna tattoos to bedeck themselves with.
Cheers! You Deserve It!
The Mumbai Margarita is an unbelievably delish sweet-‘n’-sour-‘n’-spicy cocktail from the bartending team at the Drake Hotel, the hot Toronto boutique hotel and lounge. Mango or rosewater lassi, or limeade, are fun mocktail options.
1 ½ oz Jose Cuervo Especial Gold tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
Pinch cinnamon
1 oz simple syrup*
2 oz fresh lime juice
Pinch fresh grated ginger
1 oz lemongrass cordial (available at specialty stores)
Cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup sugar combined with 1 tbsp. cinnamon)
Ice
1. Run a lime around the rim of a Poco Grande glass and coat rim with cinnamon sugar.
2. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously at least 30 times.
3. Pour into Poco Grande glass (don’t add fresh ice).
4. Garnish with lime or lemon wedge, or candied ginger.
* Combine 1 part sugar and 1 part water in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool.
For recipes to enjoy at this party, such as Awesome Asian Chicken and Indian-Style Fish Steaks visit www.canadianfamily.ca. You’ll find tons of family-tested recipes and healthy snack ideas there, too!
Photos by Janet Bailey
