Black & White benefit theme has changed

[CanadianBakin']

This is a Jazz and dessert benefit for a project in Central Africa (the Congo). When the fellow I have been communicating with mentioned to the committee the idea of doing a black and white theme to go with the Jazz, another member asked if there was anyway to give it an African flair. I had no idea this was for an African project. Apparently some of the ushers will be in full African dress and they thought it would look impressive if the dessert presentation could compliment it.

I did a little surfing and Africans aren't big into desserts and I think they would prefer North American desserts anyways.

Can you please help with ideas on where to start in picking out recipes and how to present?

Could I still use the black and white theme and just dress it up somehow?

**Guidelines for recipes:

must be fine at room temp and no-fuss.

They will be on trays on tables for self-service.

I have to make about 500 pieces for about 200 people.

Very important...because I do this on the side, I need to be able to make most of the desserts in advance and freeze them. I have till November 19th.

[rooftop1000]

sesame ( bene) wafer of some kind - maybe something with peanut butter decorated with black and white sesames....peanut and sesame are tradtional African ingredients and ya get the black and white too

tracey

[CanadianBakin']

Does anyone even have a hint of an idea??

Really this is presentation only. I'm wondering if I can continue with the black and white theme, perhaps line rectangular black trays with sheet music covered with clear cello. Then drape something that looks a bit like a rafia rug underneath and dress the table up with some long grasses?... Also maybe arrange the black and white desserts in some type of pattern that might look a bit like war paint.

I'm really not the most creative person so any ideas would be welcome.

[judiu]

Just did a quick google for Kente cloth http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/7943/graphics.htm . It might be something to decorate your tables with, or utilise in some other fashion, like maybe sashes or something. HTH

[amccomb]

I second the idea for browsing Kente cloth online. There are also several black and white patterns, or you could just borrow the geometric pattern from the cloth and make it black and white.

I think the idea of decorating with long grasses is great, too.

[prasantrin]

I think most of the dessert table's Central African look will have to be from the decor. I don't think there's any problem with sticking with black and white, and having the Central-African theme come through in the table decorations. I also third the idea from Kente cloth, and I second the idea for borrowing a pattern from the cloth for something you make, if you can find a way to do it. Some of them are pretty comlicated, so may take up more time than you have.

If you're going to be doing checkerboard cookies, anyway, you could use different colours, like one of the Kente cloths. My limited knowledge of African design tells me that they love to mix patterns and colours. Pretty much anything goes.

[CanadianBakin']

Thanks so much for your ideas! They're exactly what I needed to get going.

[rjwong]

In your searching, you may want to use some former names of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Belgian Congo, Zaire, ...

I was looking through my African cooking book (Time-Life series). Nothing much, and that particular volume was really old (1960's). I suppose that with this benefit event, one should be culturally-sensitive, ehh?

Just to clarify, do you want ideas mainly in presentation, not actual Central African recipes?

[sugarbuzz]

Since desserts are not a big part of their cuisine why not stick with exotic fruits..plantains,mango,coconut..etc. Play around with spices..I think cardamom is popular in east africa. As for the B&W theme..maybe something with a zebra pattern? Maybe a dark & white chocolate zebra patterned chocolate disc set atop a coconut custard in a chocolate shell?

I found this site..it may help http://www.congocookbook.com/c0208.html

[CanadianBakin']

Just to clarify, do you want ideas mainly in presentation, not actual Central African recipes?

←

Yes, that's correct.

[Wendy DeBord]

Have you noticed that several companies now make transfer sheets with animal patterns? I think I would make whatever pastries I wanted then just decorate them to fit the theme.

To push the drama of the presentation I'd probably stick with a limited color range...........like all chocolate or browns and then use the transfer sheets with my garnishes. Verses using lemon or raspberry colored mousses with those animal patterns. When you keep you color palate tight it definately creates drama. I also would try to stick all my pastries on similar background trays to keep the look/drama. Maybe lining all your trays with a grass patterned fabric, or using all black serving trays, maybe lining all your trays with large banana leafs, etc.....

[CanadianBakin']

Great ideas Wendy! Thanks.