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 definitely use it on the furniture and the food. I love World Market!
I’d use the gift card on decor type items. It has been a long time since I’ve been in a World Market. (maybe 2 yrs) Good luck everyone.
I think I’d get some lovely new dishes like the ones you shared. Our outdoor dishes are seriously beat up. Also, I always buy some chocolate while I’m there.
LOVE World Market!!!! I would love to get some home decor stuff they have the most unique things! 🙂 And of course there Thai Mango candles!! They remind me of my mom.
I would love to buy some fun summertime dishes/tableware! Yea for World Market!
I would buy a little bit of everything! Lately I’ve fallen in love with their jewelry, so I could always use a gift card for that, but my first love there is their wines.
I would totally splurge on food items: gourmet chips, dips, chocolates and drinks 🙂
I would use that amazing gift card on some new fun dishes!
I love World Market! I don’t know what I would spend it on but I know I would have a lot of fun doing it!
I would LOVE to win a gift card to World Market! My hubby LOVES going there because of all the nostalgic candies and chocolates. It brings him back. I LOVED your outdoor dinner menu and would LOVE to spend some of the gift card on having one of my own.
I would get picnic stuff. The basket, the dishes, the food and even cute plates and linens.
Oh my gosh! This is SO cool. Two things definitely come to mind- first, I would look for Ghirardelli dark chocolate cocoa. World Market is the only place I have ever been able to find it. Next… Some time ago, my husband and I were at a party and the hostess offered the cutest serving tray as a game gift which she divulged she had picked up at World Market. I didn’t win, so needless to say, the second thing I would be looking for would be a darling serving platter (like the party gift) for cookies, scones, hors d’ oeuvres or whatever. No doubt this would not be all! A $100 gift card would go a long way at World Market. You’re right, World Market has great products and quite the selection! With a $100 gift card, perhaps I could throw a soiree as nifty as yours. 🙂 Thanks so much!
P.S. Great to meet you in Bellevue, WA! …And thanks for signing my cookbook! 😉
I would buy some much needed decor for my new home!
I absolutely love all of their fun table linens! And my couch in the living room could use some fun summer-y pillows!! 🙂
I think I would copy your tablesetting 🙂
I love World Market but don’t go enough! I need all new outdoor entertaining stuff to go with my newly landscaped yard!
I would LOVE to throw a party like this one! My family would all look at me like I’m nuts. 🙂 I think I’d have to boost my entertaining skills with some of the lovely plates/chargers you showed. Definitely some of the sets of white plates. SO nice to have on hand!
I would use the gift card to get dishes and decor. I have had the same dishes for almost 10 years and I am ready to expand my option for entertaining. We host a dinner party almost weekly and and I am so tired of hosting on the same dinnerware, ready to spice it up a bit! Thank you for sharing your recipes and ideas, I have made them on more than one ocassion and the family including my 2 toddlers love them!!! I made the chocolate ganache recipe last night and spread it on a dulce de leche cake I made, it was the perfet pair, everyone went nuts for it. mmmm…I think I know what breakfast is going to be 🙂
If I were to win, I’d be buying bamboo plates, bee glassware, and a reed table runner to use at a garden party baby shower I’m throwing in July and then use for summer entertaining.
I would definately buy food. The spreads you mentioned and the chips look very tasty.
I would definitely spend it on dishes! I am a dishes junkie
Probably a little of everything! I think I’d start with some serving dishes.
Wow! That table looks gorgeous & the food looks delicious. Would you like to come & cater a Father’s Day lunch for us in Virginia this weekend?
I absolutely adore everything you bought here from the decor to the food from World Market. I think I may have to do a combination of both but lean a little more towards decor as my husband and I just bought our first house! 🙂 Going from a condo to a house, we could use more decor and furniture for sure!
I’ve never been to World Market, but it sounds amazing! I’d LOVE to spend it on a little of everything! =)
Beautiful table setting and all of the food looks gorgeous! I love all the candles and flowers too!
I just moved from Utah to California yesterday and I’ve never heard of world market before today! Conveniently they have world market here, and it looks like such a fun store. I would use the gift card for outdoor accessories for my new place.
A little bit of everything! 🙂
Your gorgeous tablescape inspires me to want cool table ware for my outside table. We bought an absolutely beautiful table and chairs from World Market last year when we added a 4 season room to the house (I joke that we added a dining room cuz we eat out there ALL the time) Now it’s time to take it over the top with some cute table ware, maybe a runner or placemats, and some cute napkins.
Just recently found you post and gotta say ‘Love It!’
I think I would spend it on just about everything! Sounds like a cool place to go visit!