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Entertaining today

"Have you eaten today?" is a heartfelt Asian greeting, reflecting the importance of food not only as fuel for the body but for the Well-being of the soul. In cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, eating is a 24-hour pastime indulging all the senses, from the pungent aroma of fresh chai (tea) and breakfast noodles at daybreak, to the sound of fragrant laksa (seafood soup) being enthusiastically slurped at alfresco hawker stalls in the wee hours of the morning.

To dine together as family, friends or business colleagues is to establish and strengthen bonds—rarely is a business deal struck without feasting. As in the West, most socializing is done in restaurants and hotels, so an invitation to someone's home is an honor— just as it is an honor to host such a special occasion. Equal attention is lavished on presentation and preparation; both of the food itself and of the surroundings, so that they enhance the overall dining experience.

the occasion

There seems to be a festival on any given day of the year in Asia, where excuses to celebrate are as plentiful as lotuses in a temple pond. Look beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas and celebrate Chinese New Year, a Thai water festival, or a Balinese temple festival. Or relish the harvest seasons by welcoming the blossoming of spring flowers or the arrival of the first tender stalks of asparagus or succulent strawberries to the stores.

Whether the meal will be formal or informal, sit-down or buffet-style, a multi-course feast or a cocktail party, will be determined by the size of your guest list.

the decor

The aesthetics of your surroundings are determined more by your imagination and time than budget. If you are traveling in Asia, immerse yourself in specialty shops bursting with bargain baskets, fabrics for tablecloths, curios and conversational pieces. Closer to home, stroll through your neighborhood Chinatown and other ethnic shops in your area for interesting and inexpensive crockery, containers and objects to add a distinctive touch to your table and home. Or find new uses for treasures you already possess. In one of the homes we visit, an old Japanese keyaki wood warehouse door is resurrected as an eye-catching tabletop. Silken cushions in saturated shades add exuberance to outdoor furnishings. The following pages will show you a multitude of uses for utensils and accessories from Indonesia, Japan, China and India, from wine coolers and ice buckets to floral containers and candleholders.

Chill your best champagne in large terra-cotta bowls filled with ice.

Concentrate on the rooms your guests will occupy, including the bathroom. Scented candles, a small flower or potpourri arrangement—perhaps in an incense holder or basket—and hand towels placed in a rustic wooden bowl exude atmosphere and luxury.

flower power

From religious offerings to personal adornment, tropical flowers are intrinsic to the Asian lifestyle. Available in abundance in their native habitats, they may be sourced inexpensively in the West from wholesale florists or Asian grocers. Exotic varieties such as the Bird of Paradise are striking sculptures in their own right; a single Casa Blanca lily makes a strong statement on an elegant table. A few stems of night-blooming jasmine or frangipani cast a net of intoxicating fragrance over an entrance hall or courtyard. In the West, the flowers usually take precedence over the container but in Asia, containers evoke fascinating vignettes of their own. White orchids spill like rice grains from an antique Thai basket; a Cambodian silver box cradles a treasure of roses and silver beads. Flowers often unfurl overnight so can be arranged the day before your occasion.

mood lighting

Asian evenings are suffused with the pungent aroma of incense and the heady scent of votive candles. Naked torches flare along balmy beachside walkways; a red paper lantern glows surreally in an inner-city temple entrance. Recreate the magic and theatre of the Orient in your home by placing candles in a betel-nut box or translucent fish lanterns in a kaleidoscope of rainbow hues. Be careful not to set scented candles too close to food as they may overpower its natural aroma.

Hand towels are placed in a wooden bowl for the bathroom.

An attractive arrangement of fresh fruit provides a thoughtful and welcoming touch for a guest's bedroom.

the menu

Integral to any Asian-inspired occasion, the food you compose is the high note in your symphony of the senses. Check whether any of your guests have special dietary requirements for religious or health reasons and plan your menu accordingly. Choose the main course first, then the starter and dessert, balancing flavor, texture and color. If possible, select dishes which can be prepared in advance and served cold or at room temperature to avoid having to cook right before serving. You may want to purchase a dessert to save time; a Chinese or Vietnamese bakery offers enticing alternatives to their Western counterparts. This will free you to relax and savor your guests' delighted pleas for an encore.

serving style

These days, just about any serving style is acceptable, as long as it is suited to the food, seating arrangement and number of guests. Substitute antique chopsticks for knives and forks if appropriate. Whether food is served Japanese-style on individual plates or Chinese-style on platters, effective juxtapositions of color and texture can be attained if you follow the professional chefs' practice of sketching the arrangement.

Because of the casual nature of much modern entertaining, particularly in the sultry tropics, finger foods wrapped in fresh herbs and vegetables are emphasized in this book. Serving dishes should complement your appetizing morsels, tempting guests to feast first with their eyes. Long before designer products caught on, traditional Japanese crockery unveiled the importance of packaging. Experiment with these exquisitely versatile vessels, or opt for the natural containers used in some of our recipes, in which salmon tartare nestles on glistening shiso leaves and sorbet brims from frozen mangosteen cups.

having fun

Planning is the key to successful entertaining. With the tips and ideas gleaned from this book and a dash of organization (lists are a good idea), your passage to the East promises to be a sublime sensation for all concerned. Entertaining should above all be fun; we wish you a delightful and memorable time.

Relaxing after a big occasion; a restorative cup of ginger tea is served with steamed buns (paii): Asian comfort food.