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 love how you pulled everything together! We have a world market here. I had never heard of it until I moved to AZ. I think I would use the gift card on a little bit of everything 😉 Thanks for the chance!
I too LOVE World Market. I would buy . . . Italian sodas, chocolate bars from England, and some of their cool household items. I would have fun shopping!
I just went to WM the other day! They have some great curtains and pillows that I would like for my livingroom. Different little treats I would like to try and some of their soaps and jewelry. I love it all!
I’d probably get some snacks. They have such a great selection.
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I’d use it on unique artisanal foods and sodas, and maybe some outdoor pillows!
I would buy a little of everthing…I love dishes, a splash of chocolate, jewelry…why not have it all?!!!
I love the Red Rattan flatware caddy but I love their jewelry and scarves too!
So I know that even if I say I want to spend the giftcard on decorative dishes or items for my home, I will probably end up spending it on food. haha! It would be tough to decide because I always end up loving everything I see throughout the entire store! 😉
I would definitely use it on food but everything looks fantastic!
I would love a set of white dishes!
I love your table stting! I would use the money to shop for some summer entertaining . Thanks so much for the giveaway.
holla! i’d use that sweet little gift card to buy some fun, summery decoartions… kinda like you did. 🙂
I think I would use it toward some fun, cheery, bright tableware.
Have a super great day.
I would love new “Summer” melamine dishes that can go outside without fear of the kiddos breaking them.
Would use it on all the fun foods and coffee syrups! 🙂
I would get some of those super cute dishes! We always do paper products when we BBQ but I’d love to have a BBQ set of dishes too! LOVE THEM!
I want to say dishes but I know I would blow it all on the food! I am already salivating!
ooh… I’d pick a little bit of everything! Thanks for giving a chance!
Oh my! I have my eye on too much at World Market. I would buy some fun accessories for entertaining….chargers, plates, lanterns and I love their furniture. Love it!
Definately on dishes! I love to set a nice table, but am just starting out with some seasonal dishes. I’d be so psyched to win this gc!
This is my all time favorite store! There is no way I could choose one favorite area, but I’ll just throw out there that I absolutely love all of the retro candy they have available there. Also their coffee is the only type that we brew at our house. Delicious!
I would spend it on some fun food!
A little bit of everything…..I can never decide!
I absolutely LOVE World Market, I was just drooling over all the aqua and green outdoor accessories they have this summer. Every time I go there, I spend about 2 hrs. just walking around admiring all the stuff they have, I would seriously buy everything in that store if I could. LOVE THEM!!!!
A little of everything of course… but probably textiles! 🙂
I would buy some of their cook books. I love World Market. We had a baby and so I’m a stay at home mom now and with the budget being tight, the gift card would come in handy to buy a cook book. I really been wanting cooking ramkins and I saw the perfect one’s at World Maket. OF course!!! Candy!!! I am from Germany and they have a lovely selection of german candy as well as other stuff. Oh and I can’t forget some gummie bears. So in short ( or not so short) a little of this and a little of that. (I’d also, get my sister a gift as her birthday is June 20th).
I would definitely spend the gift card on kitchen supplies. They have some great casserole dishes and mixing bowls I would love to have!
Tableware for sure!
A little bit of everything!!
I shared about this giveaway on facebook!