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Photography by Greg Rannells
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Martha Stewart unquestionably throws divine soirées. So, we imagine, do first lady Michelle Obama and Pippa Middleton, sister of a future queen and author of Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Family and Friends. But regular folk don’t have easy access to teams of chefs, stylists, or a party-supply company. We must make do with what we find in our closets, cupboards, and drawers. We must learn what the experts already know about how to put together memorable evenings.
We called Elizabeth Cordes of Cosmopolitan Events (314-249-9107, cosmopolitanevents.com), who spends her days and nights planning and executing parties. For us, she worked out all the details of a Sunday-night supper among friends. Then she called in some of the city’s top talents. Graphic designer Cheree Berry (314-533-6688, chereeberry.com) created the invitation, as well as the festive numbers in a bowl placed near the door. Each guest pulls a card, with the number dictating his or her place at the table. The corresponding Christopher Jagmin numbered plate at each setting matches the number on the card pulled.
The table is festooned with a black-and-white paper runner, also created by Berry. Planned with a sharp eye on the bottom line, the floral arrangements by Schnucks Focus on Design Floral Center (multiple locations, 314-994-9900, schnucks.com) consist of individual blooms (predominantly Gerber daisies, tulips, mini hydrangeas, pink hybrid lilies, and hypericum berries) slipped into assorted antique bottles. Paired with candles and votives anchored in a block of wood, the bottles run the length of the table, with one small arrangement of flowers in the center. The pink and orange napkins with gold polka dots are from Anthropologie (Saint Louis Galleria, 314-727-7419, anthropologie.com), and the pattern matches the liner of the invitation envelope. Berry also printed the individual accordion-folded menus. The bread and butter are served on a small wooden chopping block. The mahogany Chiavari chairs were rented from The Aries Co. (4940 Northrup, 314-664-6610, ariescompany.com).
For our pretend Sunday Supper Club’s food, we turned to the underground restaurateur behind Entre. Chef John Perkins’ pop-up restaurant has opened a space at 360 N. Boyle in the Central West End. In addition to hosting Perkins’ frequent pop-up dinners, the space is available for rental. The chef’s menu for this Sunday supper features one of the most comforting foods we know, cassoulet. The wine and beer selections came from Parker’s Table (7118 Oakland, 314-645-2050, parkerstable.com).
The guests we envisioned were old, dear friends. The conversation undoubtedly ran well into the night as they argued about politics, critiqued The Hobbit, and recalled hilarious escapades of years past.
MENU
• Molasses-roasted beets topped with a fried egg, endive salad, and brown-butter vinaigrette
• Cassoulet with duck and pork belly
• S’mores with homemade graham-cracker shortbread, marshmallow fluff, and smoked chocolate sauce
