Fill In the Blank Friday

Lauren at the Little Things We Do has ratcheted up the challenge factor of her “Fill In The Blanks” meme a notch or two. This week’s theme? Well, let’s just say that I am NOT “the hostess with the mostest”.

I suck at playing hostess, to be honest.

While my friend Valerie is the Diva of the Dinner Parties – she is everywhere at once, cooking, making sure you have a drink, taking coats, mingling (I can’t do this) – I am inevitably trapped in the kitchen, no matter how well I plan/concoct/prepare dishes in advance while the rest of the party is in the living room, chatting, eating the cheese and olive plates I’ve set out. If I’m lucky, the Hubs will make me up a small appetizer plate of cheese and olives to nibble on while I melt down in the kitchen.

So.

This, my friends, is a bit fantasy.

I would host it…

At the beach. My absolute favorite restful destination is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and I love the beach. I haven’t decided if I would hold it ON the beach, ocean-side

Or in a cabana at the end of a pier, sound-side, because you get the most glorious sunsets over the sound.

I would invite

All my closest friends, American and British (the latter who would be jetted over in style a few days earlier, so that all jet lag would be diminished).

We would eat

All my favorite North Carolina foods. We would start with an elegant, sherry topped she-crab soup, some just-caught-that-morning grilled tuna, Carolina-style spiced steamed shrimp (and maybe a grilled flank steak for my sad non-fish eating compadres). We would top it off with a gorgeous key lime pie or tart.

Good golly, how I miss key lime anything.

We would drink

frozen margaritas made with lime sorbet and tequila (because I love this idea), white wine spritzers with a twist (because I’ve discovered I can’t hold my liquor like I used to these sound refreshing, cold beer and Pimm’s (because it’s oh so British, and I want my friends to feel at home, and I think my American friends must try some).

It would look like

airy, relaxed casual glam. While I picture flowy white dresses and rolled up trousers, the practicality of wearing white while peeling steamed shrimp is grim. That said, this is a fantasy. Ok, and the women will be wearing flowers in their hair, where no pesky sand flies would dare follow.

Did I mention I’m a terrible hostess? Of course, I will need someone to do ALL the prep work, cooking and serving…

And…

because this is MY fantasy dinner party, there will be a gentle breeze (no stinging sand blowing in our faces) or sand flies or any other bitey bug.

What would YOUR perfect dinner party look like?

Find more inspiration in today’s linked-up posts at The Little Things We Do.