Custom Dessert and Candy Buffets

Parties are like food and water: a necessity to sustain life. So yes, we may be in a recession, but all the more reason to embrace people and relationships (which are free) rather than expensive cars and vacations. So with the holidays here, I suggest not forgoing your party because of the "economic climate" but simply pairing it down a little. Skip the standard four course gluttonous meal and just have a dessert and drinks shindig. A Custom Dessert and Candy Buffet looks expensive but is an affordable way to host a memorable party for any occasion, not just the holidays.

The hottest trend right now at parties and events are candy and dessert buffet tables. Jaw dropping presentation adds to your decor, provides guests with irresistible desserts, and take home bags provide as parting gifts!

Each table is designed with your theme, colors, logo, and occasion in mind. Copious, fun, and visually thrilling, candy and dessert buffets are a unique and affordable way to thrill your guests and brand your event.

Goodie Bag uses a blend of top quality commercial candy and homemade desserts for your table. We can also make your dessert table completely organic, sugar free, Kosher, or gluten free. Take home bags can be uniquely designed for your event.

Cookies and Celebrities

Goodie Bag confirms that the Los Angeles stereotype of size zero, fitness crazy, bony celebrities is a misleading perception. Duh. From Crumbs Cupcakes to Dan Tana's pasta Diavolo, the Los Angeles population knows when it is time to indulge. And when Goodie Bag hosts a holiday cookie exchange for the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants, it is time to indulge.

On a cool evening at the Bel Air Bay Club on the scenic PCH, 70 celebrity personal assistants gathered for food, drinks, gifts, warm fire, and brought their favorite cookies. Goodie Bag set the scene with glittery Christmas trees, an oversized center piece filled with red and white candy and flowers, apothecary jars, cake stands, and candy cane adorned mugs of Amaretto spiked chocolate milk.

Guests received invitations which told them to bring a dozen cookies and a stack of recipes (invitations made by Goodie Bag) on either Gingerbread House ornaments made of actual gingerbread, giant candy cane colored lollipops, or red and white striped oven mitts with wooden spoons attached. As guests poured in, the table came to life with overflowing amounts of chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread men, sprinkle cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chocolate chip cookies, molasses cookies, snickerdoodles, biscotti, tea cookies, Gluten free cookies, Peanut Butter cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, shortbread cookies.....and the list grows but I am going to get on with it and stop making your mouth water. The cookie exchange was fun for the celeb assistants because they got to go home with 12 new cookies and a new recipe book that was assembled in a custom made album (see picture above). Maybe it was the Amaretto chocolate milk, or the insane abundance of cookies, but the exchange was a frenzy of "oooohs" and "ahhhs" and kid-like shoving to get to the biggest most delicious looking cookies. All in all, the cookie exchange was a huge success, interactive, indulgent, fun, different, and the display looked like a piece of irresistible, festive, edible artwork.

To host your own cookie exchange Goodie Bag recommends using consistency by picking a theme (colors, shapes, or ingredients) and getting creative with every aspect of your party by using your theme throughout from invitations, to drinks, to decor.

For party planning help, or other elaborate dessert and candy buffets visit www.goodiebagevents.com

The Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants is an international organization that holds monthly networking meetings. www.acpa-la.com

Take Me to the Gala!

Whoever said that you can't have fun after college was definitely not a Jew. Or definitely not a Jew that attends the FIDF Gala. That's right guys....it's that time of the year again--The Young Leadership group of the Friends of Israeli Defense are hosting their annual gala this Saturday, November 14th. Besides the typical food, booze, and general fun, this gala is a party planner's dream with a Roaring 20's theme. You can bet that there will be fringe dresses, top hats, and feathers galore! I can't think of a more glamorous theme. Now this is a Kosher party which means I probably won't be drinking my gimlet out of a bathtub (unless a Rabbi has blessed it), but there will be plenty of amazing ways to enjoy the night and raise money for the Israeli military; a cause that all Jews should be supporting. Israeli troops make headlines everyday trying to keep the small but controversial nation of Israel safe and on Saturday night we hope to make even a small difference. The Los Angeles theater is the quintessential place to hold a Roaring 20's party with the antique glass accents, floor to ceiling columns, rich velvet drapes, Tiffany sconces, and carved wooden walls. Poker tables will be buzzing and raffle tickets selling within the picturesque setting. To buy tickets visit www.fidfyl.org/gala2009/invite.html To host your own Roaring 20's or Speakeasy party visit www.goodiebagevents.com

Hello Dahling!

