Singles Party with Clara Ole Foodfest #ClaraOleDateNight

When Clara Ole contacted me to become one of their brand ambassador , I got excited.  I have been an avid user of Clara Ole products and being someone to speak out for them is something beyond imagination.

One of my role as a brand ambassador was to hold a party for single independent individuals, preferably condo dwellers or those who rarely have time to cook and resort to takeout meals or even fast food.

It was a challenge I gladly accept.  I was unsure if any of my single friends want to come out in the open and attend a singles party.  I mean there’s nothing wrong being single but there’s awkwardness when you put your friends’ on-the-spot and tell them “Hey, you are single come to my singles party and mingle and maybe meet your true love!”  Haha! It’s like the feeling when someone tries to set you up for a blind date.

I cringed when they showed me their event pegs for the party they wanted me to host.  OMG! Red, hearts, and flowers! I just can’t! I don’t see my friends going to a party like that, and it’s not even Valentine’s!   Personally,  I can’t see myself attending such a party!

So when I met with the events team to help me out plan the perfect singles party I told them what I want,  simple, cozy, and free.

The Theme

I wanted a country style, summery feel, with pastels and light colors, since it was summer. Cool colors that will make everyone relax and just be, no pressure.

The Venue

The plan was to show everyone how easy it is to throw a party at their place by having a Clara Ole Potluck . We held the party at my condo’s clubhouse, while the place was big it still is homey and cozy with the community feel going as there are residents have a swim while the party happens. Guest can swim too if they wish.

The Invite

I was a little tricky when I invited my friends.  I created a private event on Facebook and told them that I am hosting a Clara Ole Potluck FoodFest with my friends.  I personally handpicked whom I invited as I wanted those who fit the profile: independent individual who rarely have the time to cook because they are busy with their daily grind. Some of them live in condos and rented spaces that cooking is a bit of a fuss.  While some don’t know how to cook. Period.

I left out the big detail that I want them all single and ready to mingle even if they don’t openly talk about their relationship statuses. I didn’t tell them about my “evil” plans.  As I cooked up something that will make them get out of their comfort zone to mingle and maybe find a match.  All I told them was that I prepared some surprises and games that is something unusual.

I told them that aside from food, they will also learn a tip or two about food photography and food preparation tips and tricks using Clara Ole products of course.

The Food

The original plan was to ask some of my friends to prepare a dish or two to bring to the event as it is a potluck. I will give them the ingredients secret ingredients being any Clara Ole products.  I was not able to ask a lot of them as they all are busy bees.  At least I had a few who did!

The Event!

California Garden Square Clubhouse 3PM. It was a Saturday. It was super traffic and there are a number of events happening that day.  Some were late but my early bird came in before 3!

To start the event, I had an ice breaker game where I asked my guest to write their own name tag and put a creative tagline to fill in the blank.  My name plate goes:  I am _______ I am looking for ___________.

Here’s some of them with their name tags:

I had my guest fill their tummy with the food prepared at the center table.   We had Hickory Barbeque Pork, Summer Tomato Pasta, Orange Glazed Chicken Fillet, Castillo Fave, Tuna Potato Salad, Blueberry Baked Doughnuts and Sangria without alcohol.

When they had some fill, we started with the “program” where Chef DJ Santos teach my guest on food styling or how to make their simple dishes look expensive/ Instagrammable/ restaurant quality looking!

Since we were taught how to style the food, of course, the camera always eats first these days, we had Mike a photographer, teach my guest how to take beautiful food shots using their mobile phones/ Instagrammable food shots!

After learning food styling and food photography tricks, our friend from the Clara Ole digital team introduced the Instagram contest for my guests where the winner could take home a Masflex Dinner Set!

With that said, the guest had a second round at having their fill at the buffet table while they try to take their winning shot!

While they were having their time taking food shots and eating, I went around to ask if they could guess which of the food in the buffet table I have prepared myself.   I went around and to my surprise only one person guessed the two dishes right!

John Bueno was trying to be smart by asking Chef DJ which of the dishes he prepared and which Clara Ole product did he used.  Smart move John!

When everyone was done with their food shots, we introduced the surprise game for my friends!  The mini-speed dating game!

Everyone had to meet everyone and everyone will be given time to talk with everyone.  They need to ask those three questions on the match set we made and fill the bottom of the paper after.  We will collect the papers.

From the papers which will be collected after the game we will find out whom among the guest is the most likeable Female and Male guest of the day to win Masflex prizes!

While the papers were tallied, the digital team picked the winner of the Instagram contest!

This photo of Rodel Flordeliz won the Instagram contest:

Which is a perfect segue to which dishes I made for the event!  The Summer Tomato Penne Pasta and the Blueberry Baked Doughnuts!  Which only Joost Boer guessed correctly!

Then segued to winner of the most creative name taglines.

I was torn between John who was creatively very straight forward and Adrianne who was very subtle and charming.  So they both win instead! Hooray!

Now the Most Likeable Male and Female of my Clara Ole Foodfest #ClaraOleDatenight :  Joost Boer and Romina Nanagas!  I am not surprised!

The event was a success, thank you to everyone who attended!  I am so happy that everyone enjoyed despite putting everyone on the spot by forcing them to join the speed dating game!  Love you friends and lovers hahahaha!

So, how do you Host A Singles Party the Clara Ole Potluck Foodfest Way?  Have a good venue, invite good friends, have a unique program, have everyone learn something new , have everyone meet someone new and have delicious food that will be the center of discussion!

If you want to know the recipe for my dishes and all the dishes prepared at my party, you may leave a comment below and if a lot will request, I might just have another post for the recipes!

Meanwhile, follow @claraoleph on Instagram or like Clara Ole Philippine on Facebook to know more about the products and to see my reply to the questions submitted by the readers regarding the #ClaraOleDatenight and #ClaraOlePotluck and food preparations #diskartips using Clara Ole!

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Stay gorgeous everyone!