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You know me, I’m a sucker for anything Harry Potter, and when a girlfriend tells me that someone’s hosting a Harry Potter-themed dinner party, I’M THERE. It was an excellent night, filled with delicious food, photo-taking sessions, lots of laughter, competitive spirits and shameful mistakes at a quiz that I’d gladly have Obliviated from my mind.
Kai Qi found this dinner party on Bonappetour, it’s a website that pulls together food experiences in various cities, and A NIGHT AT HOGWARTS was apparently of one of the more popular ones in Singapore. It was $68 per person, and really tough to book. We had to book about several months in advance cause they were so full up. Worth the wait though.
The Decor
Dinner was at the host’s actual apartment. We were slightly late, and had to sheepishly knock on the door adorned with a little Platform 9 3/4 sign. Like a miniature great hall, three tables filled the living quarters, all were long (or as long as they can be in a small Singaporean apartment) with people squished comfortably around them chatting happily over tiny little cauldrons (filled with Twisties!), jars of wands and other knick-knacks that gave the space the proper Potter treatment.
The apartment itself was dressed to the nines, Hogwarts feast style with House banners fluttering on the walls, shelves stocked with floating heads in jars, spellbooks, and even a friendly stuffed owl on the stairs. The hallway into the room was lined with rows and rows of gilded pictures. At the back, right next to my table, was a cart full of sweets from “Honeydukes”. Just the build up of atmosphere was enough to get the party mood going.
It also helped that my kiasu friend insisted the four of us go dressed Potter-ready. She bought ties for us and coloured them to suit our houses. (I was obviously Ravenclaw.) We were schoolkids chic too, with mismatched socks to boot. So the four of us loudly crashed the party (very Quirrell at Halloween) and tumbled into our seats, staring blankly as everyone ate till we realised that the food was actually placed up front and not on the tables itself.
The Food
The delectable menu was spread out on the kitchen island: roast beef on a Himalayan salt board, vegetarian lasagna (which was surprisingly amazing! Crisp in all the right places, hearty and warm all over), penne in a tomato-based sauce with a parmesan crust, lamb chops with a pink centre, juicy roast chicken with gravy, sides of smooth mash, corn, and buttered peas, and a platter of other bites like drumlets.
Man, no wonder the hosts could gamely join Bonappetour. They can COOK! The steak was cooked to perfection, the juices from the slices of roast puddling onto the salt board, each slice of meat the perfect shade of pink with a caramalised brown edge. “Mm.” said husband, as he tucked away multiple slices. The beef and lamb were both tender and easy on the teeth, warm and full of flavour. Lightly salted, letting the meaty goodness do its work. The mash, while good, was not something to shout about. The vegetarian lasagna on the hand, we had plenty to shout about. Even my carnivore husband tucked into a heap of lasagna. I don’t think he even realised it was vegetarian till we told him midway through his third helping.
I think what made it even better was that we were all huddled about the tables, laughing, making jokes and admiring the table decor. We also bonded with our other table mates through lamentations about our awful Patronuses Pottermore had saddled us with. I MEAN A FIELD MOUSE?! REALLY?!
It was a wonderful time of laughter that got even better once the hosts whipped out dessert: cupcakes.
Not just any cupcakes though, Halloween cupcakes (we were there around Halloween) with a coloured centre. It was our sorting ceremony! Each delicious rich and dense cupcake had one of the four house colours, and we were supposed to split ourselves accordingly. Abel, Noah and I got Hufflepuff (grumble grumble) and Kai Qi got Gryffindor or something. I was bummed that I didn’t get Ravenclaw.
Stupid sorting cupcake that was so yummy.
After Dinner Fun
So we were split into four groups, clutching our mugs of Butterbeer (which was rather meh, unfortunately). The Dumbledore-attired host and his wife (I think she’s the mastermind of this wonderful night!) pulled out a set of questions. TRIVIA TIME! I felt my competitive spirit welling up, HUFFLEPUFF HAD TO WIN.
We lost.
I was terrible. My heart was beating crazy fast so even before she could finish the question I jumped the gun and got the answer wrong. Or I buckled under pressure and got answers stupidly wrong too. “DUMBLEDORE!” I screeched at one point, knowing full well that the answer to a random question was far from the esteemed headmaster. I can’t remember the number of times she stared at me blankly like
I’M SORRY OKAY I PANICKED.
Worst Potter fan ever.
As Team Gyrffindor (figures) took home the grand prize of several packets of Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans, my friends and I had a mini phototakign sesh. Lots of snaps to be had, lots of fun conversations with our fellow Potter-heads and ooing over our Chocolate Frogs.
It was an exceptional party. Just a must to attend for the atmosphere. Thank you for opening up your home again and putting together such a great party. We’re absolutely in love.
Be sure to book A NIGHT AT HOGWARTS on BonAppetour!
MORE PICTURES IF YOU’RE INTERESTED
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