There is no lack of adorable, cute girls in this crazy beautiful town of Los Angeles, but the Dessert Darling is a step (or 10) above your typical gal. Cute, smart, funny, sweet, and passionate about desserts, the Dessert Darling artfully critiques desserts ALL DAY LONG on www.dessertdarling.com.

Goodie Bag was fortunate enough to find the Dessert Darling via the omnipotent powers of Facebook and ever since then it has been like peanut butter and chocolate, cinnamon and sugar, strawberries and cream, carmel and apples....ok, I think you get the point.....absolute delicious harmony!

In a time when critics aren't really critics and more like food Mafioso, the best part about about the Dessert Darling is that her blog is un-bias, straight to the point, and fun to read. This chica knows her desserts for the good and the bad. This darling's palate is sensitive to even the slightest imperfections and flavors that you can be sure that she isn't scarfing down the ubiquitous molten chocolate souffle and telling you its delicious. No way. This DD takes the time to decipher the various layers of flavor and then takes another bite to be sure. And then maybe a few bites after.

Goodie Bag (baker of custom ordered fine and convenient desserts for gifts and parties) was recently reviewed by the Dessert Darling. I'm happy to say that Goodie Bag's pumpkin desserts got the big approval, however in one dessert, the DD was able to pick up on the canned cream cheese frosting that had been turned into a pumpkin frosting with the addition of fresh pumpkin puree. Dang this girl is good.

For the no-joke-real-deal review of everything dessert visit www.dessertdarling.com. You can find the Dessert Darling's review of Goodie Bag's Pumpkin Streusel Cheese Tart with Gingersnap Crust in the Golden Cherry reviews!

Stay tuned for more DD and GB recipes for fun!

If Rodin Made Chocolate.....

Ok people, if you have nothing to be stunned about in this world, you now have something to make your jaw drop and then proceed to salivate. This something is Lee Gelfond Chocolate in Beverly Hills and its chocolate in a form you rarely encounter in this world.

This tucked away and hidden store front produces the most incredible chocolate sculptures and confections you have every seen. They can make you anything in the form chocolate. No joke. Want your favorite Prada shoes to be edible? No problem. Need a centerpiece that sparks conversation? How about a whole chocolate Disney motif with overflowing characters and candy?

I thought you'd be interested! As a party planner Jenn (owns the shop) is a dream come true. Her chocolate can turn any party into a masterpiece with her chocolates which can be used as anything from a gift to a place card to a decorative ensemble and she is an absolute doll!

For more information on Lee Gelfond visit www.gelfondchocolate.com

For help planning your next party visit www.goodiebagevents.com

Make it a PRYORIty Event

If you live in Los Angeles, or you've been to Los Angeles, or you've read about Los Angeles, then you know a party is not a hard thing to find. Every store, club, restaurant, and promoter is throwing a party for some reason or another; the ubiquitous birthday party, alcohol launch, charity, store opening, and the list goes on. Though these parties are cool, I am not here to tell you about the oh-so-common drunken, celeb studded parties you read about in Us Magazine every week. I am going to enlighten you and teach you about a Pryor Event.

Julie Pryor, a creative, warm, and incredible wedding planner has a heightened sense of elegance and brilliance which makes her weddings and (select) events rare, like a sparkling, opulent jewel. She takes a concept and turns it into an Event with a capital E.....no corners cut, every detail thoroughly planned out. I spent some time browsing Julie's site, www.pryorevents.com, and I have to say that my favorite image is from a wedding where the guests took home mini chocolate versions of the wedding cake. Simple, delicious, and just so clever!

