The Duel of The Design 2010 was filled with creativity, drama and fun.
After last year's showstopping dessert buffet, The Edible Garden, topping it was tough.
I pitched the idea of doing an "upside down cheesecake" to
Muddy Paws Cheesecake. Although Tami seemed hesitant at first, she was game for giving it a try.
With 30 pounds of sugar "water" and schools of fish created by
Jessica's Cakes and Muddy Paws Cheesecake creating an island, the Desserted Island was definitely a talking (and tasty) piece for the guests.
I thought the graham cracker crumbs emulated sand quite well.
Guests were able to dig into the island and have some Muddy Paws Cheesecake.
Jessica's Cakes went so far as to research "Wilson" from the movie castaway. Unfortunately, by the time we created the island, Tom Hanks had been rescued already so he was nowhere to be found.
Alex, son of Create Catering's Director of Sales and Marketing, participated in the mini-competition, Tabletop in Ten.
Letting the guests have a crack at competing in the "Battle of the Bouquet" was fun. Flowers were flying!
Guests were having a great time socializing and all of us were on the edge of our seats trying to guess who would be the winner!
The rules of The Duel of The Design:
The competing designers are randomly paired with a florist and a chef. They are to create a tabletop decor for eight with items provided by
Apres Party Rental, who has sponsored The Duel of The Design since the beginning.
Apres Party Rental provided two duplicate multiples of tables, chairs, table linens, decor and table accessories. The wide selection gives the designers plenty of room to design the perfect table.
The Style Laboratory provides all the botanical.
The competitors see what is available to them for the first time once they are introduced.
As Master of the Field, Fox 9's Todd Walker, introduced the designers and explained the rules, he also announced that the type of event the designers were designing for a birthday party. The designers had to integrate pebbles into the design, the florists had to integrate bamboo into their arrangements and the chefs had to integrate leeks into all five courses.
Todd Pinzuti of
Bungalow 6 Design appeared relaxed, but intense. Sadie Gardner of
Sadie's Fine Floral Design was nervous. Extremely nervous.
Scott Delage of
Event Lab seemed a bit apprehensive, while Steven Ward of
Arts and Flowers Design Studio was definitely nervous!
La Belle Vie Chef Michael Decamp and his Sous Chef were relaxed and having a lot of fun.
Create Catering Chef Philip Dorwart and his Sous Chef concentrated on their menu to match the tabletop design.
The Secret Ingredient of Leeks, which had to be used in all five courses, wasn't as much of a challenge as I would have liked. I thought the dessert course would trip them up, but it was a breeze.
Both designers had to integrate gravel into their design and the florists had to integrate bamboo into the design.
Bungalow 6 Design had a sophisticated design that was aesthetically my taste. The table looked finished and the menu matched well with the design.
Event Lab's table definitely had a lot going on. During the competition phase, I did a lot of head scratching because the concept did not come through until the very end.
Judges Amy Steil of
Mi Mi Design, Amy Fuerstenberg of
Mi Mi Design, Geri Wolf of
The Style Laboratory and Chef Asher Miller of
Wolfgang Puck Catering had some tough questions for the competitors.
Amy Steil: Who is your client?
Bungalow 6 Design: A sophisticated, elegant foodie who has an appreciation for food and wine.
Event Lab: Lady Gaga
Amy Fuerstenberg: Where is a birthday candle?
Bungalow 6 Design: (pause) I didn't mean for the table to be so literal. (pause) I forgot.
Event Lab: We have one candle here.
Bungalow 6 Design's table was gorgeous.
The linens provided by Apres Party Rental were used in a fashion driven way with layering and integration of embellishments. Bungalow 6 Design is definitely known for their use of lighting and the candles were a tribute to that.
Event Lab had a fun table that was definitely vibrant.
The metal tree provided by Apres Party Rental and how it was embellished was fun and creative. The chivari chairs were covered with slipcovers made from a bedspread purchased at Ikea brought by the designer.
