What IS Cooking?
They are planning parties at What’s Cooking Catering. Sheli Adler and and Debbie Davis talk it over on Parties Extra!
How about “to go” bags? 20-40-60 answers
YOU ASK…WE ANSWER…YOU DECIDE
Question: Are there any rules on “to go doggy bags?” I see people in restaurants carrying out left-overs from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Should I be embarrassed to ask for a “to go” carton?
Callie’s answer: NO WAY! As a college student, I know that I will eat it later, if I take a “to go” carton. It isn’t embarrassing at all… compliments to the cook! Plus, leftovers are my favorite; pizza is so much better the next day!
Lillie-Beth’s answer: I love taking food to go when it was delicious to begin with. With portion sizes so big in restaurants these days, a “to-go” box lets you get two meals out of one instead of wasting food.
If I were guessing, the trend of carrying out your food started as restaurants started serving more food than anyone could or should eat at a meal. Some types of food carry out better than others (pizza, for one), but if you paid for the meal, it’s yours. The restaurant can’t save any uneaten food for anyone else because it’s unsanitary.
Helen’s answer: Everywhere we go, people are taking home their left-over food in paper bags or styrofoam containers. Some restaurants have created really fun “to go” bags. However, when I through with dinner, I am through. I don’t want any more or any to take home. The times I have taken something home, I forgot about it, and left it in the car in the back seat. Yuk!
So, my policy is to order less, and leave behind what I don’t want.
Guest Yvette Walker’s answer: Doggy bags are not unfashionable. Recycling is in, wasting food is NOT. If you feel uncomfortable using the term “doggy bag” — which generally is an untruth, call it what it is. A “take-home” bag. Or just say “I’d like to take this with me.”
If you think your leftover food would go to someone less fortunate, think again. Restaurants are not permitted to give away someone’s partially eaten food, even to a poverty-stricken person. It’s unsanitary and promotes disease. Also, not all restaurants are permitted to give away extra uneaten food to food banks, etc., especially if the food is perishable.
So, don’t feel bad about taking home that last couple of bites of the amazing entree or dessert. You paid for it!
Guest Dave Cathey’s answer: Absolutely not. You paid for the food, thus you own it. Besides, there’s nothing less mannerly in the Heartland than waste. The only place where to-go cartons are discouraged would be buffets, smorgasbords or any other all-you-can-eat format. On the coasts, it’s become a trend for leftovers to be wrapped up and left at the coat-check, the server leaving a claim ticket with the diner.
(Callie Gordon, a college sophomore, was a 2009 debutante and has been in various new social situations recently. Lillie-Beth Brinkman is a former debutante and currently the assistant features editor for The Oklahoman. Helen Wallace has written a social column for The Oklahoman for many years and has been on local Ball committees. Yvette Walker is OPUBCO’s Director of Presentation, Features and Custom Publishing. Dave Cathey is the Oklahoman’s Food Editor.
This group does not always agree (via age differences), but they ALL see the need for proper behavior.
Ask a specific etiquette question and you will get three answers…Then you decide for yourself how you would handle the situation. The answers have information for every age range….Callie is 20-ish; Lillie-Beth is 40-something, and Helen is 60-plus.
Please email us with your questions and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and daily blogs. We will try to answer your etiquette questions weekly on the Parties Extra! blog. Sometimes we will ask other people for their opinions.
Look for us!
helen.wallace@cox.net…lbrinkman@opubco.com… calliezok3@aol.com
Denise and Matt Seikel mark one year anniversary
CLICK HERE to check out MOOD story about Denise and Matt Seikel’s wedding
(Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
Decorated tree greets guests as they arrive for dinner in Oklahoma City
If you saw this lighted -up tree in Nichols Hills Saturday night, just know Terry and Hank Bradley were having a Mexican Fiesta. The tree, in the front yard, was bedecked with brightly- colored strings of lights and festive ribbons and streamers. A mariachi band played outside too. It was a beautiful evening and beautiful party. The event, dinner and a shower, honored engaged couple Katie Griffin and Luke Cunningham.
Co-hosts were Candy and Chuck Ainsworth, Barbara and Bud Beeler, Diana and Jeff Beeler, Carole and Boots Hall, Linda and Ron James, Linda and Tom Klos, Marty and Robert Margo, Barbara and Jay Quillian, Jann and Blaine Schwabe, Carol and Steve Solomon and Jane and Jim White.
