Celebrating the Holidays with Friends? Just Eat says in 2016 Canada's Sophisticates are Staying In!

Isabelle Cheng, Canadian foodie, stylist and social media sensation, shares her signature 30-minute party prep for big style, in no time

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Throwing a party this holiday season? Gone are the days where party planning takes hours of shopping, food prepping, decorating and work. There's a new generation of home entertainers and they're using technology to achieve big style in no time. Taking inspiration from the glut of gorgeous social media food porn and using apps to order fabulous food, invite friends, and make sure everyone gets a ride home – the smartphone is one secret to entertaining on the fly! 

Canada's Isabelle Cheng, former banker turned lifestyle tastemaker and international social media sensation, says she can pull off a party in 30 minutes flat with a little help from Just Eat. Canada's largest food delivery app also reports increased usage among Canadians who are ordering-in when they entertain at home.

"Food is the most important aspect of entertaining at home," says Isabelle, the creator behind the popular lifestyle social media property, Allons.y. "Food prep is also the most time consuming. Instead, I rely on the city's chefs to do my food prep – and I access them using the Just Eat app on my phone. They deliver free and have a huge selection of cuisines – so you can serve your guests your favourite dishes, expertly prepared. This gives me time to focus on presentation, so you can take your get together to the next level style-wise."

Pull off a Holiday get-together in 30 minutes flat

Isabelle partnered with Just Eat to show just how fast you can put a party together. Using the app she selected her favourite foods from a wide selection of options, and placed her order. While waiting for the delivery, she pulled from her personal collection of décor and food service items and added a few touches to make it holiday themed. Here's how:

1. Order your favourite food. Food can be on the table in minutes after Just Eat drops the city's best at your door. To start Isabelle ordered favourite comfort snacks like calamari rings, poutine, Mediterranean dips and a fresh tomato mozzarella salad. For the mains, Isabelle chose a flavourful Mexican theme with spicy shrimp and bean salad, with delicate fish tacos. For dessert she ordered fresh baked pie, cookies and pistachio gelato. Pie a la mode and ice cream sandwiches are go Holiday with a touch of green. Spicy chocolate brownies and Dulce de leche with churros are always a hit. A stack of red napkins completes the look.
   
   
2. Work with what you have on hand. Isabelle plated food in cooking vessels or boards that she had on hand. Unexpected ideas that are big on style include enamel cookware and raw-edge wooden boards, a stylish alternative to traditional serving platters. Rather than bowls, fill drinking glasses with dulce de leche sauce topped with a pair of churros. Display sweets on a cake stand. Also, mixing styles helps creates visual diversity and a more stylish overall look.
   
   
3. Small accents give a festive touch. Isabelle used a blanket as a table runner. She also had giant feathers in sparkly silver on hand which adds a little elegance. Pine cones are an affordable and super easy touch of Holiday on the table and simple Christmas tree ornaments work too. Isabelle used a food-safe, permanent marker to customize a serving plate as well as champagne flutes. This way, guests don't mix up their glasses and get a nice gift to take home. Finally, inexpensive battery powered string lights, can be arranged around the dishes on your table. 

"People don't have the time to fuss, but they still love to share their hospitality with friends and family," says Isabelle. "Canadians have a diverse palate and want to serve guests delicious, interesting foods and more and more they are ordering it in. Just Eat has noticed it's a thing – especially among millennials and I get it. Look at this gorgeous spread – my favourite foods, prepared by skilled chefs and delivered to me so I can focus on having fun. It's brilliant."

About Just Eat Canada

With headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Just Eat Canada is the nation's largest and fastest growing food delivery app. The mobile app enables local restaurants and customers to connect, offering two quick-and-easy platforms for ordering food delivery.

There are currently 4,500+ restaurants online with Just Eat in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Regina. The Just Eat Group was founded in Denmark in 2001, is now headquartered in London, UK and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. www.justeat.ca.

High resolution images available for publication with proper photo credit: Photos by Isabelle Cheng for Just Eat.

Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8hvc97oku7fwz4w/AAAJHnObVOyv7079Dy-1UPzBa?dl=0

SOURCE Just Eat Canada

Image with caption: "Just Eat, Canada's largest food delivery app, reports more Canadians are ordering in when they entertain. Isabelle Cheng, Canadian food stylist and Instagram sensation shows how ordering in lets you pull off a stylish Holiday get-together in no time. With free delivery from Just Eat, Isabelle ordered from several restaurants to offer guests a delicious variety of flavours. She accented the presentation with simple holiday decorations she had on hand. (CNW Group/Just Eat Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161130_C5580_PHOTO_EN_828402.jpg

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