Cocktail Party Secrets

How Don Draper's secret stash can fuel your holiday cocktail party: Hosting a stylish, effortless bash

This month is a particularly special one because it not only marks the holiday season, but it also commemorates the 80th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. So how might one simultaneously commemorate both the holidays and the repeal, you ask?

By hosting a fabulous cocktail party, of course!

Now I know what you’re probably thinking. With the holiday party season upon us in full, unadulterated swing that there’s no way to successfully pull off an impromptu cocktail party . . . is there?

A strategically stocked bar cart can make hosting become a stylish and relaxed breeze.

I’ve got a two-word solution to this dilemma for you: Bar cart. A strategically stocked bar cart can make hosting become a stylish and relaxed breeze. Just set up a well-styled cart, lay out a few lovely platters of savory and sweet bites and voila, you’ve got an instant, tony cocktail party.

The bar cart has seen a chic and fashionable resurgence ever since Mad Men invaded pop culture a few years ago (who doesn’t envy the fact that Don Draper has one next to his desk?), and it appears that it is a design trend that will be sticking around for quite some time. It’s perfect for entertaining because it fosters a more convivial and interactive experience as guests become their own mixologists for the evening.

An added bonus is that it also frees up the host to mingle and actually enjoy their own party.

But you’re not an ordinary host and you certainly don’t want to host a cookie-cutter cocktail party. You want your shindig to be memorable. That’s where your creativity comes into play.

Your personality can shine through not only with the type of bar cart you select but also how you style it with what you put on it. But exactly how do you go about doing that?

For some expert guidance I decided to reach out to two décor and design mavens, Ronda Rice Carman and Patti Kagan, for tips and advice on styling. Carman is writer, author and editor of greatly adored and popular blog “All the Best,” as well as the author of the brand new book (with a foreword by Martha Stewart) Designers At Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living. Kagan is the co-owner of newly bowed Houston mid-century modern furniture and accessories boutique, Mrs. PK & Oz.

CultureMap: How would you describe your personal approach to styling a bar cart?

Ronda Rice Carman: It was [designer] David Hicks who declared, "I like rows and rows of tonic bottles, tomato juice and two or three syphons of spirits lined up behind each other; it gives a generous, welcoming atmosphere, and if a bus-load of friends descend upon you, you are ready for them." I follow a similar approach and I love pretty colored bottles of water and alcohol. Color, pattern and texture all come into play.

Patti Kagan: Methodical . . . paying particular attention to function, however, with high style!

CM: What is your best advice for styling a bar cart?

RRC: A stylish bar cart needs to be functional and beautiful. I love using trays to help divide the bar cart into sections. Not only is it practical, but it also looks pretty.

PK: Make a list of what you will need that evening and then style with what looks beautiful. Always use vintage or at least hints of vintage here and there. Think "Brat Pack."

CM: What three things, besides alcohol and glasses of course, should every bar cart have?

RRC: Cloth cocktail napkins, unique bar tools, cocktail recipe book.

PK: I style a bar cart with vintage bar ware which includes: tumblers for scotch drinkers (with a bottle of 12 year old Macallan); a martini shaker and glasses, Chopin vodka (because I love the bottle), vermouth, shaved lemon rind, and olives stuffed with blue cheese (complete with bamboo picks); champagne saucers (with my favorite rosé Prosecco, Zonin, for color); a fun ice bucket that is always a great conversation piece filled with perfectly shaped ice; and, of course, glamorous cocktail napkins.

Now that you’ve gotten some terrific advice it’s time to put it into action. Here are some of my personal favorite resources for snazzy bar carts and accessories:

BAR CARTS

• Society Social

This talented group has been creating its own original bar cart designs since 2011. With a belief that life is a “grand celebration” at its business core, the bar carts reflect a certain joie de vivre sensibility.

• 1stdibs

If exquisite vintage and antique bar carts are more your style, then 1stdibs will completely seduce you. With a superbly curated collection of antique dealers from across the globe, you’re sure to find just the right cart to indulge your extravagant side.

