The Awe-Inspiring Champagne Tower

Want to impress your friends?  Pull one of these off at your next event!

Sometimes it pays off to go big!  In this case we are referring to the almost always heard of, yet rarely seen Champagne Tower.  What looks challenging and messy endeavor is actually easier than you might think and definitely will “wow” your crowd.  You don’t have to be the Great Gatsby to pull off this trick!

Step 1:

First and foremost, you want to make sure that you have a level, sturdy and secure area for assembling your champagne tower.  The worst thing that could happen is placing your glasses on an uneven table and having them collapse over before the show even begins.  Also, keep in mind that you want your display in an area where everyone can see the show but also that no one is going to bump into your table and create the biggest mess of your life.

If the table you plan to assemble on is not perfectly level with the ground that it’s on, then the champagne will not evenly flow to all of the glasses on the table.  Make sure you get yourself a good level and check your table for perfection before you begin assembling your champagne glasses.

Step 2:

Just as having a steady and even table, using the proper champagne glass is key.  You always want to use what is referred to as a “Coupe” Champagne Glass.  I personally love these glasses for parties anyways because they have that nostalgic 1930s vibe. They should be identical in shape and size--so it is important to make sure that while purchasing glasses, you buy the same glass from the same vendor.  The other option would be to rent the glasses, which you can do through most party rental places (such as One Stop Event Rentals).

Step 3:

Building the tower itself is relatively easy, with the proper Coupe Champagne Glasses and a steady hand, you’ll be good to go!  The tower will be built by layers of squares, if you will, with the layers getting smaller and smaller as you ascend upwards.  For example, if the bottom layer of glasses you assemble contains 12 glasses, you’ll be making a 6x6 square out of glasses, so then the layer above the base will be a 5x5 glasses, and then 4x4 glasses and so on until you reach the top where a single glass will be placed.

When placing a new layer on top of a built layer, you want to place each new glass at the diamond shape between the four glasses below it.  This will ensure that any champagne that is poured from the top flows down to the bottom glasses.  One key element to building a champagne tower is to make sure that all of the glasses are touching one another in each layer; otherwise the champagne you pour will not hit all of the glasses on the table.

Step 4:

Now that you are all prepped in how to build your tower, it’s time to take a second to look at your options for champagne/sparkling wine.  Here are some of my suggestions for bubbles that you can feature at your event:

·  Alexandre Monmousseau Gaudrelle Cremant Rose (Vouvray, France) – If you really want to shock and impress your friends, try pouring this sparkling rose option from Loire Valley.  This wine starts off with pronounced strawberry and raspberry flavors and finishes dry with a hint of cranberry.  And it’s pink!  Who doesn’t love pink?

·       Vueve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut (Champagne, France) – I love Vueve Clicquot because it’s not terribly expensive but has a great rapport and a renowned elegance that will impress your friends.  It is perfectly balanced with a vibrant acidity that is definitely a crowd pleaser.

·       Perrier Jouet La Flure (Champagne, France) – Now this one is definitely on the more expensive side but if you’re mission is to amaze, this is the champagne for you.It exudes elegance and the bottles themselves will be a show stopper.  It’s crisp and clean on the palate with floral and fruit flavor, as well as aroma. 

The amount of champagne you look to buy will be dependent upon the height of your champagne tower and the number of guests you are looking to serve. If you are only planning on serving one glass of champagne per person, then you can at least count on having a little bit more than four glasses (at 5oz) each per bottle.  I would always suggest purchasing an extra bottle or two more than you would need for the total amount of people your serving, just in case.  It’s always better to have more than less!

Step 5:

Now that you have your champagne tower assembled you can gather your friends and begin the pouring.  You will probably want to get your hands on a small step ladder so that you can pour evenly from the top of the tower.  It’s also a great idea to find a friend to help pour with you to expedite the process.  Have some bottles already chilled, popped and ready to go so that there is no drag in time.  And, as always, make sure you have a good camera in the hands of a friend so that they can record the action!  Check out our video of our champagne tower from one of our weddings this year below:

Maine Style Lobster Bake

This year, celebrate the Fourth of July like a Mainer!

