On a late autumn evening, Baltimore designer Henry Johnson held an intimate birthday dinner for his daughter, Amanda Johnson, at Sascha’s 527 Café. The restaurant is a personal favorite of the Johnson family, who consider owner Sascha Wolhandler a close family friend.
Eight guests gathered to dine around a blaze of multicolored candles arranged in candleholders of varying design and size. The tapers reflected off the hanging crystal drops, and smaller votives were scattered throughout a veritable sea of brightly colored ribbons and feathers. Mr. Johnson spent a few hours decorating the table, utilizing candles and color to create an over-the-top presentation.
Ms. Johnson and her guests enjoyed a leisurely multi-course dinner from a private menu of Sascha’s signature dishes, including Sascha’s salad, bacon straws, filet of beef and seared tuna, before concluding with a chocolate decadence cake.
As the evening progressed, wax from the candles dripped onto the table, resulting in a swirl of color and texture that bordered on performance art. Ms. Johnson described the memorable evening of light and laughter as her “best birthday ever.”
