10 Tips for THE WIFE: Entertaining Adults on Halloween

If Rosanna Bowles ran the world, everyone would sit down to dinner each evening and enjoy a healthy meal presented on exquisite dishes. She believes that eating together is truly a giving and loving experience. Her desire to celebrate life – from the major milestones to the smallest of moments – is what drives her designs.  Rosanna Bowles is the founder of Rosanna, Inc., an award-winning international tableware design house with fashion forward designs for the home and table. Whether it’s a glamorous soiree or simply dining at home, her stylish dishes turn any day into a special occasion. Below she gives a fun twist and  her top ten tips for celebrating Halloween with Adults… No kids allowed! – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE

1. Dinner Party: Stage an adult dinner party that sets the produce and bounty of the season as the centerpiece of the celebration. Served baked squash, hearty roast chicken with porcini mushrooms, wild rice, and a delicious Amarone (a red wine from Italy).

2. Multicultural: Choose a multicultural theme for your decorations, whether it’s the Mexican Day of the Dead, the Celtic All Hallows Eve, or the Christian All Saints’ Day. Infuse your home with the symbols that represent the harvest and the maturity that nature is spilling forth for us all to enjoy.

3. Scary Movies: For a less formal get-together, invite your friends over on Halloween to watch a classic scary movie and enjoy great finger foods while you greet the trick-or-treaters. The 1963 version of The Haunting is a great psychological thriller, and the 1979 version of Dracula (my favorite) stars Frank Langella as the sexiest Dracula you will ever see!

4. Halloween with your Husband: If you’d like to have a romantic evening at home with the one you love, cook a Halloween-themed meal and serve an equally appropriate Halloween-themed dessert. Watch your favorite horror movies while snuggling under a cozy blanket. Be sure to set Halloween candy outside your front door for trick or treaters to help themselves so your not disturbed.

5. Scary Music: Choose some classical music to set an eerie atmosphere. The “Dies Irae” of Mozart’s Requiem is appropriately spooky, as is “O Fortunata” from Carmina Burana. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue is the perfect mood-setting music if you want to create the feeling of a haunted house.

6. Ambiance: Set your table with black dishes, and make sure there are lots of candlesticks – preferably black tapes and pillars and small votives to create a Gothic look. For an extra touch string fake cobwebs around center piece decor. Also check with your local florist for dark colored flowers like deep maroon dahlias or black magic roses!

7. Costumes: At least a week before Halloween, scour your closets and local consignment shops for interesting clothes to fashion into a great costume. Read about what’s happening culturally and in the movies. These are good places to start your search for an innovative costume.

8. Treats: A few days before Halloween, bake Halloween-themed treats to offer guests and family on the special day. Doing this a few days in advance is a fun and creative activity that will get everyone in the mood for the big day. Try these Crisp Candy Corn Treats

9. Pumpkins: Carve the pumpkins just before October 31 so they don’t become moldy and collapse – unless that’s the look you want! Three days is a good window of time to ensure fresh, crisp pumpkins that will hold up through Halloween evening.

10. Bewitching Cocktails: Lastly, drink a really great blood-red wine like a Barolo or Amarone, as suggested above. There is no better way to enjoy Halloween as an adult. Try this tasty cocktail recipes or pumpkin brews – Rosanna Bowles for THE WIFE