My love affair with World Market started when I was just a kid. I think I was in 6th grade when my friend and I would sometimes get dropped off at the mall to hang out and we’d always walk over to World Market. They used to sell the most amazing little rose-flavored candies. Yes, roses- as in the flowers. They were so so good. To this day every time I walk into a World Market store, I keep my eye out for them. Now that I’m grown up and actually have use for the amazing household items in the store, I buy more than candy! I buy much more than candy. I love World Market like Kate loves Target. We’re talking serious business here. Some might classify it as an obsessive relationship. I mentioned in a photography post that I did a while back that a huge number of the dishes and table linens you see in my food photographs, including the photos in our cookbook, have come from World Market. They sell an amazing selection of cookware, dishes, and specialty items. Remember the adorable little mugs you all were raving about in my hot chocolate post? Yep. World Market. They also sell a great selection of furniture, housewares, gifts, jewelry, accessories (see the cute floral headband I’m wearing in the next pic? World Market!), over 500 international wines, gourmet foods and specialty drinks imported from more than 50 countries. It’s seriously one of my most favorite places, which is why I jumped at the chance to host a party compliments of World Market and Foodbuzz. I had the perfect occasion this past weekend while I was in my home town of Seattle; my favorite sister (okay, she’s my only sister, but for reals, she’s my favorite) was having a birthday!
That’s my sister Becca. She’s awesome. She’s an amazing cook (I actually photographed her making something this weekend that I’m going to post soon) She’s insanely creative (we’re talking like, she built a to-scale replica of my parents house in gingerbread last Christmas. Okay, and she has a college minor in art, but seriously the gingerbread was sweet) and she does crazy cool stuff like rescue orphaned animals and train them to release them back into the wild. No joke. She taught a half-dead bird how to eat. And then fly. She’s like an animal whisperer. She’s also single. In case you know someone. Just sayin…
I had a perfectly lovely backyard meal in my mind and I found everything I needed at World Market. Sometimes when you envision outdoor entertaining you immediately think of paper plates and plastic tablecloths. I love to mix and match and bring some of my indoor things out. I started out with a crisp white tablecloth, and added a bamboo table runner. I love how the bamboo is kind of rustic and fits in with an outdoor theme.
Then I used some plain white plates. This is a fabulous thing to have. World Market sells a lot of these buffet sets; plain white dishes in all sizes that come in these nice holders. They’re affordable, and great to have on hand for big group meals.
I didn’t want them to get lost on the white tablecloth though so I used these awesome chargers. Aren’t they fantastic? This is my most favorite color so I couldn’t resist. They’re a heavy duty plastic so they’re super easy to clean too. I love these.
On top of the white plates, I placed these fun melamine dessert plates. They’re light weight and inexpensive; perfect for outdoor entertaining! I love the colors in them, and found cloth napkins in a matching color too.
One of my favorite things to do on an outdoor table is light candles. There’s something about a breeze, and summer weather, and flickering candles, that makes you want to stay at that table for hours. I LOVE these purple glass lanterns. Those things are big, and only 8 bucks! They matched the purple in the plates perfectly.
World Market has a gazillion different styles of little votive holders. I’m madly in love with these blue square ones. I grabbed a bunch of different styles and colors and scattered them around. All the colors tied into the plates so they all matched when put together.
See those cute drinks? One of my favorite things.
World Market Italian Sodas. They have a bunch of flavors; my family loves the Blood Orange. The Mango Passion Fruit is yummy too.
The personal sized bottles look so cute on a dinner table. Sort of casual-chic.
My sister bought her own flowers (okay, and she made half of this meal herself too. She’s rad like that.) How crazy beautiful are these peonies??
Seriously I couldn’t stop staring at them. I love fresh flowers on a dinner table, especially an outdoor one.
Just make sure when you’re entertaining that you use shallow vases or bowls so you don’t block people’s faces.
Okay I’ll stop swooning over the flowers. Back to food. For an appetizer, I grabbed a great pesto, and also a Piquillo and Artichoke Bruschetta spread. Both were amazing. I could eat that artichoke stuff with a spoon. Okay I sort of did. Both came from World Market. Did I mention they have food there? Food from all around the world? Ya, they do. And lots and lots of chocolate and treats too.
I need to make a knock-off of that artichoke spread asap.
My family also loves these chips. They taste similar to those Pop Chips that are popular right now.
My kiddos love ’em! They also have lots of fun trinkets, toys, and novelty items at World Market. My kids beg for stuff every time we go there and I usually say no, so this time I grabbed a bunch of toys to keep them busy while the grown-ups ate. It worked brilliantly.