There are just so many companies and names out there that can plan your wedding but for a truly special and over the top experience I know that Julie Pryor is your "go-to." Like her events, Julie is a rare find of genuine kindness, dedication, and warmth. I know that if I am relying on one person to put together a monumental occasion they better be awesome to work with otherwise why would I hire them? Julie is a true veteran (going on 15 years of wedding planning) and a true Event planner with a flare for detail, beauty, and taking care of her clients.

So if you, or your sister, or your best friend, or your dad's cousin's best friend's hairdresser has a need to throw a unique wedding or exceptional event, you now know who to call. Julie Pryor, duh.

And just as a footnote, if you if you, or your sister, or your best friend, or your dad's cousin's best friend's hairdresser has a need to throw a dinner party, Halloween party, holiday party, birthday party, kid's party, or any budget friendly event, you know who to call. Goodie Bag Events, duh.

Pryor Events can be found at www.pryorevents.com

The Charitable Crumb's Cupckae Cure

Yes, breast cancer sucks, but in the midst of tragedy, good and yummy things are born. And so with October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, life is full of pink bits of deliciousness, courtesy of Crumbs Bakeshop. Tuesday night marked a fabulous evening of mini spa treatments (thank you Kevin Josephson Salon), pink cocktails (thank you Jett Vodka), organic finger foods (thank you Le Pain Quotidien), a silent auction (too many people to thank for that one), and the hit of the night, a decadent assortment of mini Crumbs cupcakes.
For anyone wondering, yes, the night was a big success, but it was these special pink cupcakes that I can't stop thinking about. First of all, the generosity of people and businesses is always astounding to me, but Crumbs seems to take it to a new level by donating a portion of the sales to the Breast Cancer Coalition as well as providing our fundraiser (benefiting My Vision) with these rich cream cheese frosting filled mini vanilla cupcakes with adorable with pink ribbons. I think I ate 9, but it was in the name of charity, so I have to forgive myself, right? (Now I am going to have to host a Diabetes fundraiser! Kidding.) I talked to one of the Crumbs partners and learned that the socially aware company is active in the fight against Breast Cancer and loves to support functions with these perfect cupcakes. A cupcake alone may not cure cancer, but they certainly add to the success of a party and the sweet memories of a charitable event.

Suneless Studio and Goodie Bag hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness party to benefit My Vision on October 13th at the Kevin Josephson Salon. Thank you to so many people who made the fundraiser a sucess: our friends for attending, Jett Vodka, Le Pain, Quotidien, Lux Lashes, Lisa Kline, Dr. Kevin Sands, Crumbs, Lori Caden at Caden Concepts, J Brand Jeans, Dr. Frank Ryan, Ashford Summerville, Neuro, Shell Vacations, Mary Kay.....

Breast CANswer: A Charitable Salon Night

The days of summer are diminishing but that doesn’t mean your tan has to suffer! In fact, a healthier way to get a beautiful tan and skip the whole cancer issue (not to mention wrinkles) is with Sunless Studio in Beverly Hills located in the Kevin Josephson Salon. The girls of Sunless Studio are aware that you need a tan all year and you need it fast. These girls are not only conscience of their clients, but have a strong social conscience as well.

So in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Sunless Studio is teaming up with Goodie Bag Events on October 13^th at 7pm to produce a night of altruism and indulgence (what a rare combination) with a mini spa night to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness. The beneficiary is My Vision which provides fertility and support to young women in their 20’s and 30’s who suffer from the inability to reproduce after the effects of chemotherapy from breast cancer. The event will be held at the Kevin Josephson Salon and promises to be a night of luxury and plain fun.

Guests will be sipping pink cocktails by Jett Vodka and snacking on organic finger sandwiches by Le Pain Quotidien as they get a sampling of facials, manicures, luxe lashes, hair blowouts, and sunless tanning. The silent auction promises to cater to the salon-going crowd with trips to Puerto Vallarta, Michael Star’s tees. Private training sessions, shopping trips with Lisa Kline, and tons more! Of course guests are welcome to book the full experience for any service and with the reward of knowing the proceeds go to breast cancer awareness.

So if you are like lots of pink, lots of fun, beauty, friends, and giving back, join Sunless Studio and Goodie Bag Events for this special night. See you there!!

