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!
Questions & Reviews
I would spend it on a little of everything. I can definitely say it would all be spent on me for once. I am never able to say that.
You have inspired me to dream about some vibrant, colorful outdoor table settings of my own! p.s. I LOVE peonies too! Those you have pictured are so beautiful. Wish I knew you both in person. You’re like my best friends I never got to meet. Thanks for brightening my each day with your amazing recipes and spunky wit.
I would definitely use it for cute entertaining items. I just want to dine outside all summer and need cute stuff to use!
I would get a little bit of everything! 😀
World Market Giftcard = fun fun fun…. I would walk the whole store and then probably end up buying fun outdoor tableware and some yummy foods!!
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I would totally go shopping for new dishes so I can throw out all the starter dishes we got when were we married 12 years ago. I would have so much fun!!
FOOD and the white buffet plates!
I would love to host the ultimate 4th of July Party for my family! It would be so fun to buy new festive plates and decorations!
I love World Market too! I would for sure spend my money on things for the kitchen!!! I love their dishes and I love their little magnetic spice holders. I want to re-do my whole spice rack so I can actually find things for a change
I would love to give the gift card to my sister. She is a graduate student at TCU and needs some help decorating her apartment!
I looooooove me some World Market! I’d honestly have a hard time deciding what to spend $100 on. I usually get a little bit of everything when I go and I always LOOK at everything.
World Market is a several-hour trip for me. <3
I am buying my first house this week!!! I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to buy something fun for it!!!
Outdoor tableware and food!
I love World Market and would spend the $100 on my new apartment! My husband and I move this week and I’m so excited to decorate!
i’d blow it all in their international candy aisle. not. gonna. lie.
I wouldn’t even know where to start! We moved recently and I am trying to make our house a home any way I can, but if pressed I would probably buy some amazing new dishes, especially after seeing the pretty ones you picked out for your party. : )
I love World Market too! My obsession with it started when I was a kid and it was known as Cost Plus. The first time I ever had gummi bears was at Cost Plus. My grandma took me there to buy them. I used to buy thing there for my bedroom like paper lanterns and furniture when I was a teenager. Then I moved 700 miles away from the nearest Cost Plus. It was so sad. No need to fear, though! We went to Cost Plus every year when we went back “home” for vacations. I always kept extra storage space in the trunk of my car for my trips to Cost Plus and other stores that were no where near me in my new home. Now, that I am an adult and there is a World Market just minutes away from me (hooray!), I have to stay away! I would buy everything in the store if I could! I love that store. I have to say though, that the first thing I would buy would have to be a bunch of Ghirardeli chocolate! Yum!
If I won the gift card, I absolutely would spend it on some of their amazing dishes for entertaining. We just redid our kitchen, and I would love for some new fun stuff to match our colors!! I absolutely love World Market and could spend hours in there dreaming up what I would use all of their stuff for.
Dishes…DEFINITELY dishes!!!!! I am a second generation dish lover and absolutely obsessed with World Market!! My mother owns over 20 full sets of dishes and I am hoping to add to my own collection! I love creating table scapes full of bright color!! World Market has all the pieces I often use for my table!! So cute!!!
I would get some dishes. I have a casserole pan from World Market that I just LOVE!
if I had $100 @ World Market I would get CHCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE! Ok, I would also try some different food from around the world that you just can’t get at any other store. I love to travel & try new foods, so that would be fun! I could also really use a new dinner set. I LOVE the colors you used in your outdoor setting. Beautiful!
I love the Porcelain Plates Sets with Space-Saving Racks that you featured. I got rid of my dishes when we moved in with my in-laws, but as soon as we have our own place again, I will be buying these babies!!!
I would absolutely LOVE to win this giftcard. I have always been one to never really ‘go for it’ with color. I am always afraid it won’t match right or its too much, yet whenever I see someone else decorate I LOVE what they have done. I am sick and tired of my white dishes and tan linens….I want to have some COLOR!! This giftcard would be a great opportunity to do so!!! I love you guys so much & am very thankful you are willing and able to share you fabulous talents with us all!
I would love to use the gift card for
some fun patio decorations and yummy treats for entertaining!
WOw, you two lovely women help me to be a creative/fun Mom. 🙂 Thanks for al the great recipes and ideas! Blessings!!!!
Yowzas! 100 bucks? I would spend it on food. I would get the paella kit, spreads like hummus or pesto because I’m a baller on a budget; I don’t get to travel all over the world but shopping at World Market would at least let me eat like I did.
Love world Market…they always have Beechams clove gum! Not that I would spend it all on gum, I love their kitchen stuff.
I love World Market. I just bought the neatest summer dishes from them. I would use the money to buy some things for my kitchen that I saw in their store. Thanks for the great giveaway!
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I would spend it on a little bit of everything. Maybe new silverware, some yummy candles, and the rest on some fun treats!
New dishes.. Definitlely!