Photo Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Cointreau
Jeremiah Brent is an expert on the art of entertaining. An artist from an early age, Brent taught himself how to design and build furniture which segued into his own design firm, where not only works closely with celebrities and billionaires, but creates everything from home interiors to multi-million dollar nightclubs. In 2011 Jeremiah joined Rachel Zoe to explore the world of fashion and fashion design on the Rachel Zoe Project, which kickstarted his television television career. You might recognize him as well as the host of the OWN Networks’s Emmy award-winning Home Made Simple on the OWN Network; he is currently developing a television show with his husband, and fellow interior designer, Nate Berkus.
Brent, therefore is the perfect ambassador for Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur produced in Angers, France. Together, Brent and the apertif brand have developed The Art of La Soirée experience, which brings a series of inspired soirées from cities coast to coast. The events are meant to showcase how travel can inspire and elevate at-home entertaining, be it from cocktails, food, colors, artifacts or scents. At the brand’s recent event in L.A., The Collection de Voyages, guests experienced four distinct destinations—Tulum, Hanoi, Marrakesh and Split—each with their own entertaining occasion, be it a Mediterranean café or Mexican beach picnic. Jeremiah invited guests to sit down at Moroccan inspired dining table and were served multiple courses, while he shared memories of his favorite travels.
Here, Brent continues to share his knowledge through entertaining tips by giving us six ways to throw the ultimate party, as well as showing us how to make some of Cointreau’s best cocktails at home.
Photo Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Cointreau
JEREMIAH BRENT’S ENTERTAINING TIPS
1. When designing, whether it’s a living room, an event space or a tablescape, I always want guests to feel as though they are part of an experience. I believe there is an art to entertaining. Incorporating travel, elements from different cultures and locales etc. is a great way to establish the overall tone and theme for a soirée. Don’t just add umbrellas to your drinks, but take it a few steps further, create a space that someone can walk away from feeling as though they were part of something special, part of your travels, your experiences and memories. Draw on elements from the fashion and culture, not just the cuisine, display straw hats inspired by the Vietnamese food you are serving, images of people or monuments as place cards – essentially anything that connects someone emotionally to an experience. 2. Tablescapes should be considered a canvas to help drive home your overall vision and theme for a soirée, they can serve as conversation starters, ice breakers even, and help to make a table feel layered and warm. Curate yours with items you have collected from your travels – a vase from Vietnam, beads you picked up on a trip to Peru, olive oil dishes from your honeymoon in Florence. 3. One of my go-to cocktails right now is the Cointreau Rickey. It’s a quick recipe you can make at home. Add a flavorful herb or a fresh, exotic fruit or vegetable to transport your guests to another place around the world. 4. I have always been a believer that glassware should not match. Don’t be afraid to mix metals, colors, finishes, silhouettes, heights etc. Be bold – mix it all! 5. “From the actual cocktails to way you serve them, cocktails help bring your favorite destinations to your guests.” 6. “When entertaining, I am constantly inspired by my love of traveling — and not just by the destinations, but by the absolute joy of the journey itself.”
Photo Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Cointreau
COCKTAIL RECIPES
Cointreau Castillo 2 oz COINTREAU 2 oz FRESH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE 1/2 oz FRESH LIME JUICE 2 small slices JALAPENO HOW TO CREATE Muddle the jalapeno at the bottom of shaker. Pour Cointreau and fresh lime and grapefruit juices and shake. Strain over ice in a smoked salt rimmed rocks glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist. Cointreau Rickey 2 oz COINTREAU 1 oz FRESH LIME JUICE 3-4 oz CLUB SODA HOW TO CREATE Pour Cointreau and fresh lime juice into a glass. Add ice, top with club soda and stir. Garnish with an orange twist. Cointreau Split Spritz 1 oz COINTREAU 3 oz MALVASIA WHITE WINE 1/2 oz FRESH LIME JUICE 2 oz CLUB SODA HOW TO CREATE Build all ingredients over ice in a wine glass and stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice.
