BEST TABLE SCAPE DESIGN

BEST TABLE SCAPE DESIGN ONE NIGH T IN SHANGHAI - A CHINESE CULINARY C ONCEP T Overview of the Event Our Client had recently signed a massively lucrative deal with a Chinese company and wanted to celebrate the acquisition with their biggest stakeholders and partners in a stylish, sophisticated Asian environment. The clients vision was to create a unique dining and décor experience for the guests who were familiar with Chinese cuisine and the concept of ultimate luxury so what followed was a monumental ode to Chinese culture and cuisine, in an exclusive penthouse in central Johannesburg. and with Chinese design integrity. Presentation was absolutely paramount for us with the link between creativity of the menu and dazzling visual decor evident in all areas of the design, focusing on a stylish imperial red and turquoise colour palette. Most importantly though, the objective of the decor and presentation was to offer the guests a luxurious taste of China and also, to showcase our clients hospitality and gratitude in context. Of course, the impact was huge. EVENT DESCRIPTION AND NUMBER OF GUESTS The Chinese décor concept we created was all about oriental elegance and luxury, with an extensive repertoire of exotic and interesting Chinese designs on offer. CREATIVITY OF CONCEPT AND DESIGN The dynastic emperors of ancient China were known to host elaborate banquets and these royal dishes gradually became a part of Chinese culture. This dynastic tradition was the basis of the concept that inspired us to design the fantastic Imperial feast for our guests. The goal of our professional design team was to create a theme that would transport the guests to China and to sense the warm hospitality and celebratory tone of the night. With this in mind we conceptualized One night in Shanghai which was a perfect description of the spirit of the event-an incredibly memorable and stylish culinary offering, both visually Similar to Westerners, eating together in China is a way to socialize and deepen friendships. For this high profile event, despite the numbers being relatively small at 30 guests, the attention to detail and authenticity of the design was immense. The guests were welcomed by our new designer sake wall offering sake cocktails as well as a fabulous mojito bar. We incorporated stylish Chinese elements on an antique wooden server such as paper lanterns, orchids, lucky frogs and laughing Buddhas, to set the mood for the evening, in the lounge. As the enthralled guests entered the dining room, they set eyes on our fabulous Oriental table setting which was testament to our flair for décor presentation and our culinary passion. Our design producers created a unique tablescape incorporating typical iconic Chinese objects like chopsticks, Buddha statues, Lucky Dragons and Temple Lions in the concept. As a starting point we laid a neutral textured stone tablecloth on 1

the table, with square glossy charger plates and then used black high-gloss lacquered chairs which emphasized the elegant tone of the evening. This was followed by a formal seated dinner with delicious and astoundingly impressive Chinese-themed food, and the gasps of wonder and delight as the guests entered the room, demonstrated their satisfaction and approval, making the required positive The centre of the table was loaded with flickering candles at impact in their minds. different heights and we chose structural orchids in customsprayed turquoise bamboo shoots for vases. Floating candles lent a Zen appearance to the evening with hues of turquoise and metallic golden touches filling the air. Asian desserts such as sticky Chinese bowties, fortune cookies and coconut cinnamon rice pudding were enjoyed as the guests moved to the Oriental decorated outdoor balcony, with the urban sky line creating beautiful silhouettes in the distance. The truly unique colour palette of red and turquoise complemented the décor and we made use of stylish coloured glassware to emphasize the chosen colour scheme, adding a touch of luxury to the design. A traditional tea ceremony accompanied by a wide assortment of chrysanthemum buds and dragon jasmine teas were on offer, making this design very appropriate and impactful for the theme and ready to be infused and enjoyed. Since the Chinese people believe very strongly in luck, we incorporated the lucky frog holding a golden menu at each setting, and tiny oval plates with a little golden coin, chopsticks and orchids to add an element of fun. FUNCTIONALITY AND PRACTICALITY OF THE DESIGN Paramount to all other requirements at our events, is the need for a design to be stylish, but also functional and practical. IMPACT OF DESIGN ON THE EVENT Several elements made this dynamic table design appropriate for this stylish event, significantly the antique temple cabinets displaying the innovative Beijing starters on arrival, the dramatic visual opulence of the long Royal dining table as well as the style magnificence of the Chinese details on the table. The greatest impact was made by the sheer volume of flowers and flickering candles on the table as well as the antique cabinets and drawers which flourished with Asian food and desserts. Also, the format of the courses was very well thought out with the arrival hors d oeuvres being informal and fun as guests mingled in the stylish lounge overlooking the city-skyline. Our recommendation is to create a concept that has impact but that does not frustrate the guests with an over elaborate and fussy design. This was especially true of this event where many men were present, and were more focused on the proceedings than the décor! The table design at this event was elegant, functional and stylish, with low and high candles and flowers everywhere. Every element of the table decor was used during the course of the meal, significantly the chopsticks, napkins and glassware and all menus and loose orchids were removed immediately to avoid getting in the diners way, while we created culinary magic in the kitchen. 2

The long impressive table was also very practical, as the size of the guest list was small enough for our service staff to manage comfortably and elegantly, with many luxurious Chinese meals being enjoyed during the course of the evening. We achieved a silky synergy between Oriental culture and decor by conceptualizing a stylish and innovative tablescape for this event and would like by way of winning the prestigious Best Tablescape Award, to inspire other creative designers to innovate exciting ideas and create original decor concepts. P RODUC T ION NO T ES HIRING LIST: 3

ROUGH DRAFT OF FLORAL DESIGN: 4

P HO T O GALLERY 5