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| Coronado is Spanish for “the crowned one,” and is nicknamed The Crown City. |
There’s a Newf in My Soup! was honored and thrilled to be chosen by POM Wonderful to host a pomegranate-themed dinner party. If you follow our blog, you know how much we thrive on Holiday and Theme Parties!
During the week of November 8-14, 100 people across the country set their creative pomegranate juices in motion, and hosted POM Wonderful Dinner Parties for a chance to win one of 10 Best POM Party prizes. I admit, a major incentive for hosting this party was the chance of winning one of the three Grand Prizes: Two-night, all-expenses-paid trip to any city on the POM Wonderful Chef Series 2010 list, including dinner at the chosen chef’s restaurant (for Chef Series 2010, notable chefs from around the nation created internationally inspired recipes featuring the POM Wonderful variety pomegranates and POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice). My sights are set on a trip to Telluride, Colorado, and dinner at Chef Jake Linzinmeir’s Bluepoint Grill & Noir Bar! However, I am also a pomegranate and pomegranate juice aficionado, and welcomed the challenge to create an entire dinner party incorporating pomegranates in the decor and menu.
We are now in the submission period, when each host must submit a party recap via blog posts, photo albums, and videos. Judging is based on best incorporation of pomegranates into the menu/drinks; most inspired pomegranate decor; and most successful “How to Open a Pomegranate” presentation.
Upon the arrival of our POM Wonderful pomegranates, I had a vision. We jumped in the car and headed down to the beach in front of the Hotel Del Coronado, for an impromptu photo shoot. The two halves of the pomegranate resemble an exquisite sea shell, enhanced by its scattered ruby jewels and reflection in the wet sand. This is how the name for our party evolved…a party to be held in the Crown City of Coronado, showcasing pomegranates and their shimmering ruby jewels. The Crown Jewel Affair…
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| Pomegranate “Shell” – Beach at The Hotel Del Coronado |
To get us started, POM Wonderful shipped each party host a generous supply of pomegranates (over 40!), a whimsical apron, flexible cutting board, POM juice coupons, Chef Series 2010 Recipe Cards, and canvas bags filled with goodies for our guests.
In case you haven’t heard, POM Wonderful is the largest grower of pomegranates in the United States, with over 18,000 acres of orchards located in Central California’s fertile and sunny San Joaquin Valley. POM Wonderful supplies the majority of the nation’s fresh pomegranates and ships to over 55 countries. You can find a wealth of information about POM Wonderful pomegranates, health benefits, recipes, decorating ideas, and products at POM Wonderful, and a friendly POM community on Facebook.
I made a gift basket for each couple, filled with POM Wonderful goodies, a bottle of POM juice, a few pomegranates, and a jar of my homemade Pomegranate Jalapeno Jelly, which was served at the party over warm Nut Crusted Fried Brie.
The party continues…please stop by the posts below to see more photos of each course and recipes. Fresh or bottled POM Wonderful pomegranate juice starred in a jelly, vinaigrette, braising liquid, sauce, reduction, ice cream flavoring, and syrup, and fresh pomegranate arils were found floating in cocktails, and adorning every course, providing an elegant and festive touch, pop of brilliant color, burst of sweet, tart flavor and surprise crunch.
- Our Welcome Cocktail, Ginger Pomegranate Martini, now posted, here.
- An amazing appetizer, Nut Crusted Fried Brie with Pomegranate Jalapeno Jelly, now posted here.
- Vibrant Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Soup, now posted here.
- Lively Roasted Beet Salad with Pomegranate-Cumin Vinaigrette, now posted here.
- Magnificent Chiles en Nogada, now posted here.
- Braised Lamb Shank Ragu, Polenta Triangles, Spicy Mexican Pomegranate Sauce, here.
- Chocolate Pavlova, Pomegranate Frozen Custard, Pomegranate Pink Peppercorn Syrup, here.
