'Top Chef' Judge Nilou Motamed's Instagram-Worthy Holiday Party Tips

We are in full holiday party mode which means lots of food, wine, and time with friends. Whether you’re hosting a shindig or need a dish to pass, we all want everything to look as good as it tastes. Season 16 Top Chef judge, Nilou Motamed, knows how to throw a good party and take an even better photo of it. She sat down exclusively with Life & Style to share her holiday party tips, complete with FOMO-inducing pictures. Keep scrolling to see Nilou’s eight fool-proof tips that your friends and Instagram feed will love.

Besides making us drool over her flourless chocolate cake (her secret is well-whipped egg whites), Nilou brought her years of food and party expertise. Her biggest tip for a newbie host is: “Don’t turn into somebody you’re not.” She continued by saying, “Be true to yourself. You don’t have to turn into a domestic goddess to throw a great holiday party.” When it comes down to it, the reason people go to parties is to have fun with family and friends. Nilou added, “What people want is a lot of alcohol and a great playlist. Just be yourself and take it easy. The point is hanging out.” So. Much. Truth.

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My cozy office for the past few days 📷 @peterjlindberg #dtla #losangeles #hotelliving #suitelife #nomadhotel #werk

A post shared by Nilou Motamed (@niloumotamed) on May 1, 2018 at 12:38pm PDT

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Nilou has lived in Iran, France, New York City, and everywhere in-between, so it may surprise you that her favorite five-ingredient-or-less appetizer is pigs in a blanket. “I’m a sucker for them,” she admitted. “People eat those things almost dangerously. They eat them so fast. Don’t buy them at the store, make them yourself.” Mini-sausages and puff pastry are the two ingredients you need to make a Top Chef approved app. As for dipping, she’s a grainy-mustard type of gal but suggests making a mixture of Japanese Kewpie mayo and ketchup.

Don’t forget to share your yummy holiday photos or party questions with @niloumotamed and @bravotopchef on Instagram! You can watch Nilou, Padma Lakshmi, and the rest of the Top Chef judges take over Louisville (Nilou’s new favorite food city) this season on Bravo. The premiere episode is happening Thursday, Dec. 6 at 9/8C.

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5. Make It D.I.Y.

Let your guests have a little fun and flex their creative muscles with a D.I.Y garnish station for cocktails. Use bowlfuls of lemons, limes, or grapefruit slices along with fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, or tarragon. It looks gorgeous and tastes good — a true win-win. One of Nilou’s cocktail bar favorites is Fever Tree’s Aromatic Tonic Water.

6. Get Bubbly.

We stan a foodie queen who loves a glass of bubbly. Nilou loves using large bottles of Champagne for a festive feel. She suggests “grower” Champagnes (bottles that come from small vineyards) or Pet’-Nat wines from France (sparkling wine that has gone through a different fermentation process). If you’re more into craft beer, Blackberry Farm’s Saison is one of her faves. She also suggests looking for booze with festive and bright labels to add more interest to your photos.

8. See The Light.

Whether it’s Kim Kardashian taking a selfie or Nilou capturing the beauty of a raw oyster bar, lighting is everything. Shooting food overhead with lots of natural light makes for the best social media pictures, according to the Top Chef judge. Also, try using portrait mode to create a soft depth to your photos or using a tight shot to get every delicious detail of your dish.