We also grilled up (and by we I mean my husband) one of my all-time-favorite summer meals, Italian Chicken and Vegetable Skewers. Per my sister’s request we (and by we I mean my sister) also made Caramel Toffee Fruit Dip. (Are you starting to wonder if I cooked anything at all??) And a yummy Pear and Gorgonzola Salad.
My sister also made an awesome Orange-Teriyaki Steelhead, which I’m going to share her recipe for soon! Heaven knows our Seafood Section can use all the help it can get. I’m thinking I should have her do a monthly fish feature!
For dessert (seriously I made this one myself. I mean, I bought this one myself. It counts, I swear.) I picked up some Seattle-famed Trophy Cupcakes. I have to be honest and say that when it comes to gourmet cupcake shops, I’ve been disappointed way more times than I’ve been pleased. But Trophy came through! These babies were amazing.
All in all it was a gorgeous night with fantastic company. Nothing better than friends and family on a beautiful summer night at a beautiful summer table!
I think I’d spend it on a little of everything-which would definitely include those purple lanterns. I absolutely love World Market!
I would use it for serving dishes!
I fell in love with World Market when I lived in Houston; since I moved away I am so happy they have a great online store. I think I would use the giftcard for a variety of things but mostly cute dinnerware.
Your party looks so fun! Just beautiful.
Are you sitting down? I have NEVER been to World Market! I know, I know. It looks like a must see though! If I won the gift card I would probably buy some beautiful serving bowls. Thanks for the chance! Jeanette at thealldays(at)msn.com
I love world market too!! I just moved and would love to add some fun pizzaz to my place!!
What a great post! I haven’t been to World Market in a long time. I think if I won, I would use it towards some new dishes. Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh how I love World Market!! I can always find something there that I don’t know how I lived withou! It is my go-to place for thoughtful, one of a kind gifts for those hard to shop for people. I love parusing the food selection and all the kitchen supplies/gadgets. You could say I’m a kitchen gadget junkie, so I know that’s what I would spend my money on!
I have dreams of such beautiful entertaining. I would definitiely invest in some of their fun dishes and candle votives.
Probably a little bit of everything. I usually can’t leave without something for baking, though.
I would definelty buy dishes, it’s a weekness
I love all the fun kitchen gadgets, also the linens but I would also love some of there cute funky jewelry! 😉
I love World Market, too! I’d probably buy things for entertaining outdoors, now that we have relandscaped our backyard. 🙂
Dishes, definitely. I need some cute ones.
Love love love world market!!! I would definitely use a gift card to help decorate our baby’s nursery, it needs to be done by November!!
I love World Market and can never walk out of the store empty handed. I would spend the money on a little bit of everything. Food, Candles, Dishes, Decor, you name it!
I would love to win this Gift Card! I am a teacher and I have been looking for Cultural items to hang in my classroom. World Market has a ton of things that I could use! (I might even have to use a little of it for home decor too!) What a great opportunity!
If I won the gift card, I would use the money to fill my new house 🙂 or I would fill my cart with those lanterns & votive holders….they are my collection obsession!!
I would completely use it on a little of everything. Their stuff is wonderful, but we are tight on cash so I rarely buy anything there. Just wander the isles and dream.
I LOVE world market!!! I love their italian sodas, dishes, decorating items, I love it all!
I would spend it all on food and candy! Yummy! I love that store!! I discovered it a few years ago and I think it’s the greatest place!
I love World Market but I have only been there once. I spent a couple hours in there, just looking at everything! I’d spent the money on a little bit of everything–the fabulous ethnic snacks, home decor, and jewelry!
I would use a gift card on specialty food items I can’t find in the city where I live and fun dishes.
I absolutely love World Market too! I can spend hours just walking through the store. I would probably buy tableware or decorative items I can to use for outdoor entertaining with a giftcard.
I’d spend it on a little of everything that I would normally never buy!
I LOVE World Market also! I would use the gift card to buy some fun summer entertaining dishes and outdoor decor (love those lanterns!).
oh my gosh, i love that store. i never go in there with any particular plans, and i always leave with a cart-full. they have fantastic tea and wine options, not to mention really fun candy. great giveaway!
I love World Market too! I think I’d use a gift card for kitchen supplies- they have great stuff!
I too LOVE World Market!!! I browse through the whole store but usually end up spending the most in the back of the store with the different dips,spreads, sauces, candies, chips, etc. I am a foodie…what can I say?!? Lol
I LOVE dishes, and cookbooks. Cooking not so much. I would definitely buy outdoor dining items.
World Market is an awesome store with all kinds of goodies, so I don’t know what I’d spend it on, but I’d find something great!