Cesar How toThrowA Divine Doggie Dinner Party

®

everything you need to know to create anevening of fun for your pals and their pooches

create a theme .................................................... page 1 .................................................. page 2spread the word prepare the menu / set the table .......................... page 3

get the party started ................................................. page 5

Create a Theme

keep ‘em entertained ................................................ page 4

You celebrate your small dog in big ways. And you’re not the only one. We know you’re just “begging” for an excuse to shower your dog with love, spend more time with your precious pooch and mingle with other small-dog lovers. In fact, Alan Dunn, owner of Très L.A. catering, one of Los Angeles’ leading catering companies, reveals that one of the hippest entertainment trends is doggie dinner parties that bring all your pals and their pooches together for an evening of fun.

It takes good planning and a lot of creativity to pull off a memorable soirée. Here you’ll find what you need, including advice from some experts, to pull off a fabulous dinner for two- and four-legged friends.

Here’s to an evening of good food, good friends and a good time.

The fun, camaraderie and memorable moments of any party start with a theme. The right theme sets the mood for everything, providing the inspiration for invitations, the menu and all the other details. So, first things first, you need to decide what type of dinner you want.

Choosing a dinner theme may be easy if you want to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or a seasonal holiday, but you’ll want to get creative if you’re having a get-together “just because”. Think about the mood you want to create and most importantly, take into consideration whether this mood fits your friends’ personalities—are they the wine-and-dine types or more the dancing divas?

The time of year, your favorite color, your dog’s birthday, your favorite food…all these can make great themes. Here are a few more dog-friendly dinner party ideas:

• Dog Days of Summer Soirée• Barkin’ Barbeque Bash• Puppy Shower• Pampering and Pet-icures Party• Howl’ween Costume Party page 1

Prepare the Menu / Set the Table

Spread the Word

You have an amazing theme, you’ve set a date and you’re getting more and more excited. Now, it’s time to get everyone else buzzing about your big dinner party. The invitation is the first impression you make, so it’s important to take your time and think creatively. Whether the invitation is store-bought, e-mailed or homemade, try to include something memorable—a trinket you want guests to bring to the party, a witty quote that relates to the theme, a fun photo of your furry friend, an intriguing question to be answered at the dinner, etc. Plan to send the invitation one month in advance of the dinner.

The invitation should include:• Dinner theme• Date and time• Address and directions• RSVP request with a specific date to reply• Request for any food allergies and/or dietary restrictions• Pet-specific details—i.e. such as if water bowls and canine cuisine are included• Dress code —formal, casual, costumes, etc.

A sample invitation is provided to provide inspiration.

According to celebrity party planner, Alan Dunn, the menu is the heart of any dinner party. And when it comes to a fabulous doggie dinner party, he reveals that the trick is to coordinate the main course with what you’re serving your canine guests.

“Everyone should sit down and enjoy the dining experience together, and matching the main meals of people with those of their pets is a completely new way to enhance the bond and intimacy of the party. It might be far-‘fetched’ but it’s all part of the fun,” says Dunn.

How to Throw a Divine Doggie Dinner PartyEverything you need to know to create an evening of fun for your pals and their pooches

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Cesar® Canine Cuisine offers 15 gourmet canine flavors like filet mignon, pork tenderloin and porterhouse steak, so you’ll have tons of options to complement your main meal and side dishes. No matter what, try to keep the entire menu simple, yet elegant.

Prepare the Meal & Set the Table

Some expert advice on how and what to put on the table (from food to centerpieces and more):

• Select recipes you’ve already tried and tested, so you know the food will be good.• Make a detailed list of all food preparation that needs to be done —plan and shop ahead; you’ll be too busy to shop the day of the dinner. And don’t forget about feeding your furry guests, make sure you have plenty of Cesar® Canine Cuisine flavors on hand for the hungry four-legged diners.

• If you’re cooking the meal, try to prepare as much as you can ahead of time.

• If you are grilling meat, know that the more times you flip it, the more flavor it will lose.

• The right music is a key element in creating the ambience for your party. Choose music that will evoke the spirit of the party and play it just loud enough to blend nicely in background. • Choose a centerpiece low enough so it doesn’t block your guests’ views or interfere with conversations.

