Tales of the Cocktail - Interview with Miguel Calvo

Check out Chet's segment tomorrow at 8:15am on Fox 8 New Orleans! He interviews Miguel Calvo who is one of the designers for Tales of the Cocktail. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Miguel transforms an ordinary outdoor space at the New Orleans Museum of Art into a hip and sexy nighttime event.

Chet looking over his segment script

Mid-filming 

One of Miguel's props for the party 

Guest Blogger: Ellie Thomas, Owner of FRESH BAR

Food, Fashion & Entertaining with FRESH BAR

Guest Blogger: Ellie Thomas, Owner of FRESH BAR

It’s safe to say there are two things people who live in New Orleans know how to do: Eat and throw a party! Having grown up in this beautiful and charming city, and now opening FRESH BAR on Magazine Street, I’ve also grown to appreciate the art of coordinating your food (especially salads) to the theme of your party. Here are a few of my secrets to adding the right splashes of color to your event:

Summer Pool Party: When you’re looking to entertain for all the neighborhood families and friends, you always want to consider what you have to eat and drink for all ages. Make your décor cute and casual with bright colors, like reds, blues, yellows, greens and oranges. Stick with bright colors for your food. A colorful centerpiece of fresh fruit skewers are easy for everyone to enjoy. FRESH BAR can provide you with an easy arrangement of strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, grapes and pears. And for the healthy at heart, a delicious FRESH BAR Louisiana Fav salad will go well at any southern event, consisting of fresh greens, bright Louisiana strawberries, blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries and sliced almonds, topped with FRESH BAR’s light house-made Citrus Vinaigrette dressing. Pair these treats with fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade for the kiddies and Abita Strawberry beer for the older generation and your neighbors will be begging to mark their calendars for your next event!

Evening Soiree Entertaining: No evening event is complete without a touch of elegance, so dress up your party with mood lighting. Small tea lights set throughout the service and side tables and white lights strung along the patio add a little pizzazz to any party. The host/hostess always wants to impress not only with ambiance but also with style, so be sure to add a wow-factor somewhere in your outfit, like a sassy pair of earrings and shoes or an eye-catching tie. Also, providing something unique, healthy and fresh to nibble on will have your guests thanking you for thinking of their figures, like FRESH BAR’s Chef’s Special salad which consists of fresh greens, avocado, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, grapes, feta cheese crumbles and sliced almonds, topped with FRESH BAR’s delicious house-made Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. I chose this salad for an evening event because the colors are more subtle than vibrant, which creates a more romantic effect. Pair this dish with a sparkling citrus and grape white sangria and you’ll keep the party going all night. 

Mexican Fiesta: Everybody loves a Mexican themed party, so make yours unique by having healthy but themed food options and fun and fabulous décor. Dress yourself in hot reds and oranges or keep it a little more casual with a denim pairing. Bright tablecloths and strung bright pennant garlands on the patio with simple, bright flowered centerpieces will catch all your guests’ attention. The food needs to be bright and vibrant just like the décor.  FRESH BAR’s Tex Mex salad, consisting of fresh greens, black beans, corn, avocado, red onions, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese and shredded pepper jack cheese is a perfect compliment. This delicious salad can also be wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and served in sample sizes as a Tex Mex wrap. Pair any of these items with a classic lime or a strawberry margarita and your fabulous fiesta will be the talk of the town! 

Fresh Bar is NOLA’s latest healthy lunch and dinner option to hit the restaurant scene. The premium to-go salad/wrap bar, located at 6101 Magazine Street, offers 40+ fresh topping choices for people to create their ultimate salad or wrap. The café also offers catering for parties and special events.

Fresh Bar is opened Monday-Saturday from 11am-7pm.

Web: www.freshbarnola.com, Twitter: @FreshBarNOLA, Facebook: FreshBarNOLA

Special thanks to James Shaw Photography for the photos

Chet Pourciau on FOX 8 - Bastille Day

DIY Gift Bag

These recycled gift bags are beyond fun and environmentally friendly because you use newspaper that you would otherwise throw in the trash. Follow the instructions below to make your own.

Fold along dashed lines. You can change the measurements to make whatever size gift bag you want. I would suggest doubling up on newspaper if you are putting heavy objects in it. 

After everything is folded, unfold and join sides A and B together.

Now it is time to fold the bottom of the bag. Fold like you would a Christmas present.

Cut out some cardboard to place on the bottom of the bag. 

The bottom will now look rigid.  

Time for some handles. I used twine that we already had in the shop.

What do you think?

Decorate Your Fireplace For The Summer

During the winter months our fireplaces become a big focal point in our living space. But what happens in the summer? It turns out that there are ways to make use of your fireplace during the warm months by transforming it into a display space.

For instance, placing candles in the space is a great way to keep the fireplace looking cozy. Using candles of different heights can add a pretty glow, without giving off much heat. Or, simply add a few houseplants for an unexpected look.

Hidden Storage

I am a huge fan of using all the possible space in a home to your advantage. Below are some cleaver storage ideas that anyone can implement into the design and functionality of their space. 

The bathroom is a perfect example of where you can use hidden storage. You can keep cleaning items and extra supplies easily out of view.

The kitchen is another one of those spaces that needs all the extra storage it can get.

Also think about using otherwise useless space under stairs

Chet Chat - Episode 206