• One Kings Lane

Started in 2009 by two design enthusiasts, One Kings Lane is known for hosting sales (many lasting as little as 72 hours) that offer “exceptional value on top-brand, vintage, and designer items.” As far as bar carts go, they have a range of price points from $250 to over $2,000. My favorite is the “Timothy Whealon” clear, plexi-craft bar cart that is stunning in its simplicity.

• “Big box” stores

For an economical options that doesn’t sacrifice style, be sure not to overlook the large retailers. My picks include the “Threshold Finish Bar Cart” from Target ($130); and the “Ernest” chrome bar car from CB2 ($179)

ACCESSORIES

• Mrs. PK & Oz

Patti Kagan (“PK”), who provided some of the fabulous bar cart advice above, co-owns the store with Troy Osborne (“Oz”). The store prides itself on “taking fine mid-century modern furniture and adding a distinctive twist,” and the inventory of vintage bar ware is absolutely killer. Roger, Lane and Don would be right at home.

• Anthropologie

This store, known for its “curated mix of clothing, accessories, gifts and home décor,” carries some really charming and irresistible collections for entertaining. Expect to find cute canapé plates; curvy beverage decanters and carafes; etched wine and cocktail glasses; chic coasters; and darling cocktail napkins, like these called “Cocktail Chatter.”

• Taigan

This purveyor caters to those with a whimsical sensibility, which I really love, but what I love even more is that not only do they stock chic bar ware but this online store is also essentially bar cart one-stop shopping. The site carries bar carts (the two currently on the site are a lacquered, bright blue bamboo cart and a lacquered red-orange one with modern lines); wine and spirits including pear cognac, scotch, and, wait for it . . . moonshine, small batch tonic, crystal wine glasses, ice buckets and embroidered cocktail napkins.

• eBay

If you have a bit of patience and are open to culling through a ton of awesome (and some not so awesome) options, then go to eBay and type in “vintage bar ware.” Prepare to have your wallet emptied.

Now that you’re now fully equipped with all of the tips, ideas, inspiration and resources to entertain fabulously without the fuss, what time is the party? Being the gracious guest that I am, I’ll bring a bottle of bubbly with me to add to your gorgeously styled cart.

Designers at Home by Ronda Rice Carman

Davon bar cart ideas December 2013 Designers At Home

Photo courtesy of © Rizzoli New York

Designers at Home by Ronda Rice Carman

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eat real food

Houston DJ-turned-TikTok star cooks up a cult following one recipe at a time

Courtesy of Uncle Dibbz

Uncle Dibbz, a.k.a. A.H. Bowden, has built a devoted following for his viral recipes.

For the past month, Uncle Dibbz has been, shall we say, going ham on social media with the myriad videos of alternative Thanksgiving dishes. He’s dropped how-to clips for such recipes as Cajun-roasted turkey, honey-baked ham/hens, oven-bag turkey, and six-piece fried turkey (to go). Basically, if you don’t want to cook a bland ol’ Butterball this Turkey Day, Dibbz has you covered.

Who is Dibbz, you say? Well, he’s a North Jersey-born, Georgia-bred, Houston-based chef who’s been building quite the foodie rep online. Several videos across his TikTok, Instagram and YouTube pages, from his Cajun-boiled fried chicken (2 million on IG) to his “Propose to Me Pasta” (12.3 million on TikTok), has amassed millions of views. But Dibbz (government name: A.H. Bowden) wasn’t always a culinary content creator. He used to spin music back in Atlanta as DJ DiBiase, named after retired wrestler Ted “The Million Dollar Man” DiBiase. “DiBiase is a mouthful to say, so people just always call me ‘D’ or ‘Dibbz’ for short,” says Bowden, 37, during a Zoom interview.

