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
Oh too many choices!! i want lots of things!
Dishes! I have a glass gene/obsession. And maybe table linens.
Furniture! I’m newlywed and in need of home decor!
Most likely some cute new dishes!
I could go crazy in World Market!! I would definitely hit up their kitchen section for some new plates!
This is the first time I am commenting on a post, but I have been a quiet, loyal fan for a while now. 🙂 Love your recipes, and am a little obsessive with my new-found love of cooking.
I also love World Market. If I won the giftcard, I would definitely spend at least a small portion of it on some cool kitchen gadgets, even though I really can’t fit much more in our tiny student apartment drawers (because let’s face it, I have a problem… and the drawers aren’t big to begin with). I would also love to get some cute dishes and cute home decor. I love, love, love cute stuff like everything pictured in this post, but haven’t bought any yet since my husband and I are just about to embark on a 4-5 year Pharmacy school adventure, and sometimes cute dishes/decor money is better served as tuition payment… haha (though, sometimes I have to practice some serious restraint (: )! And any remaining money, I would buy some cool foods to try from other countries, because I love food, especially if its something new.
I’ve been wanting the Aiden End Table for awhile now. This would definitely make a dent in the cost!
Colorful serving dishes…and food…and jewelry…and whatever else I find! In fact, I’m going to go check out World Market this morning as soon as they open! I haven’t been since I moved from Oregon! What a fun morning! Good idea!
I would probably go ahead and use it on a little bit of EVERYTHING!
I’d definitely spend it on some new plates/silverware for entertaining… we have 6 in our family and only 7 dinner plates (our originals from our wedding 10 years ago minus the one I broke ;o) Whenever we have company we have to use paper since we don’t have enough for everyone! This would be awesome! Thanks!
I would use the gift card to purchase some of the wonderful entertaining pieces that they have avalable.
ooh! World Market is my fave! I’d spend it on furniture, maybe for the patio?
I would use the gift card to help furnish our new home, and to try some neat foods.
I’d buy fun containers for homemade spa products, stuff to wrap them with, and some great cloth napkins in hopes of breaking the paper napkin habit. Thanks for sharing — your ideas are always awesome!
I love the World Market! Growing up we always got the best stocking stuffer from World Market. Now I go in a swoon at many items wishing I had money to spend. June 20th, is my wedding anniversary. Just saying it would make a great gift!
Oh I LOVE World Market! Such a fun place to explore! They have the coolest stuff. I would spend the gift card on a variety of things- probably mostly dishes and kitchen stuff! Your table decor is so inspiring!
I LOVE World Market! Definitely one of my favorite places to shop. I would love to have pretty napkins,plates and placemats for my blog photography! Thank you for a chance to win a great giveaway!
Liz
http://www.fresh-plate.blogspot.com
lanzaelizabeth77 at gmail dot com
Ooooo… I would spend it on food from around the world. How fun!
Oh I love World Market. I’ve only been once and I did not buy anything for I feared I wouldn’t be able to stop once I started. How I would love to win a gift card so I could buy some new table settings and fun accessories. Thanks for posting the best recipes ever! I make one every night!
I would love to get new dishes! Love World Market!
I am getting ready to move into our first house and have been eyeing several things at World Market.
I would use a gift card on dishes and linens that I could use on my blog, too. My kids would have to pick up a few of the toys and some snacks, too.
Well I’m about to buy a house & send my oldest off to college so I’d probably split the card between prettying up the house & a dorm room. Thanks
I would go crazy with dishes and vases.
I would spend the gift card on curtains for our baby boy’s bedroom! He will be here in October!
I love love love their kitchen supplies!! I would easily spend that gc in there… and then move onto the food, baskets, linens etc.
how fun!! i am also mildly obsessed with world market! i think i would buy a little bit of everything….there is just too much to choose from!
OH we LOVE World Market especially the food. I lived in Germany as a child and have shared my love of foods with them. I am afraid I would end up spending the majority of the gift card of sweet little delicacies to stock our pantry.
And thank you for reminding me!! Our youngest turns 12 this week so I think I see a trip to World Market is in store. It is almost an hour drive away but he LOVES it as much as my husband and I do!!
When I discovered World Market in junior high, I thought I’d stumbled on to a treasure trove. 🙂 I still love it. Would LOVE a gift card to splurge on something for our new condo decorations.
I’d love to buy a nice chair to sit at my sewing machine. I love World Market’s furniture and I don’t love my folding chair.