Sushi and Sake Soiree

Delicious and Nutritious

Backyard barbeques and grilling poolside are summer staples. But if you're looking for a unique, upscale summer party, wow your guests with a Sushi and Sake Soiree.

Décor

The décor for this party should be subtle and sophisticated.

Entrance:

Set the mood for the evening by creating a spectacular entrance to the party. Using thick pillar candles in hurricane globes, create a path leading from your driveway to the front door. Continue the path through the house so it leads to the area of your home where you're hosting the party.

If you're setting up outdoors, continue the candles all the way out into your yard.

Bathe your party in a soft glow

To bathe the party in a soft glow, set tea light candles around your dining area to create a sultry lounge vibe.

Music:

Choose lounge-y tunes that encourage mingling. This also eliminates the possibility of dead silence from lulls in conversation. Try Hotel Costes' mixes, which are world famous and are used in top clubs and lounges across the globe. Download the albums on iTunes or buy them on Amazon.

Flowers:

Finally, fill modern rectangular and square vases of differing heights with one type of flower. Vases with a frosted finish look chic and add to the lounge feel. Good choices for flowers include architectural calla lilies (burgundy or white), white ranunculus, and spiky spider mums. Get them at your local floral district or at 1-800-flowers.com.

Sushi and More

Provide plenty of sushi, but serve other options for the non-sushi eating guests.

When choosing the sushi, pick a wide assortment of different types to accommodate varying tastes. Pick a few fun fusion rolls, some sashimi, and of course plenty of basics like California and tuna rolls.

A small order of Teriyaki chicken is good to have on hand for people who aren't fond of fish.

Presentation Tips: Transfer the sushi from the massive plastic platters to modern white and silver serving dishes. Good presentation is a must - consider placing the rolls on a modern tiered dessert stand for a smashing centerpiece on the food table. Don't forget to include plenty of wasabi, ginger and soy sauce in pretty white bowls.

Sake and More

Visit a liquor store with a big selection like Beverages and More. These types of stores are informed about their beverages and can help you choose the sake that will suit your needs.

Don't be afraid to ask the experts for help. That's what they are there for! Pick up at least three or four different types of sake for the party so you can have a sake tasting.

You might also want to buy a few packs of Japanese beer such as Asahi or Sapporo for guests who enjoy adding sake shots to beer.

Finally, to add flair to your fete, create a signature Cucumber Saketini. This will thrill your guests who love mixed drinks.

Presentation Tips: Set up the different types of sake on the same table in sleek white sake pitchers. Create small labels to put in front of each bottle so your guests will know what they are sampling.