Southern Hospitality

After Lori Paranjape and her husband completed their resplendent new Tennessee home, she wanted to celebrate. “We decided to do something really special,” says the Nashville-based interior designer, "so I turned to my friends at Sub-Zero to help me pull it off.” Paranjape credits the team at Tisdel Distributing and its Executive Chef, Brandie Lamb, for helping build the concept for her party. First and foremost, Paranjape knew she wanted amazing food whose preparation would utilize her fantastic new kitchen. “I said we really need to do something that shows off what my Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances can do,” she says. “I have this incredible kitchen, and it seems a shame to throw a party and not have these elements be a part of it.”

Chef Brandie recruited the additional support and talent of Sub-Zero Head Demonstration Chef, Joel Chesebro, and together they created a stunning menu that reflected the warm welcome that Tennessee is known for. With delectable items that ranged from a mischievous nod to classic tuna casserole, a decadent butter-poached halibut, and a playful chocolate piñata, the meal delighted Paranjape and her guests. “Chef Brandie told me we’d be in for some pretty eclectic things, and she didn’t disappoint!”

The printed menu itself was a memento for the diners, with original artwork from local painter Ashleigh Suarez adorning each one. “We wanted to create a unique keepsake for our guests to remember the evening by,” says Kate Esteller, Trade Representative at Tisdel and one of the key planners of the event. “I was thrilled to hear that several guests ended up framing the menu/artwork for their offices!”

Paranjape had invited a dozen colleagues from the vibrant Nashville design world to join in the fun. “We have a really lovely community of designers who are friends, and this was a chance for us to gather at less of an industry-feeling party and more of an intimate evening,” says Paranjape. “I was excited to host all of them here in my own house.”

To facilitate the size of the party, she rented two long harvest tables to run through the middle section of her home, which opens up completely to the exterior. “We have NanaWall doors and windows that open up to the screen porch,” says Paranjape, “and it made for a delightful indoor-outdoor, al fresco experience.”

To reflect the simple charm of the table style, Esteller and Chef Brandie spearheaded the aesthetic choices for the floral arrangements and table settings, which included dark metal chargers and antique-looking gold-toned cutlery. “I brought our choices back to Lori for an easy ‘YES!’ on approvals,” says Esteller. “Everything looked perfect,” agrees Paranjape.

No Nashville gathering would be complete without live music, and local guitarist and recording artist Levi Snider entertained the gathering with airy, expressive tunes. To complement the food, a wine steward chose five different vintages, from Champagne to a dessert muscat, and expertly narrated each selection as he served the guests throughout the courses.

From the camaraderie of the assembled guests to the curated ambiance and the sublime food, Paranjape’s new home kick-off dinner party was a smashing success. When she first began designing her new home, Paranjape had imagined casual evenings entertaining friends, but “The Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, and Tisdel teams completely exceeded my expectations,” she says. “They really took things to the next level and made the house shine!”