How did you develop a love of entertaining?
My mother entertained a lot. I grew up with having people at our home all the time. That was a norm for me. I actually studied interior design, then I studied fashion design and I've always had a passion for entertaining. I think it just comes from within. I like connecting people together. Life is short and I think we should get together and talk and laugh and exchange information and get to know each other and I think that that’s what life is about, it is the gathering of people and sharing and laughing and talking.
You had a store when you were living in Toronto. Can you tell me a little bit about the store?
It was called AT. The reason that we did AT is our initials. My name is Arminé and my business partner’s name is Therese. So we wanted to play with the word AT, so we had Spring AT, Fall AT, Winter AT, Summer AT, Entertain AT. At the back in small letters you see like the play word. Then we changed it every couple of months.
Were there things that you learned about entertaining as part of being at the store and having the store?
I actually bought for the store, because it’s things that I wanted to have in my home.
What would your advice be to somebody who’s starting out and trying to get their core pieces in place?
I think it’s really important to have good dishes. I think you should have two sets of dishes, for sure. I think you should have basic everyday dishes that you should use – like white or whatever colour suits you – then have a different set of dishes that’s different from your white, so you could mix and match. You just need a basic base and I actually suggest getting smaller plates in different patterns to interchange. It doesn't always have to be a full set. I'm a dishaholic. I have lots of plates. My husband goes, “No more dishes. We don't have room for it.” I think it’s really important to have a cake stand, just one. And a nice set of cutlery and, of course, your drinking glasses and your wine glasses. But, if you don't want to have stem glasses you could use smaller glasses like for juice that you could also use for wine. It all depends on your budget and what you could afford.
When you are planning an event, do you always start with a theme or how does that come together for you?
If I'm speaking to a client, if I'm working with a client, what their needs and wants are and what their personality is and how they'd want to represent themselves. I do table-scapes for people that are having a dinner party. I work with what they have then bring things that I have and I mix them up together. It all depends who’s coming, what kind of mood I'm in, what season it is and if they're contemporary or they're traditional. It all depends on the mood.
As a host how do you advise people to handle some of the stickier things in terms of shoes when people come in, bringing uninvited guests along to the event?
I think you have to set the tone for the evening and I think you should have to be in a nice, happy mood and you shouldn’t be so uptight about things when you're a host. I think you should sort of go with the flow. If you want them to take their shoes off you could just say, you know, “I have slippers here for you, take your shoes off”. If things break or spill, I think you should just say “Oh, that’s fine. That’s OK” and just clean it up and don't make a big fuss about it or embarrass the person.
It's difficult when you're down a place setting.
It is. I have made exceptions saying that yes, it’s OK to bring, but it also depends, if you don't have enough food for eight people and you have enough food for six, you have to say “I'm sorry, but I didn't know and I wasn't expecting to have eight, so I don't have enough food.” But if you do, it’s always nice – the more the merrier sometimes is nice, too. It all depends on the situation.
What about hosting outside of your own home? Do you have advice for people on those types of situations?
I think you're still the host. I have had parties at a restaurant in a private area, so I would still do the tables the way I would like and speak with the restaurant owner and bring your own flowers in and everything. But you have to determine if they're a guest or if you will be paying for the meal or is it going to be shared by everyone? You have to let them know beforehand.
Do you have a sticky hosting situation that stands out for you over the years and how did you navigate it?
I'll tell you what my biggest pet peeve is. I hate it when guests arrive early. Please, when you're invited to my house, don't come early. For a dinner party, or for afternoon tea. Don't ever come early. Don't come on time. I would expect you to be 10 to 15 minutes late, but no more than 20. No one, no one, should ever show up to a dinner party, it doesn't matter where it is, at your house, anyone’s house, they should never arrive on time. They should always arrive five to 15 minutes late.
That’s excellent advice. When you are putting together an event, when you're looking at the menu, do you have a particular thing that you like to choose first or how does that happen for you?
If I'm hosting at home, I personally like things to be easy and fast. I like things to be pretty and I like things to look nice, but I also like things to be quick and fast and easy. I actually have three or four meals that I’ve perfected and I alternate. Dessert, you don't have to make a dessert, you can buy the dessert. You don't have to make everything. You could even buy your whole meal. It all depends. It’s really a lot of work and time-consuming to entertain.
Where do you land on the getting guests involved versus having people just sit back and relax?
I have friends that I have over on a regular basis and they go “We want to bring something.” And I always say no, because I feel I just want them to relax and have a good time. A lot of times they insist. If they really insist, OK, that’s fine and it does make it easier. There have been times when you want to get the guests involved and do it together, that’s wonderful as well. It all depends how big your kitchen is, how ... what’s the word ... controlling you are. You want your guests to feel comfortable in your home and I think that’s really important.
Do you ever plan music for your events?
I always put a jazz station on. My husband and I like jazz music, so it’s always nice to have jazz in the background. You can use your music on our Bluetooth and everyone can enjoy it. So it makes it easier now than it did years ago, I think.
Are you a red wine drinker or white?
I actually like red.
Now, you’ve lived in Toronto and you've lived in Calgary, which city feels more like home to you?
Actually, they both do. I don't have any preference for one over the other. People have asked me that question before and it’s like saying “Who’s your better child?”
If you were going on holiday, are you more of a beach, book person or more of an experience and learn person?
I think experience and learn. Like every time when I visit a new city, the first thing I do is go to their art gallery. I think it’s really important. And, the museum is a must. But there are times when it’s nice to do nothing as well and once in a while a beach vacation is nice as well.
If there was one thing that you thought a host should always keep front and centre, one key piece of advice, what do you think you would tell people?
If you're hosting, you should always have some staples in your pantry and in your refrigerator and your freezer. I always have cheeses in my refrigerator. I always have a selection of crackers and pastas and in my pantry. I always have chocolates and candies around, so I could entertain anyone anytime. I think it’s really important also to make your guests very comfortable. To make them very comfortable and don't make a fuss about things, like when they spill a glass of wine or they break a glass. Everything’s replaceable.
