Swanky Sushi Party on a Shoestring

What we love about sushi is...okay, everything. It's one of the most beautifully prepared and presented foods. It's healthy. It's delicious. And it comes in endless varieties--from spicy tuna and shrimp to veggie and gourmet rolls--all in absolutely perfect bite-size bundles. It's one of the world's perfect party foods! So, when you invite your friends over break out the chopsticks and follow these sushi party tips...

• Asian Accents  Stick with a modern, minimalist black and white color palette (very Zen). Cover your home with small white votive candles or tea lights. Fill small bowls with rice and nestle a candle inside. Hit your local import store for fun accessories such as ceramic origami birds, fragrant Asian soaps (for the guest bath), and polished black rocks (place one on top of a stack of cocktail napkins). For a centerpiece, purchase a bamboo steamer basket and arrange a bouquet of flowers in it.


• Party Plates  Allow guests to nibble in style on individual sushi dishes like the above, ultra-hip styles from CB2. If your guest list is a bit larger or you want to cut costs, sturdy black paper plates and chopsticks will do the trick.


• Rock Your Rolls  Order an assortment of sushi rolls from your favorite Japanese restaurant. Consult with them on which rolls will keep best for your party timeline. With raw fish, you want to make sure it's fresh. In order to keep the food budget down, include plenty of veggie rolls which are more cost-effective. Complete the menu with frozen egg rolls, rice, and stir-fry that you can whip up yourself at home. Check out Yahoo! for mouthwatering do-it-yourself recipes such as Chicken & Rice Noodle Salad With Peanuts or Thai Chicken With Basil.

• Dramatic Drinks  Set up an easy self-serve beverage bar that includes chilled sake and steaming tea.


• Sweet Somethings  Follow your sushi smorgasbord with a delicate dessert. Try mango sorbet and fortune cookies (order them online and even customize the messages if you want!).


• Impressive Invites  For extra credit, purchase inexpensive sets of wooden chopsticks from your local import store or online. Roll a piece of textured paper (bearing the details of the party) around each pair of sticks and fasten it all with a piece of twine.