Oklahoma City Pi Beta Phi Alumnae members honor 50 year sorority women
Karen Luke is pinned with her Golden Arrow by Pi Phi daughter-in-law, Becky Luke. (Photos provided).
Members of Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club met in the home of Debbie McCord. On the agenda for the meeting was to honor the new class of “Golden Arrows,” women who had been members of the sorority for 50 years. The 11 members at the event received a badge of membership and a wine-colored carnation, the official flower.
In the group were Marilyn Black Balyeat, Jessie Ann McDowell Wallentine, Karen Cullen Luke, Jerry McKnight Love, Virginia Scott Dick, Kris Reeves Frankfurt, Cynthia Curtis Ledbetter, Janice Johnson Smith, Dawn Dobbins Rutledge, Phyllis Cornell and Judy Gigstead, Linda Maxey, Jerry Ann Montgomery Metcalfe, Susie Lucas Nelson, Lynda Cunningham Rushing and Paula Lefan Stover
Silver Arrow members were also recognized since the meeting to honor them was canceled due to winter weather. Silver Arrow recipients signify 25 years of good standing membership in Pi Beta Phi.
Nan Buxton congratulates her sister, Virginia Dick, after the ceremony.
Rosemary Wilson, Katie Davis and Deanna McSwain were at the event.
“Go Red for Women” luncheon set
To see photos in the Parties Extra! photo gallery from this week, Click Here!
Darcie Henderson and Julie Elerick talk on Parties Extra! about the upcoming American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women luncheon.
Oklahoma City “Angels and Friends Party” honors 2010 Festival of the Arts supporters
To see photos in the Parties Extra! photo gallery from this week, Click Here!
Huston Hunt and Miki Farris were co-chairmen of the Angels and Friends Party held during the 2010 Festival of the Arts. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
There was a huge crowd at Stage Center in downtown Oklahoma City for the Angels and Friends Party on the opening day of the Festival of the Arts. Festival and Arts Council officials entertained the sponsors and supporters of the event. People wore everything from cocktail dresses to their colorful Festival working clothes and t-shirts.
Miki Farris and Huston Hunt were co-chairmen of the event. Committee members were Karen Arms, Bev Binkowski, Liz Blood, Megan Elliot, Christina Kovash, Jody McAnally, Mike McAuliffe, Mary Ann Osko, Louis Price, Kym Koch Thompson and Pam Wiley.
Food tables were set on various levels of the building. Providing the special cuisine were A Good Egg Dining Group, Rococo Restaurant and Wine Bar, Table One/Seasons Catering and Vito’s Ristorante/Sean Cummings Irish Restaurant and Pub.
Sandra Cassimus and John Robberson are Festival co-chairmen.
The crowd at the Angels and Friends party.
Steve and Gaye Sherman were at the party.
Meg Salyer and Rita Dearmon talk at the event.
Tim and Marylee Strange were among the party-goers.
Jim Hyde and Gregg Satherlie were at the party.
The Parman family arrives at Stage Center.
RSVP on time? 20-40-60 answers
YOU ASK…WE ANSWER…YOU DECIDE
What is the appropriate approach for a host or hostess to take when the RSVP requests on an invitation are not responded to by invited guests, and multiple planning details rely on the guests to have the decency/manners to answer before a deadline? Of course, for future events, they clearly will not be invited back.
Callie’s answer: Remember you always have the power to call them and ask for their response! Everyone has a busy life! If they do not answer and show up, be gracious! The more the merrier! Always account for more then what are coming, don’t make it that big of a deal! Just put a smile on your face and be happy the event is about to be over!
Lillie-Beth’s answer: I don’t think it’s wrong to call people who haven’t responded, especially when you need a count. People are getting more lax about RSVP-ing these days as they have more demands pulling them in many different directions. Sometimes they forget; sometimes they can’t figure out the logistics.
However, those are not OK excuses for neglecting to RSVP.
Sadly, I’m one of those people who have at times been slow to respond to invitations in recent years, usually because of an ongoing childcare puzzle. I was taught better than that. If someone is going to be so gracious as to plan and event and send out invitations, we should all be as polite and say “yay” or “nay” as soon as possible, including me.
Helen’s answer: This question must be a particularly sensitive issue since people talk about the problem a lot, so, I think that people must learn to respond because it is too expensive to entertain for no-shows.