• If it works with your dinner theme, don’t serve buffet or “pass the dish” style; instead, opt to serve your entrees restaurant style, so everything is tastefully presented to your guests.

• Type out your menu on nice paper like a fine restaurant would—outlining what you’re serving for human guests, as well as the dogs.

• When planning the tableware, be sure you also account for what kind of and how many dog bowls you’ll need. Try to match the color or design to the dinner theme, and plan to give these items to the dogs as take-home mementoes. Also, take inventory of your chairs, tableware and linens to make sure you have an answer when your guests ask, “What can I bring?”

• When creating a seating chart, be sure there is enough room for the dogs to sit next to their owners. You can arrange a small dog pillow on the floor to serve as each dog’s “chair” at the table.

How to Throw a Divine Doggie Dinner PartyEverything you need to know to create an evening of fun for your pals and their pooches

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Keep ’Em EntertainedWe’ve all been to a party that ends before it even begins. As a hostess, your job is tokeep guests entertained from the time they walk in the door until the time they leave. The difference between a good party and a great one is making sure you’ve considered everything that happens before, during and after the main dinner event.

You’ll be busy having a good time, mixing and mingling, and ensuring everything goes off without a hitch. At the same time, be sure your guests are also enjoying the festivities. Give them something to do, so they don’t get bored. This is especially important at a doggie dinner party, because everyone, including the dogs, needs to stay occupied. To make your party memorable, think beyond the basics. While music is a must-have, offer fun activities that get everyone (people and pooches) involved and interacting.

A few activity ideas:• Plan an informal ice-breaker, so all your guests will have the opportunity to meet each other. An activity involving the pooches, perhaps a scavenger hunt-type challenge where you find other guests who have the same kind of dog as you, is a less intimidating way for people to introduce themselves to each other. Often, as the hostess, you will be the only one who knows everyone else. Giving your other guests a chance to meet your other friends will help everyone feel more relaxed and comfortable. • Capture a digital or Polaroid photograph of each pal and her pooch, and then give each guest a small picture frame to decorate. Noted celebrity pet photographer Christopher Ameruoso offers this trick of the trade: take natural, unstaged shots of friends with their dogs; otherwise you’ll miss those great moments. • Provide palm and “paw” readings for people and their pooches.

• Hire a local pedicurist to give all your guests, even the furry ones, “pet-icures”.

• Splurge on massages from professional therapists to give everyone a spa treatment, including special pet-friendly treatments for your four-legged guests.

• Set up a table with dog-friendly beads, baubles, paint pens and more for guests to personalize a water bowl for their dog and a wine glass for themselves—this way everyone can give “cheers” to the night. Make sure decorations are non-toxic and large enough so dogs won’t choke.

• Create a do-it-yourself dessert table featuring delectables that everyone can enjoy— and don’t forget the dog-friendly baked goods you can pick up from a local “barkery”.

How to Throw a Divine Doggie Dinner PartyEverything you need to know to create an evening of fun for your pals and their pooches

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Get the Party Started

A quick day-of-party checklist and smart reminders:

• Have a plan in case the weather turns on you at the last minute.

• If you’re creating different courses, make a list of all the foods to be included in each course, so you can quickly refer to it before plating up.

How to Throw a Divine Doggie Dinner PartyEverything you need to know to create an evening of fun for your pals and their pooches

page 5

• Set the table(s) and finish the décor at least three hours before the dinner starts.

• When the first guest and her pooch arrive, ask her to help with something small so she doesn’t feel neglected or in your way.

• Find a helper or two who can assist you during the meal—for example, one can pour the beverages, and the other can help plate the Cesar® Canine Cuisine for the dining doggies, while you’re serving the food.

• Be sure you have clean-up supplies, such as doggie bags, scoopers, etc., easily accessible for your guests.

• Don’t assume everyone knows each other or their dogs; be sure to introduce everyone or have everyone complete a cute tag with their name as well as their dog’s, such as “Hi, I’m Anne. I’m with Bentley.”

We just can’t resist…have a dog-gone great time!