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Chef and entertaining expert Olivia Muniak kicked off her Supper Club Series with Evite at the historic Villa Carlotta in Los Angeles with an absolutely incredible paella dinner (all made by Olivia)! Check out Olivia’s top tips (and Amazon picks) for creating this iconic Spanish meal at home for your own lunch or dinner party.
1. Go traditional (or try something new!)
When I think of paella, my mind immediately goes to a seafood version filled with mussels, clams, squid, shrimp, prawns or even lobster. The key to the perfect paella is high-quality saffron and a specific style of short-grain rice called Bomba. If Bomba isn’t available, Arborio or Calasparra rice are great substitutes. Being a rustic dish, other traditional variations from inland Spain include spicy chorizo sausage, chicken or even simple vegetables.
Once you've mastered the traditional seafood paella, you can go a step further and season the rice with black squid ink to make an "arroz negro"—black rice—which is delicious, rich and offers a stunning contrast of colors. Plus a lemony, garlicky homemade aioli is a must for any style of paella!
2. Choose (and keep) quality ingredients at hand
When it comes to traditional ingredients, I always have my kitchen stocked with the basics: good olive oil, fresh herbs and alliums (anything from the garlic and onion family). When fresh seasonings aren't available, I reach for my Evermill spices, all of which are of the highest quality, and the packaging can’t be beat.
3. Prep like a pro
My biggest piece of advice is: never shop on the same day of a dinner party. I like to get this out of the way a day or two in advance so I can enjoy cooking and styling my home. Secondly, I always approach a dinner party at home like I do working in our commercial kitchen cooking for an event: I measure out each ingredient, chop the vegetables, and set my “mise en place” for the evening. Dessert can be made the day before, and sides, salads and dressings can be made earlier in the day.
My go-to items for food storage/prep:
2-quart food storage container (I also use this size daily)
4. Keep the heat even—in the kitchen or on the grill
The key to cooking the perfect paella is you want to get the pan extremely hot. If you can, try cooking it outdoors using the open flame of a grill. Given the size of most paella pans, many stoves don’t get hot enough to cook Paella properly with only one burner under the pan. Cooking on a grill solves that issue! Another solution, if you don’t have a grill, is to use propane burner rings under the pan, which can be found on Amazon, along with an abundant selection of paella pans. If you want to skip purchasing a paella pan, use a cast-iron skillet that is low and wide. Cast iron will transfer the heat evenly, whereas a nonstick pan will prevent the paella from cooking properly, and you won’t get the crispy edges of rice known as the “socarrat”.
5. Enhance the dinner beyond the food
Part of the experience is setting the mood. I like to carve out time earlier in the day to set my home. I light candles, place fresh hand towels in the washroom, put on a playlist and add a bud vase of flowers. Whether I’m setting the table or having guests serve themselves, I stage all the tableware, set the linens and light the candles on the table.
My go-to items for a chic & effortless table:
Tumblers for wine or water
Holders for candles: I love the look of taper candles, but when outdoors, I use these glass hurricanes to shield them from a summer breeze (and protect my table). They come in lots of sizes.
6. Serve with complementary bites & wine
Set the tone with tapas and Vinho Verde! Whenever I'm cooking a more complex meal, I always like to buy myself time in the kitchen by welcoming guests for an aperitivo—a light bite and cocktail to whet the palate (and tide hungry guests over). I prepare something simple and classic like slices of Manchego cheese, anchovies on toast, olives, Marcona almonds or pan con tomate. Even a small bowl of salted potato chips works. Try sourcing wines that are traditional to the Mediterranean, like a Vino Verde, which is crisp, dry and a touch effervescent so it pairs perfectly with the tapas and paella, or a bold red like Malbec that can match the seasoning of the dish. Pour guests a glass of wine, and spend a bit of time with them before stepping back into the kitchen to finish up the meal.
Want to make Olivia’s seafood paella? Check out her recipe here!
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A self-taught chef who grew up in a New York City restaurant family, Olivia Muniak creates enchanting food-focused events for clients like Nike, Stella McCartney, Moët Hennessy and Laura Mercier and has developed custom content and recipes for fashion and lifestyle and brands including Jenni Kayne and Anthropologie.
Her popular blog and IG feed is an ever evolving compendium of what she’s cooking and a shoppable edit of her favorite kitchen and entertaining essentials.
Her entertaining philosophy is deceptively simple: Settings should be candle-lit, evenings always begin with a cocktail, and the conversation around the table should be as delectable and inspired as the food.
In a word? Magic.
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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from other signup tools?
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than other signup tools:
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What is a SignUp Sheet?
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
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Long story short, SignUp Sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
How do I create a SignUp Sheet?
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
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What information should be included on a SignUp Sheet?
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
- A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
- When and where the event is taking place.
- The organizer’s name and phone number.
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When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
What are the benefits of using a SignUp Sheet template?
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
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- No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
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With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.