One time in the past, we were invited to a wedding reception and had to cancel at the last minute because of illness. We did not realize that it was a seated dinner reception. If we had just taken a little more time to talk to the host, we would have realized that we should have called the host immediately and not send our “sorries” with a relative. We thought it was a standard wedding reception with cake. Every time I see that family, I feel like I should have reimbursed the host for his expenses for dinner; it was probably costly. I felt very rude, but learned a good etiquette lesson.
Most rsvp’s are by phone, so we should take time to answer. Further rudeness is waiting to see if we get a better offer and still don’t respond on time. Young and old people need to abide by the proper manners rules of answering on time.
Guest Kate Stanton’s answer: Other than guests taking back an unopened (or opened) bottle of wine they’ve brought to your home to share, there is nothing else that drives me more batty than a guest who fails to respond to an invitation. After hosting 27 showers (this does not include parties/dinners), I have come to the conclusion that people who fail to respond and/or don’t respond until the last moment (almost just as bad)….have not hosted a party. A true party that is. One that has details, favors, a theme, food, spirits, printed napkins, and glass plates. One that costs, by the way.
I have been known to e-mail, call, and approach guests who haven’t responded. I have no problem with doing so. I so badly want to ask the question, “you remember that $2.85 invite you received (plus mailing) celebrating someone you adore…do you plan to attend?” I don’t. I simply ask the invited soul to confirm their plans. Being busy is no excuse….we all are. Outside of emergencies, sick children, and child care challenges….invitations should be responded too within a week of receiving.
ps…I never knew “maybe” could count as a reply. Sadly Evite has made that a common response from party goers. A guest that replies with “maybe” over the phone or e-mail, I ask for them to confirm their attendance a few days out as well.
(Callie Gordon, a college sophomore, was a 2009 debutante and has been in various new social situations recently. Lillie-Beth Brinkman is a former debutante and currently the assistant features editor for The Oklahoman. Helen Wallace has written a social column for The Oklahoman for many years and has been on local Ball committees. Kate Stanton is Executive Director, HSC Student Affairs, The University of Oklahoma and presents etiquette and gracious living seminars throughout the state
This group does not always agree (via age differences), but they ALL see the need for proper behavior.
Ask a specific etiquette question and you will get three answers…Then you decide for yourself how you would handle the situation. The answers have information for every age range….Callie is 20-ish; Lillie-Beth is 40-something, and Helen is 60-plus.
Please email us with your questions and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and daily blogs. We will try to answer your etiquette questions weekly on the Parties Extra! blog. Sometimes we will ask other people for their opinions.
Look for us!
helen.wallace@cox.net…lbrinkman@opubco.com… calliezok3@aol.com
Annual Go Red For Women luncheon set by American Heart Association
Jacque Fiegel and Darcie Henderson are co-chairmen of the “Go Red For Women” luncheon which over 500 people will attend on May 14th. (Photos and artwork provided).
Guests at the annual “Go Red For Women” luncheon on May 14th will be wearing red. It is the American Heart Association’s event and it raises awareness for heart disease.
Jacque Fiegel and Darcie Henderson are co-chairmen.
There will be a heart healthy lunch, educational sessions and exhibits about healthy choices and a silent auction.
Keynote speaker is Colleen C. Barrett, currently President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines Co.
Proceeds from the auction will support research on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Tickets are available by calling 948-2138 or visiting the web site www.AmericanHeart.org/oklahomacitygoredluncheon.
Oklahoma Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year selected
Stacy and Perry Cline, center, with children Kyle, Brandan, Charley and Tyrel after the ceremony at the state Capitol. Stacy was named Oklahoma Young Mother of the Year. (Photos by David McDaniel).
A reception in the second floor rotunda of the state capitol was held following the announcement ceremony of the Oklahoma Mother of the Year and the Young Mother of the Year. Mary Cutter, Oklahoma City, was named Mother of the Year, and Stacy Cline, Hennessey, was named Young Mother of the Year.
They were also recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives and by the Oklahoma State Senate.
200 people were there including Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and State Senators Patrick Anderson, Steve Russell and Cliff Branan.
The Oklahoma Mother of the Year and Young Mother will represent the state in New York at the 75th annual convention of American Mothers Inc. where the National Mother of the Year and Young Mother will be announced.
Maddie Meyers, Kingfisher Middle School student, was recognized as winner of the American Mothers Inc. 5th grade essay contest.
Oklahoma Mother of the Year Mary Cutter, Young Mother Stacy Cline and President of Oklahoma Association of American Mothers Sherri Boyd were at the State Capitol.
Stacy Cline gets a hug from her minister, Robyn Goggs after the Mother of The Year ceremony.
