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
This is awesome! I wonder if I have a “World Market” here in Vegas/Henderson. But if there is one close (even in Utah) I will for sure spend it on some lovely kitchen/dining decor. Nothing is better than beautiful decor. It helps you enjoy a meal better. Then I might have to splurge on some jewelry for myself. 🙂 I hope I win!
OMG!! World Market is MY favorite store! We just bought a house and I wasn’t even excited about it until I went to WM and found the curtains of my dreams! We actually themed our whole downstairs to these very curtains. So I could easily spend that money on decor. Easily!
I’d spend it on lighting for my upcoming outdoor wedding! Love y’all and World Market!!
I could definitely use the gift card to buy lamps and accessories to add some life to our apartment!
Oh boy could I use some cute plates and glasses like those shown in the pictures! I will be getting married soon and would love to have a little money to buy some cute basics-since I love cooking and baking so much!
If I got to spend that money at World Market I would buy all the foreign food possible. Being from Hungary I always miss the food from there. :]
I would use it for a little bit of everything…fun house treats and maybe some jewelry too!
I would spend it on some much needed furniture!
I would buy some outdoor entertaining items. Here in AZ, we can eat outside almost year round!
Gosh I haven’t been to World Market in atleast a year, so I’d probably go crazy with the gift card 🙂 a little of everything please!
Juli
World Market is amazing – as are you and your entire family! 🙂 I would love to spend the gift card on some wall decor or new pillows. Or a whole lot of 5 lb. bags of Haribo gummy bears they sell.
Wow! 🙂 this is way cool. World Market has a little of everything. I have never heard of this until now. I am a college student and would love this shopping spree. FUN!!
I have a little crush on World Market. I was just wandering through there the other night — but just “window shopping”, no $ spending. It’s too hard to pick one thing I’d get at World Market. But some home decor would probably be it. I love how colorful their items are — and we really need some color around here!!
Seriously would use a gift card for some plates. Moving soon and would love a little color!
I had never been on their website before (or in one of their stores for that matter) and I was instantly hooked! So many great things!
A couple of these would be awesome for summer get-togethers: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11257082&clickid=cart
I also adore these: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3706892&clickid=cart
I’ve never been to World Market before. Sounds amazing! I’d love to get some cute dishes for everyday use. My current hodge-podge of dishes is pathetic!
I want a rug to go on the new hard wood floors I’m getting! And maybe some sweet bedding or dishes!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm………probably food and summer bbq supplies. Love your blog!
I am just discovering world market. I have used many of their flavored syrups fi
For drinks
I would buy fun dishes.
My first thought is “JEWELRY” because I love jewelry and don’t get to buy new stuff very often. But in reality, I would probably get some exotic foods for my husband beacuse he loves trying new things and doesn’t get many opportunities living in north Idaho.
LOVE World Market, too…it’s like Pier1 but not overpriced!!
Oh, I’d totally buy dishes…can’t have enough dishes!!
Okay, close your eyes and travel back with me 15 years. Wait! Don’t close your eyes! You can’t read my comment if you do that. Just travel back with me to southern Argentina. We are sitting on a patio covered with a trellis. There are plump grapevines covering the patio and little bits of sunlight can penetrate the cracks between grapevines and trellis. It is pretty warm outside and there is a slight breeze. We are eating asado that has been marinated in chimichurri sauce and drinking grapefruit juice(not fresh squeezed- this sugar/flavoring concoction that is very popular there) and eating homemade bread. We are enjoying each others company and friendship. I had only arrived just a few weeks before and my Spanish is lacking to say the least. But I feel a warmth and love like I had only felt among my own family. I am a missionary there and will only enjoy a short 15 more months of the loving people of Argentina before I need to return home to “get on with life.”
If I won the $100 I would do my best to recreate this moment. I would purchase any Argentine cuisine I could find in the store. I would buy some festive dishes(melamine of course- I now have 4 children) and I would have a little asado of my own. We would all talk about the chicas lindas that made it all possible and I could have a mini vacation to a land I love but cannot afford to return to(with 4 kids and college- you get the picture). Thank you for your consideration. I see you’ve had a lot of reading to do over the last few days:)
My husband is Argentinian. Talking about asado is making me hungry.
I would love some new dishes! 🙂
Please choose me to win the gift certificate from World Market. I would love the Agra Wool Rug or some tea light candle holders to illuminate our outdoors dining.
Love World Market. Fab giveaway. I’d definitely buy new dishes for a fun summertime party. 🙂
Hello! I absolutely LOVE world market! I would spend it on a mixture of food and maybe some cool unique dishes!
I love World Market. With this gift card, wow, I don’t know what I would buy….too much stuff to choose from. But perhaps some kitchen wares, jelly beans, wine and food stuff. Hope I win.
I would use the gift card to buy summer outdoor entertaining supplies. When it’s 110 degrees in Phoenix, you might as well be sweating it out with beautiful things surrounding you!
I’d love to buy a new rug for my living room.