For more information on planning charity events or any other social gathering visit www.goodiebagevents.com

For more information on Sunless Studio visit www.sunlessstudio.com

Strike a Pose Princess!

If you live in Los Angeles, here is your party favor of the day: MNR Dance Factory in Brentwood. The studio is owned by one of the coolest women that ever lived; she's a little bit fancy, a little bit rock and roll, and a lot of fabulous. Roni's studio, tucked away on the main drag in Brentwood, holds classes all day long for kids and adults.

So I may have a remix of "Under the Sea" stuck in my head from the kids ballet/tap class that was going on this morning (seriously if you have never seen a three year old girl with ringlets and a pink tutu trying to do a plie, you are missing out on a moment of pure goodness), but this studio is no joke. Trophies and plaques are everywhere from winning national dance team competitions, and posters of the dance teams over the years (adorned in seriously rad costuming) line the walls.

Roni has some of the best teachers in the industry holding classes in the studio including, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and did I mention the kid's dance classes? Sooooooo, precious!

The other bonuses about this gem of a place is that Roni offers dance shows by the renowned dance team to charity and non-profit events. Great entertainment! You can also host a kid's birthday party on Sundays and not have to worry about a thing because the studio will handle everything including cake, decorations, party favors, and endless fun activities for the birthday entourage!

Check it out: http://mnrdancefactory.com

Holiday Goodness

The Jewish High Holidays are coming up....so if the thought of spending all day in temple makes you want to cry, don't worry, Goodie Bag can still give you something to smile about.

We can help with easy menu planning, beyond your basic potato and chicken dinner, (think roasted farmer's market veggies, and grilled flank steak with artisan flat bread) for your family holiday dinner, or we can make you freshly baked high holiday desserts that everyone will freak out over. How does sticky carmel apple streusel pie sound? Or maybe you prefer a fudgey chocolate chunk torte? Let us know what your taste buds want and we can get it made for you!

Contact goodiebagevents@yahoo.com

Wednesday Humpday Charity Pizza Party September 9th!!!!

Listen! If you didn't have enough of your friends, food, alcohol, and overall delicious fun over the long Labor Day weekend....or if you want to feel like you are improving your karma after the hedonistic fun you just had, please don't forget that you can attend the Humpday Pizza Party at Oakfire Pizzeria & Pub tomorrow, Wednesday the 9th to benefit Reading to Kids! Food starts at 7pm but feel free to roll in whenever you can....you may even get lucky considering it is Wednesday/Humpday. I happen to know a great group of people are already planning to attend.

There is no entrance fee, just pay your food and bar tab and a portion of your bill goes to the charity. You are automatically entered in the raffle when you attend, so you are eligible to win a shopping trip with the amazing and very stylish Lisa Kline!

If you haven't RSVD'd please send an email to goodiebagevents@yahoo.com

Labor Day Fun

So you are in town for Labor Day and you thought you may be in the Hampton's, or Cabo, or somewhere other than LA in this epic heat wave. Well, guess what, you are going to have a great weekend and you really don't need to spend the time or money traveling because there is so much fun to be had in our city, or any city. Here are some tips for a weekend of relaxation and fun:

Hit the beach. Malibu is my favorite because I stop at the new Lumber Yard for a little shopping and the Cross Creek restaurants for a little food. Top of my list: the to-go window at Tra Di Noi with fresh salads and D'Mores Pizza which is totally figure friendly and so freakin good.

Go to a hotel pool. Hotel's with great pools usually attract a great crowd. Make restaurant reservations if you are worried about getting hassled. Top hotel pools in LA this weekend: The Mondrian, W, The Thompson, The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Have a BBQ or a Potluck. Invite a handful of friends over and have plenty of wine and beer. Tell everyone to bring something yummy to eat. Make dessert interactive and melt some some chocolate in a pot, and serve cut up fresh fruit, angel food cake, and pretzels, for a quick fondue. For entertainment have a sports game on, pull out some board games, a deck of cards and some throw away cameras.

White party. Do you live in a major city? Chances are there is a white party going on because it is Labor Day weekend and the last official weekend to wear white. If you live in LA I'll tell you that The Mondrian's white party is pure white fun.

