Without a doubt, one of my favorite spring events is the
Kentucky
Derby. There are handsomely groomed horses, spring dresses, gentlemen in
seersucker and colorful ties, big hats, bourbon, and oodles
champagne.
What's a girl
not to love?
This year I partnered with
G.H. Mumm to inspire you to throw your own
champagne-filled
Derby Party, and I hope that you send me photos of
your glamorous parties and festive hats. Seriously, it's one of the best
days of the year.
The Menu
I like to keep my parties simple, mostly because throwing a party is
always 1,000 times more stressful than
I originally intended it to be, and things always go wrong. So plan
ahead, and anticipate a back-up plan (like ordering pizza when a dish ends up
on the floor – don’t judge, it’s happened).
To Start
A Champagne Toast
Start off in the early afternoon with a toast of champagne,
G.H. Mumm, of
course.
Keep
a case of bubbles chilled in the refrigerator, and keep those bottles
popping as your guests arrive. For extra flair, break out the
saber.
Everyone loves a good party trick, and nothing says party quite like chopping
the top off a bottle of champagne.
Pro Tip: If you have never sabered
a champagne bottle before, I recommend watching a few
YouTube videos.
It’s incredibly easy, but the bottle has to
be very cold to avoid embarrassing
explosions.
The Punch
Run for the Roses Champagne Punch
I know, I know, Derby is supposed to be all about Mint Juleps.
But unless you’re planning on hiring a
skilled bartender to make craft cocktails for your guests or you don’t mind
spending the
entire party in the
kitchen mixing bespoke Juleps, I recommend another strategy for your libations.
The remedy?
Punch. Prep it ahead
of time, make backup batches a head of time, and get the (bleep) out of the
kitchen.
This punch is inspired by a classic Mint Julep and all those amazing red
roses that are synonymous with the event.
It is made with Bourbon, homemade Rhubarb-Rose Syrup, Aperol, Fresh
Lemon, and topped off with an
entire bottle of Champagne.
This recipe will serve 4, and for a good-sized
party, I recommend having enough ingredients to make 4 rounds of punch.
Like any cocktail, the secret ingredient to this punch is water – it needs the dilution of the ice to balance out the acidity and the sweetness of
the Aperol.
Prep your ice blocks a few
days ahead of time by freezing ziplock freezer bags full of water, or for those
ambitious party people, prepare large
blocks of clear ice using the Alcademics
directional freezing method.
A
big block of clear ice does look impressive in a punch bowl, I’m not going to
lie.
Run For the Roses Champagne Punch
Created by Gastronomista
Serves 4
1 bottle of G.H. Mumm Champagne
1 c. Aperol
3/4 c. Rhubarb-Rose Syrup*
1-1/2 c Bourbon
1 Lemon, Juiced
5-6 dashes Orange Bitters
Build in a punch bowl over a large block of ice. Garnish with lemon
wheels, rose petals, and fresh mint.
Rhubarb-Rose Syrup
1 c. Sugar
1 c. Water
1-1/2 c. Chopped Rhubarb
2-3 dashes Rose Water
Add sugar, water, and rhubarb to a pot and simmer on medium-low for
15-20 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft and mushy. Let cool, add
2-3 drops of rose water, and strain into a non-reactive container.
Reserve the solids. Makes approximately 1 cup of syrup.
Canapés
Rhubarb-Rose Compote with Brie, Fresh Fruit, and Mint
Use the leftover solids from the Rhubarb-Rose syrup to make a compote
for your canapés, it is delightful served with brie and crackers. Add
fresh berries, fresh mint, and charcutarie to make a wonderful spring spread
that is perfect for noshing.
Depending on how many guests you are having, prepare small sandwiches
and other savory snacks to keep your guests satiated until dinnertime.
Another great pairing with champagne is
caviar, crème fraiche, and potato chips, it’s salty, savory, and a decadent
treat that is sure to make your guests laugh.
There is so much great imagery for Derby to play with including the horses,
the jockeys, julep cups, trophies, and of course, a celebratory pop of
champagne!
I have a long-standing obsession with vintage silver serve-ware, an
influence I can trace directly to my Grandmother, who was an expert hostess in
her day. I love how a touch of silver can make any event feel just a bit
classier, and a lot
fancier. Although I was lucky enough to
receive a few signature pieces of silver from my Grandmother, I have also been
known to scour vintage markets and antique shops for great silver pieces like
these amazing silver trophies.
One of my favorite finds from my last antiquing haul was this mini silver
champagne bucket flower vase that has a flower frog in the bottom, a perfect
piece for champagne parties!!
Another recent find is this horse trophy plate, perfect for serving hors d'oeuvres, or cupcakes topped with red roses.
The Hat
Ladies, we all know the best part of derby is the hats, and the
bigger and
bolder the better amirite? I found the most
amazing gigantic
red rose fascinator, perfectly suited for a
Run
For the Roses party.
After the Party
After all the bets have been made and the horses have made their mad dash
towards the finish line, the distinctive clinking of glassware is sure to be
heard from party to party for those who won their bets (and those who did
not).
A final round of bubbles is in
order before heading out on the town, for a dinner on someone else’s watch.
It would be a shame to stay in and order take
out, after all, your hat does look
fabulous.
Styling Notes
G.H. Mumm Champagne: Provided by
G.H. Mumm
Coupes:
Waterford
Trophies: Vintage
Skirt / Wrap Top Set:
Billabong
Watch:
Grayton Watches
Earrings:
Lulu Frost
Hat:
Fab Hatters
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