What Fourth of July weekend would be complete without a traditional lobster bake?  Here in Prouts Neck, Maine, we’re slated for a gorgeous, sunny weekend so having a celebration outside only seems proper.  In this article, we’re going to give you the insider information on how to throw a Fourth of July Lobster Bake Party like a true Mainer.

Quite possibly the most important aspect of a lobster bake is the food.  Obviously lobsters should be on the menu but there are a few other traditional dishes that this outside celebration should contain.

   Soup and Salad Course:

o   BPI Signature Salad – Spring mix, blueberries, walnuts, goat cheese and raspberry dressing make a wonderful summer salad (try it here at BPI the next time you’re in!)

o   New England Clam Chowder – Also known as “chowdah.” Don't forget the oyster crackers!

Buffet Sides:

o   Red Potatoes – Sautéing in olive oil with light seasoning usually works the best.

o   Corn on the Cob – While steaming, add our Secret Ingredient: Cinnamon! Cut into halves and throw on the butter.

o   Littleneck Clams – If serving clams, it’s always a nice touch to place small cups of warm water on each table for your guests to dip their clams in.  This helps get some of the sand off of the clams before eating.

o   Cornbread – Using a muffin tin for cornbread is a great idea to make individual sized portions for your guests. Butter whipped with honey will make this side dish a hit!

 The “Maine” Attraction:

o   Maine Lobsters – If you can, source out soft shell lobsters!  You can also buy Maine lobsters directly from Maine Lobster Now: http://www.mainelobsternow.com/  

      Don’t forget to place drawn butter (best in ramekins) and lemon slices near the steamed lobsters for your guests.  For easy carrying, you can provide your guests with lobster baskets to take with them to their tables.

 If this is your first time cooking a lobster or you need a refresher, visit: http://www.lobsterfrommaine.com/steamed-lobster-cooking-tips.aspx

o  BBQ Chicken and Ribs – Because we all know that there will be a few guests who do not eat lobster… not that we agree with them, but we know they’re out there. And also because BBQ is delicious.

Dessert:

o   Blueberry Pie – A Maine tradition!  Also goes great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

o   Strawberry Shortcake- Fresh, native strawberries can be found this time of year.

 Beverages:

o   If you choose to serve alcohol at your lobster bake, cold beer and cocktails on ice work the best.  You will want to steer away from anything that will not last in the sun but having a nice assortment of options is always preferable.

  Wine - If choosing to serve wine, I would suggest a nice, dry Rose or a light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

   Beer - For beers, you will want to choose a selection of beers that are lighter on the palate and crisp to the finish.  Try Peak Organic’s Fresh Cut Pilsner or Baxter Brewing Co.’s Summer Swelter for the perfect summer beers!  Both breweries are from Maine.

   Cocktail - A great, easy summer cocktail to serve for a large quantity of people is White Sangria.  You can serve it through a dispenser or in a punch bowl with loads of ice to keep it cold.  The best way drink to sangria is using fresh fruit (lemon, lime, orange, and cherries), add a splash of brandy and mango juice for optimal flavor.

o   Lastly, an outside lobster bake celebration would be complete without Lemonade and Iced Tea as a nonalcoholic beverage option.

Lobster Survival Kit Ingredients:

    1. Basket – This is what you’ll use to place all of your kit’s items in.

    2. Lobster Cracker and Pick

    3. Dinner Fork

    4. Dinner Knife

    5. Wet Naps

    6. Bib

    7. “How to Eat a Lobster” Insert

    8.  Menu

    9.  Napkin

Entertainment:

o   Music – Make sure your iPod is charged and your iPod dock is ready to roll!

o   Games –

 Bean Bag Toss – Always a crowd pleaser.

 Volleyball – If you have the room, of course.

  Horseshoes – Oldie but a goodie.

 Party Décor:

We’d love to know what you think!  If you have suggestions or comments for this post or others, please let us know at: fandb@blackpointinn.com  Thank you for visiting, we’ll see you next time.