Need more ideas for your weekend? Send an inquiry to goodiebagevents@yahoo.com

"Black. White. Hot pink." The fabulous Niki Shadrow knows exactly what she wants and in what colors scheme. Goodie Bag is happy to accommodate any request so I set out to make 300 pieces of black, white, and hot pink dessert; tasting delish a must. Oh, and let me mention that Niki wanted lollipops. As if it is no big deal, I have hand dipped chocolate covered Oreos with hot pink non-pareils, and fresh mini double-baked-from-scratch-chocolate-chip-sandwich cookies. You have no idea how amazing these desserts are and how happy I am to contribute to Niki's birthday and launch party at Nobu.

Desserts custom made for any occasion, contact goodiebagevents@yahoo.com

Have Your Cake and Wear a Bathing Suit Too

Nothing is more upsetting than a store bought cake. Generally very pretty, but dry, bland, and tastes like a box of sugar, and of course WAY over priced. The only advantage is that you run into the store hand over the credit card and run out....so not good enough for my girlfriends, so I always show up with my decadent, over the top birthday cakes. Here is a glimpse into Jeneva and Mary's birthday parties filled with great people, copious amounts of alcohol, and tons of fun.

Its summer, so we need to be in bathing suits over the weekend, but that didn't stop us from ordering every menu item at Dominick's on Beverly Bouleveard for Jeneva's (picture above) birthday. Dominick's is a staple- af

fordable, great ambiance with a bustling garden patio, and free cigarettes for those of you who opt for the bad habit, (and its of course conveniently located right next to Guys and Dolls, the famed nightspot where all the Beverly Hills/West Hollywood players go). Some menu tips: Meatballs, so tender and smothered in fresh marinara, rich Burratta cheese and vine ripe tomatoes: a quintissential summer dish that melts in your mouth, rice balls that are crispy on the outside and chewy with oozing cheese on the inside. Ridiculous. The artichoke is famous here with a charred outside and well seasoned center.

Now let's talk about the homemade cake that resembled a giant cupcake more than anything else. Two layers of moist Funfetti (white cake with sprinkles in the batter) with a brownie (yes, homemade) and chocolate frosting center, covered in a cream cheese frosting, sprinkles, and more brownies and peanut butter cups packed around the perimeter of the cake. Yum.

Mary's birthday, on a warm evening on the roof of the Thompson Hotel, was an evening of chic cocktails, and a Star Wars birthday cake, per the birthday girls' request. Layer upon layer of yellow cake, carmel, brownie, and vanilla frosting was a big hit and left the wait staff in awe of its towering decadence--definitely saw more of the men eating this one!

To order a custom cake with your favorite flavors contact Arielle at goodiebagevents@yahoo.com

Wednesday Humpday Charity Pizza Party

Don't get thrown off by the new name...Oakfire was formerly Stonefire Pizza and if you haven't tried the crispy thin cracker crust pizza with the most creative toppings I have ever seen, then you are seriously missing out. The brisket pizza is not to be missed; all I have to say is thinly sliced crispy onions and tender, melt in your mouth brisket on a crust. Try it. And we all know that this is Los Angeles so don't underestimate the well thought out menu with market fresh salads that are perfect for the good looking crowd that seems to gather at this restaurant. The food is only a testament to the amazingly accomodating wait staff and management. Even if you aren't from the neighborhood, you will feel like you are a friend when you dine here.

Now that you know that you HAVE to eat/drink at Oakfire Pizzeria and Pub, you should probably come and join me for the first of charity "Wednesday Humpday" parties on September 9th. It is going to be the event to attend in LA on Wednesday night.

Even if you aren't into the nightlife, it starts early (7pm) so you can roll in right after work for some of the best pizza ever. Affordable menu, drink specials, fun crowd, help out a cause (Reading to Kids).....why wouldn't you?

Lisa Kline had generously offered to take a lucky raffle winner shopping; if you don't know this woman then let me tell you, that you aren't going to be able to get enough of her. She is hilarious, entertaining, and super fun, not to mention a style maven.

Hope to see you there!!