SEND GUESTS A TICKET TO PARADISE: Mail your guests a playful invitation designed to look like a cruise ticket, complete with an “All Aboard” time for the festivities to begin.
START WITH A SULTRY SAMPLER: Before dinner, set out a platter highlighting the bounty of the region, such as mixed olives, chunks of feta cheese, and sliced crudités with hummus and pita chips. Include baguette slices and a few different kinds of aromatic, high-quality olive oil for a unique tasting. For extra wow factor, add sweet-and-salty bacon-wrapped dates: Cut bacon slices into thirds, then wrap them around pitted dates. Bake at 450 degrees for five minutes, turn over with tongs, and bake for five minutes more, until the bacon is crisp. Serve warm.
ADD A SHOT OF COLOR: Blue and yellow are the calling cards of Mediterranean decor, so accent your home with the colors of the sun and the sea. Deck your dining table with a royal-blue tablecloth; a simple glass bowl filled with lemons is a natural yet striking centerpiece. To give your hors d’oeuvres a more authentic look, serve them on tiled or mosaic ceramic serving platters, bowls, and dishes.
MIX A FRAGRANT SIGNATURE COCKTAIL: Add some southern French punch to a classic drink with this herbaceous twist. Mix rosemary-kissed martinis for your guests. Fill a shaker with two ounces of vodka and a dash of dry vermouth, shake, then pour in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary. The cocktails are as refreshing as they are elegant. Cheers!
