Bonus web-only pictures!

Soon after Karmela and Daniel got engaged, they won our ULTIMATE DINNER PARTY contest. 2's food expert, Amy Rosen, designed a five-course menu, the 2 team put together a gorgeous table setting, and Karmela and Daniel got to keep the china, crystal, flatware, accessories and countertop appliances! Here are some bonus web pics of their engagement celebration with their friends. (For the whole story of their celebration, check out the Summer 2005 issue of 2.)

Excerpt from Karmela and Daniel's contest entry:
"Dear 2 magazine, we just got engaged. Our Ultimate Dinner Party would be to celebrate our engagement with our dearest friends!"

Above left: the CONTEST WINNERS, Karmela and Daniel. Above right: 2's Amy Rosen

Party time! Karmela and her female guests are in a celebratory mood.

Daniel, a dead-ringer for Nicolas Cage, hams it up--with his posse in tow.

Daniel and Karmela do what all cool couples do--read 2 magazine together!

Their guests read back-issues of 2 magazine--he's glued to our Fall 2004 issue (bet it's the sex page!), and she's smirking about something in the Winter 2004/2005 issue.

Amy serves martinis and the group does a toast to the best darn engagement celebration ever!

Amy Rosen's delicious appetizer plate of Toasted Cashews and Cheese Straws.

Amy and her assistant, Illona, slave away in the kitchen, preparing the dee-licious meal. And hey, look what she's using as a reference: Her own cookbook, COOK THIS (Random House, 2004).

Amy prepares the Roasted Root Vegetables for the main course. Yummy!

Karmela and Daniel are thrilled with the dinner menu--a beef tenderloin roast rubbed with herbs and garlic is an absolute treat! They even get to keep the sparkling new Oster stainless steel countertop appliances including a blender, food processor, toaster oven, and coffeemaker.

Karmela's mom crashes the party. Well it is her house after all, so she is entitled to see if her daughter and future son-in-law are trashing her place or not. Actually, everyone, including the 2 team, behaved themselves.

What makes this dinner party really special is a table set with Royal Doulton fine bone china in the Symmetry Pattern with Milles Fleures accent plates and co-ordinating crystal. We paired the dinnerware with brushed 18/8 stainless flatware in the Astrid pattern from ONEIDA. Luxe table linens by Mantles are from The Bay.

For a coordinated look, we added ONEIDA Astrid serveware, including serving platters, ice bucket, and stunning coffee set with creamer, covered sugar bowl and tray.

Jackson-Triggs wines are served with dinner.

Another toast is made to this highly memorable evening.

Follow-up email Karmela and Daniel recently sent to 2:
"How can we thank you enough for giving us such a great evening? The food was simply to die for. And the gifts are a miracle. Now we have something to look forward to-besides each other-after the wedding. Thanks again. It was a night we'll never forget!"

Love to entertain? Well, have we got the contest for you! One lucky couple could win everything needed to host a Fondue Party including dinnerware from Royal Doulton! For your chance to win click here.