Chhaya Momaya is known in the Page 3 circuit as a striking yet elegant and soft-spoken personality. Those who know Momaya personally acknowledge her as one of the best hosts Mumbai can boast of. Other parties pale in comparison to hers; and why wouldn't they? Where else would you find a quarter of a Chanel perfume sprayed around your dining area just to set the mood?
Momaya is always a step ahead and is full of surprises when it comes to hosting. She'll know what her guests enjoy and what makes them feel special. Personalising menu cards with the names of her guests is unique to Momaya's parties. When she hosted the Canadian Deputy PM's wife, she etched the names of her guests using crystals on the glasses-a little memento they could take home after a fabulously planned lunch.
This isn't the first "special" she's introduced when hosting. Momaya lends some tips on how to play the perfect host.
The first and foremost is to leave party planners out of intimate settings. "Unless you are inviting the entire world, you don't need a party planner," says Momaya. She says catering and dcor can be handled by professional hands, but "the host remains the best judge on matters such as knowing what makes your guests feel comfortable and special at once."
A party should be planned at least a few weeks in advance so that all arrangements can be in place before the D-day. The key is to know who to invite for the kind of party you're throwing. When putting a guest list together, Momaya suggests bringing together "well-travelled, wellread and well-behaved friends". Such a mix will ensure that even the relatively quiet or shy guests can keep a stimulating conversation going. Keep at bay those who enjoy hearing their own voice.
To ensure that all your esteemed guests will show up at your party, customise the invitations. Send a text message requesting your guests to block their dates. Follow this informal invitation with an elegantly designed invitation card or even, a personalised letter at least a week before the date. Since RSVP courtesy is uncommon, hosts must make it a point to call guests 2-3 days before the party. This call can be used to inform guests about the other people they'll have the chance to interact with; and guests are more likely to confirm their attendance over this phone call.
Zero in on the food and bar arrangements along with picking the venue. If the guest list goes beyond 20 people, two bars should be set up- one for wines and the other for spirits, and arrange for good bartenders. Ideal appetisers are a mix of cold and dry snacks-perhaps, cold cuts as well as some cheese and peanuts. The rule of thumb is to either keep the dinner or the snacks light.
On the day of the party, dress well. If you know your guests will be coming in straight from work, dress accordingly. The ground rule is to not overdress at your own party. F&B caterers should be instructed to not hound guests by their service or intrude on conversations. "I direct the caterers to float the hors d'oeuvres for 30 minutes with a break of 15 minutes," says Momaya.
To ascertain that guests are comfortable, introduce them in a complimentary fashion. "Most people are terrible at introductions," says Momaya with disbelief, "It won't hurt anyone if you make your guests feel special. Talk about a good attribute when introducing your guests. It isn't flattery, but your guests are important to you, so go that extra mile." She also adds that it helps to be observant. When the food and bubbly begin to flow, make sure you are always accessible should your guests need anything.
Momaya feels that the easiest way to ensure that your guests are taken care of is to casually nudge them to eat. "Saying 'You must try the special dish…' will make guests want to indulge themselves," she says.
"I like to make my guests feel as special as I would in their place," says the proud host. Bringing back to light the Biblical Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
10 Commandments
