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 would get bunches of those lanterns you had on your table and some fun outdoor plates/dinnerware. I love hosting summer parties and need to start collecting pieces!
I would definitely get dishes. No, jewelry. Or curtains. I could use some curtains. And I would not leave without a few containers of the delicious Macadamia Nut Chocolate Laceys. Yum! World Market makes me happy. 🙂
I have never heard of World Market. I love it!! I would love to get some of the dishes and spices. There is so much great stuff!
I love World Market also. I saw some really cute cupcake supplies and ceramic measuring cups. I would also love to have some pretty cloth napkins. And my husband would have to have some ginger!!!!!
I would love more supplies for cooking and entertaining, but everything looks so cute it would be hard to choose!
I would probably definitely spend the $100 on food. Exotic food!
So I am also a huge fan of World Market. Its is kind of like Costco in that I can never leave there under $75.00. Well if I win I would stock up for Christmas stockings. Because they have so many unique and fun toys and trinkets it is easy to fill a stocking with things my kids won’t recognize from an every day store.
I would definitely get some of the white dinnerware sets for my daughter and I, and I would save enough to get one of those gorgeous sushi sets for my best friend because she is a super person and loves sushi. Also, she is crazy stylish and that set would look diva-rific in her home. Thankyou for a fun giveaway!!
I would get some fun summer dishes & decor to host a just-because party! Some wine & sparklies would be appropriate!
Oh goodness, everything is so amazing! I would use the gift to buy some home decor or cute glassware. I have a few things from world market on my wedding registry!
I love World Market! I would definately buy some specialty teas and some English biscuts to go with it, and maybe some cute plates to serve them on!
Oooooh- def. get my table some jewelry. I’ve got all the basic whites, now for some glam!
As we do not have World Market in MN anymore 🙁 I would most likely use it on food when we visit Madison, WI this summer. Artichoke dip – YUM!
I am currently working on building my own dining room table out of a reclaimed door. I would use the gift card to get accessories to spruce it up like pillows for the banquette style seating I’m going to install!
I could never decide because I LOVE EVERYTHING at WM!!!
I think I would use the gift card on some outdoor furniture. I love shopping for kitchenware, but my cupboards are too full!
i would go to town buying dishes! my boyfriend and i are thinking about getting our own place!
I would use the card on birthday gifts for my daughter who is turning 12 next month! 🙂
Food – definitely food. I love the curry sauces, chocolate selection, and spices.
so many fun things it would be hard to choose! I think I would get some new dishes and entertaining things.
Oh man, would I ever love a shopping spree at World Market! And just in.time for the 4th.
Your table decorations and place settings looked amazing! I loved the addition of the glass soda bottles- nice touch! I am as much of a fan of Wolrd Market as you are and I especially like all their little knick-knack items and food, wines, etc. I would put the money towards some fun, festive, dinnerware to use for my sister-in-laws baby shower coming up next month! Nothing sets the tone for a party or get-together like a new set of place settings 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity!
Food! I love buying spices there, and snacks, and candies from all over the world. I would save some money for their kitchenware section-so many cute things at reasonable prices! World Market is one of my favorite places
i would use the gift card to buy some new dishes, glasses and entertaining ware.
I LOVE World Market! First, I would buy those Italian Sodas! They look so good! And I love their furniture and home decor!! Oh – and their jewelry is awesome! I want to win!!!!
Dishes of course – you can’t have enough cute tableware!
I want it all 🙂
I love World Market! I am a bit in love with apothecary jars and would definitely snag a few of those! The Mario pitcher is also pretty lovely!
Ok, I’m so excited about this giveaway!! I wold probably spend it on furniture, cause we’ve been remodeling our home and I need some fun accessories to put around things. Oh, I hope I win!!!
o-m-g! i’d be so stoked if i won. i’d totally use the gift certificate on dishes and food! i love world market! well, when i was growing up we called it cost plus! thank you for such an exciting giveaway!
abrazos,
bella