And in a surprise upset, the winner of The Duel of The Design 2010: Event Lab! Judges felt that the design really was clearly for a birthday party and that tributes of how the napkins were wrapped around square tables to emulate birthday presents, the integration of candles for a birthday and that the table looked very fun and festive.
Congratulations Scott, Steven and Chef Decamp!
Thank you to
Studio Laguna, Apres Party Rental, Jessica's Cakes, Muddy Paws Cheesecake, Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry, Pazzobello and Crave.
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I thought the graham cracker crumbs emulated sand quite well.
Guests were able to dig into the island and have some Muddy Paws Cheesecake.
Jessica's Cakes went so far as to research "Wilson" from the movie castaway. Unfortunately, by the time we created the island, Tom Hanks had been rescued already so he was nowhere to be found.
Alex, son of Create Catering's Director of Sales and Marketing, participated in the mini-competition, Tabletop in Ten.
Letting the guests have a crack at competing in the "Battle of the Bouquet" was fun. Flowers were flying!
Guests were having a great time socializing and all of us were on the edge of our seats trying to guess who would be the winner!
Todd Pinzuti of Bungalow 6 Design appeared relaxed, but intense. Sadie Gardner of Sadie's Fine Floral Design was nervous. Extremely nervous.
Scott Delage of Event Lab seemed a bit apprehensive, while Steven Ward of Arts and Flowers Design Studio was definitely nervous!
La Belle Vie Chef Michael Decamp and his Sous Chef were relaxed and having a lot of fun.
Create Catering Chef Philip Dorwart and his Sous Chef concentrated on their menu to match the tabletop design.
Bungalow 6 Design had a sophisticated design that was aesthetically my taste. The table looked finished and the menu matched well with the design.
Event Lab's table definitely had a lot going on. During the competition phase, I did a lot of head scratching because the concept did not come through until the very end.
Judges Amy Steil of Mi Mi Design, Amy Fuerstenberg of Mi Mi Design, Geri Wolf of The Style Laboratory and Chef Asher Miller of Wolfgang Puck Catering had some tough questions for the competitors.
Bungalow 6 Design's table was gorgeous.
Event Lab had a fun table that was definitely vibrant.
Todd Pinzuti of Bungalow 6 Design did a repeat win with Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry and Chef Asher Miller of 20*21.
Bold colors and design by Bungalow 6 Design captured the visual interest of guests. The added branding element was spot-on for event trends.
Amy Steil and Amy Fuerstenberg of MiMi Design worked with Pazzobello Flowers and Chef Chris Damskey of Chambers Kitchen to create a gorgeous table. 
Judges and guests alike repeatedly referred to it as the "Martha Stewart" table. It was a table that blended their high design and organic sensibility and looked as if it should have been in a magazine layout.
Jessica's Cakes applied a classic art "paper quilling" and turned fondant into a "paper quill'd" cake.
Branding an event, sometimes involves using items in a manner different then their intention. After all, HER Energy Drink cans as vases were much more affective than having posters of their logos all over the place.
The Edible Garden was a huge crowd favorite. It took a little while for someone to sneak a bite, but once the first bite, many followed!
Jessica's Cakes beautifully designed and carved mushroom cupcakes matched her Happy Gnome cake perfectly.
Not only did Thomasina contribute her fabulous Thomasina's Cashew Brittle to the Edible Garden, she belted out a song to entertain the guests.
Special thanks to the following sponsors for donating to the VIP Bags: Dick & Jane Letterpress, HER Energy Drink, Platinum Party Rental, Apres Party Rental, Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry, Pazzobello Flowers, Chambers Kitchen, 20*21 and DIVA Glass Slipper.
Lisa Marie Borchert is currently serving as the President of the ISES (International Special Events Society) Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter and was a key contributor to the chapter's back-to-back International Chapter of the Year wins in 2006 and 2007. She is also a member of MPI, Meeting Planners International and FICP, Financial & Insurance Conference Planners.