@uncledibbz PROPOSE To Me PASTA 💍 🍝 Trust your Uncle! This SEAFOOD Pasta will seal the deal 👌🏽 Get my recipe below ⬇️ or on uncledibbz.com [@uncledibbz Link in Bio] 🌐 **Ingredients:** - 8 ounces spaghetti - 1 lb mixed seafood (shrimp, scallops, crab meat, etc.) - 2 tablespoons olive oil - Fresh chopped basil - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 1/2 cup white wine - 1/4 cup heavy cream - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - Salt and pepper to taste - Uncle Dibbz Delta Dust [link in bio] - Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish) - Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish) **Instructions:** 1. Cook the spaghetti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. 2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, chopped basil and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. 3. Add the mixed seafood to the skillet. Season with Uncle Dibbz Delta Dust to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Remove the seafood from the skillet and set aside. 4. Pour in the white wine to the skillet and let it simmer for 2 minutes, allowing the alcohol to cook off. 5. Stir in the heavy cream, butter, Uncle Dibbz Delta Dust seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. 6. Add the cooked spaghetti and cooked mixed seafood to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated with the sauce. 7. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. 8. Serve hot and enjoy the flavorful Seafood Spaghetti. That's good Shawty! #UncleDibbz #ThatsGoodShawty #Pasta #marryme #proposal #bride #wife #husband #relationshipgoals #datenight #easyrecipe #seafood #cajun #cooking #fyp #foryou #viral #houston ♬ original sound - Uncle Dibbz 🍴

He was making a nice living as a DJ, even serving as rapper Big K.R.I.T.’s touring DJ for a while. But when the pandemic hit, the gigs obviously dried up.

“I was living in Miami at the time,” he says. “And, you know, when you have a lot of time on your hands to think – but also need to figure out a way to, you know, sustain an income and everything like that – the ideas start coming,”

Like most DJs at that time, he was doing live mixes on Instagram. But his days throwing cookout parties in Atlanta inspired him to start doing his cooking videos, where he used his very own seasoning. Of course, he had a lemon pepper blend, which he used in a lemon pepper hot wings video that currently has over a half-million views on TikTok.

“I'm about to go live to DJ later that night, and my phone was just going off with orders,” he recalls. “So I'm like, where are these orders coming from? And it's not from my friends. I'm seeing the cities and the states. I don't know these people.”

Thanks to his videos, which usually end with him saying his signature line “That’s good shawty!” (that’s also the name of his cookbook he released last year), Dibbz went into the seasoning business full time. He eventually hired another person to help send out the piles of orders he was receiving.

He even got an order from former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith, one of his favorite athletes. “I remember doing a book report on him when I was in fourth grade,” he boasts.

Although Dibbz has a flair for making meals that border on decadent, he’s an ardent practitioner of cooking with natural ingredients, especially in his seasoning. He has several low-sodium seasoning, including Bebe’s Salt Free – named after his mother, who had open-heart surgery a few weeks before the pandemic started.

“I don't think a lot of people understand the amount of toxins and chemicals that go into a lot of these seasonings,” he says. “You're starting to see it in the news now. A lot of the foods with certain dyes are being taken off the shelves and things like that.’

Soon, Dibbz moved himself and his new business to Houston, a favorite place to perform as well as a town whose hip-hop got him into music. He cites local chopped-and-screwed gods DJ Screw, Michael 5000 Watts, and OG Ron C as his holy trinity of influences. To give props to the music of his new home, he created a hot sauce – called HXT Sauce – whose uncharacteristically large bottle resembles Promethazine cough syrup (aka the key ingredient in lean, the preferred purple cocktail for the city’s rap community).

“It's not necessarily about promoting that usage,” he says. “But, at the same time, it’s just a homage to one of the factors and influences of screwed-and-chopped music.”

Dibbz still indulges in spinning records from time to time. The Waxaholics’ DJ Big Reeks has gotten him to break out the vinyl a few times during his Thursday-night sets at Alley Kat Bar & Lounge in Midtown. But creating new recipes, dropping delicious content and proving you can eat and live in a hearty, healthy fashion still remains his full-time mission.

“I’m not just talking about eating cauliflower rice all day and every day, but just eat real food,” he says. “We're eating fake food. That's the bottom line. We're eating fake food and my whole purpose is to inspire people to eat real food and that starts with real ingredients, real herbs, you know – real natural seasonings.”

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