“Because it’s Friday!”

For Tom and Ellyn, anytime is a good time to have a party, but Fridays are especially good. And when that Friday happens to be in the middle of the holiday season, well, you just hope you get an invitation!

“I love my friends,” says Tom, “and having a party is just an excuse to get everyone together.” Tom and his wife, Ellyn, moved from their suburban West County home five years ago to the ultra-chic, high-rise Printers Lofts downtown. “We have truly embraced our urban lifestyle,” they say, “and have met some of our dearest friends here at the Lofts.”

So, with the holidays upon them, Tom and Ellyn were eager to gather their best buds together once again, this time for an amazing fete catered by their downtown neighbor, Mosaic – Modern Fusion Cuisine.

“My number one piece of advice when throwing a party,” offers Ellyn, “is to have good food and drinks. That’s why we chose Mosaic. We knew they could bring the same excellence that we experience at the restaurant to our home.”

And with the spectacular St. Louis skyline twinkling in the background, Tom and Ellyn sipped wine and mingled with their guests as Mosaic’s Chef/Owner Claus Schmitz and Executive Chef Ben Lester created magic in their kitchen.

“We have several preset catering menus,” explains Chef Claus, “but we are always happy to customize a menu for a homeowner.”

When preparing for a party, Tom and Ellyn prefer a simple approach. “Neither food nor décor need to be over-the-top,” they advise. “It’s really all about making your guests feel comfortable.” And their guests couldn’t be happier. “Tom and Ellyn’s parties have a ‘mi casa es su casa’ feel,” explains their friend Bob. “You always feel at home here.”

That being said, the host and hostess were glad to be able to rely on Mosaic to make this holiday get-together something special. “We knew that Chef Claus would produce a ‘wow’ presentation of the delicious hors d’oeuvres we chose to serve,” say Tom and Ellyn. The award-winning chef also included a delectable assortment of hearty red wines to enhance the flavors of his outstanding appetizers.

“We really love red wines,” say Tom and Ellyn, “and so do our friends. Mosaic provided us with several wonderful vintages to enjoy.”

And so, with a glass of robust red in hand, this warm and vivacious couple greeted their guests this holiday season and raised a toast to fun times, continuing friendships — and of course, great food and wine! 

RESOURCES
Chef and Owner Claus Schmitz, Executive Chef Ben Lester, Mosaic Modern Fusion, 1001 Washington Ave., 314-621-6001, www.mosaictapas.com.