I don’t have much talent for entertaining. I don’t know what to serve (or how to cook), what drinks to pair with each course or how to keep guests entertained. I can decorate a table, but that’s only one small part of a successful dinner party.
So I was thoroughly impressed when I had the opportunity to shoot a charity dinner party at the Gateway Guesthouse in south Austin for the Statesman.
Gateway co-owners Blaise Bahara and Bess Giannakakis hosted the party as part of the “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” event benefiting Project Transitions, a non-profit that provides services to HIV and AIDS patients. Several of these dinners are hosted on the same night every year to raise money for the charity.
Bess Giannakakis and Blaise Bahara
The theme was “Mississippi Rising: A Culinary Journey Down Ol’ Man River,” which played on the journey Bahara and Giannakakis took when they moved to Austin from Minnesota. Each course highlighted a dish and a drink from a state along the Mississippi River. A hand painted napkin that featured a map of the river served as a guide.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana were represented with dishes and/or cocktails. I won’t share photos of every dish, but here are a few.
Wild rice soup – Minnesota
Pork loin – Iowa
Fried chicken – Kentucky
Cream puff with chocolate mouse – Louisiana
Bahara and Giannakakis stayed in the kitchen while preparing each course and let the guests enjoy the meal.
Between each course Bahara served cocktails while each guest read a bit of trivia on the state they were provided. After a glass of Tennessee whiskey and some trivia about how much of what food is consumed in which state, the guests relaxed and became fast friends.
I can see how this would be a very effective fundraiser. Who wouldn’t want to go to a dinner party with fantastic food, charming company, fun trivia and beautiful decorations at a quaint B&B? And all for a good cause.
Click here to read Michael Barnes’ article and find out more about Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.