Say It With Clicquot Champagne Game Night

Two things that are always a good idea: champagne and game night.

So what happens when you combine the two? An elevated take on a classic night full of fun, competition and lots of bub!

Enter: Champagne Game Night.

Inspired by Veuve Clicquot (pronounced Vuv-Cleek-Oh!) to take my game night to a new level I decided to host a “Say It With Clicquot Champagne Game Night” for a handful of girlfriends including Kate, Liz, Kim, Erin, Jen, Olivia, Daniele and Gaby. Say It With Clicquot is Veuve Clicquot’s latest Rosé offering. Shaped like a traditional megaphone, it is the perfect way to make a bold statement, while also keeping your bottle of champagne chilled for up to two hours.

We all pitched in, Olivia and Jen set the scene by designing the night complete with details of vintage games, a brass champagne bar, bathtubs of bub and stunning amber and rose glassware. The pretty little white dishes served as the perfect backdrop to Gaby’s food which consisted of unexpected champagne pairings including guacamole and flat-breads. And of course, the rest of the girls brought their A-Game.

It’s safe to say that champagne game night blew my usual popcorn and soda game night out of the water. Here’s how to host one yourself:

The People: Pick a group that you know will have fun together. I personally love inviting people who don’t all know one another because game night is the best ice breaker on the planet. Inviting even numbers is ideal for teams but if you have an odd, no biggie. Split up couples and best friends when you can, it makes for a fun level of competitiveness.

The Drinks: BYOC (bring your own champagne). The more champagne the better, I like to pour both Yellow Label and Rosé champagne so that there are options! Top your “champagne bar” with delicious accoutrements like fresh berries, pomegranate seeds, sugar cubes and other champagne cocktail favorites. Be sure to have lots of ice and buckets on hand to keep everything chilled.

The Food: Game night is all about nosh food. Set up a food area ideal for all night grazing. Room temperature items that sit well are best. Think: crudites, dips (see Gaby’s guacamole recipe below), flat breads, cheeses, olives, nuts, etc. Pairing tips: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label pairs perfectly with guacamole (recipe below), cow & goat cheeses, white cheddar, brie, candied peaches, apricot, marcona almonds and Veuve Clicquot Rosé pairs best with Parmesan, cherries and blackberries. In addition, bring out a couple of warm items throughout the evening that you can prepare in advance and simply pop in the oven. Truffle fries and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label anyone? Lastly, if you want to keep the champagne theme going into dessert, pour a little over your favorite sorbets and top with fruit.

The Setting: Pull out the props – it will make it feel more festive. Vintage games, decks of cards, poker chips, trophies, equestrian hats, bowling pins and anything else that you see fit are all fun options. Be sure to have out enough chairs and/or pillows for people to sit on and if you have them, layer in a few blankets if it’s a colder night. Next is glassware, flatware and dishes. Skip the paper goods and go for the nice stuff. It will make the evening that much more beautiful and elevated. And the final touches? Candles for mood lightening, flowers to liven the place up (I worked with Greta from Glasswing on these – are they gorg or what?) and chalkboard to keep score. No cheaters!Gaby’s Guac:

You will need:
-3 ripe Hass Avocados
-1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
-3 tablespoons freshly chopped chives
-1/2 lemon, juiced
-1/2 lime, juiced
-2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeno
-Kosher salt and black cracked pepper to taste

1. Cut the avocados in half lengthwise. Remove the pit from the avocado and discard. Remove the avocado from the skin and place the avocado flesh into a bowl.
2. Add the lemon juice, lime juice, red onion, chives, jalapeño, salt and pepper. Mash with a fork until half smooth and creamy. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
3. Serve immediately with tortilla chips

How do you plan game nights with your girlfriends? Share your game night with #SayItWithClicquot!

More of our lovely game night photos after the jump!

Photos and sources: Event design by TwoFold, photos by Matt Waugh and Jen Pablo // Rentals from Found Rentals and glassware from Casa de Perrin