Dishing with Jason Mitchell Fete-a-Tete 2

Dishing with Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell is a true jack of all trades. He’s an event planner, playwright, husband, and host. He’s also the author of Getting Groomed: The Ultimate Wedding Planner for Gay Grooms. Oh, and did we mention that he’s a great wine-drinking companion?

You’ve spent the last decade designing events for people all over the world. Was there one that stands out as the most memorable?

There’s one that was almost like an SNL skit about event planning. Our team faced a new obstacle at every step! The party was for Soho House during the Toronto Film Festival and it was in an abandoned underground subway station. We had multiple sponsors with requests for items that got stuck in customs and that we had trouble sourcing in Canada. There was no cell service underground, so we paid a student to answer our phones and run down messages to us. There was no service elevator and we weren’t allowed to use the stairs to transport items, so everything had to get loaded into a train car several miles away and be sent underground. We got so behind during our set-up that we were building the bar shelves as the first guests arrived!

We imagine you throw great soirees for friends and family. What’s your entertaining style?

Relaxed, fun, and a little bit campy.

5 essentials for a party at home?

Prep Work: I do as much prep work as possible to avoid spending too much time in the kitchen.

Bare Feet: I like to be barefoot, so my guests know to get comfortable… unless I’m in need of a pedicure.

Food: I go for variety with my food spread – always a crudité platter and a cheese plate, because they can stay good for hours. Beyond that, I’ll do some type of dip, a nut or crunchy mix, and a protein skewer or ball.

Candles: I have tons of candles lit for ambiance, but the only scented one is in the bathroom.

Relax: Guests get uncomfortable if I look like I’m working too much, so I really make time to enjoy myself and have quality conversations.

Do you have a favorite cocktail you like to serve at home?

Vodka martinis, especially if I’ve found some olives stuffed with something delicious.

When you arrive at someone else’s party, what’s the first thing you notice? It’s okay to be a li’l judgmental.

If they seem stressed.

What’s the best host gift that you’ve given or received?

I’ve appreciated every bottle ever given to me!

If you could party with one person – living or dead – who would it be?

Joan Rivers.

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