THE Entertainers

Consider this your invitation to meet some of the party masters in our midst, from pros such as the Food Network’s Cool Whip-lovin’ Sandra Lee to a cast of amateurs known for their hot-ticket home hospitality from Sherman Oaks to Upper Newport Bay. Then come along as we crash three only-in-L.A. bashes: cocktails in Koreatown, an alfresco Thanksgiving created by star chef Joachim Splichal and a Space Age dinner party in Silver Lake.

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THE HOST

DESIGN DIVA

Brigette Romanek

A former professional singer, Romanek designs an eponymous line of fierce handbags, which can fetch upward of two grand at Barneys and Fred Segal Flair.

house specialty: An insiders-only fashion fete

There’s the kind of style soiree where the Manolo-shod air-kiss for the paparazzi. And then there’s the kind held at Romanek’s house--no red carpet, no publicists, just the city’s chicest ready to let loose. One recent blowout was a bash for Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. Romanek has also hosted events for Anna Sui and dandy director Wes Anderson.

WHERE: Los Feliz

What makes her place a groovy party pad? Sheepskin rugs, lots of seating and inviting corners, both inside and out. “I always check spaces for nice flow,” Romanek says. And before guests arrive, she fills the house with flowers (orchids), candles (Diptyques) and iPod tunes (Nina Simone, Flaming Lips).

RSVP LIST: Style meets Hollywood, with a dash of society

She is married to director Mark Romanek--whose credits include “One Hour Photo” and seminal music videos for Beck and Madonna--so there’s often a healthy helping of industry types. But the real regulars in her “crew” are cool kids such as Jacqui Getty, costume designer Arianne Phillips, Lisa Eisner and club queen Amanda Scheer Demme.

party line: Hire a bartender

“Whether it’s six people or 150, make sure there’s someone there to serve drinks,” she says. “It just takes the edge off, because everyone has walked into a party once in their life and been like, ‘What am I doing here?’”

--Ginny Chien

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THE HOSTS

epicures OF Spice

Ashok + Chitra Amritraj

Ashok is chief executive of Hyde Park Entertainment, the production company behind such films as “Shopgirl” and “Raising Helen.” He and Chitra were introduced in 1990, a precursor to their arranged marriage that was celebrated with a four-day, 7,000-guest blowout ceremony.

house specialty : A no-spices-barred Indian feast

Every month or so, the couple orchestrates a flurry of curries, tikkas (marinated cutlets), dosas (rice crepes) and marzipan-like sweets. “If it’s somebody’s first time, we definitely warn them about the spices.” Ashok says. “Still, people have turned red.”

WHERE: Sherman Oaks

The Amritrajes’ 2-acre spread includes a tennis court, where friends such as MGM exec Rick Sands play tennis Saturday mornings with Ashok, a former pro who has played in the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

RSVP LIST: Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond

Among those who have stopped by to sample the samosas are Pierce Brosnan and Naresh Chandra, India’s former ambassador to the U.S. And when it’s time to celebrate Diwali, a major Indian holiday that fell on Nov. 9, the list swells to more than 50, with industry players mingling alongside family amid a sea of candles.

PARTY LINE: See red

To complement the aromatic banquet, Ashok keeps a reservoir of red wine handy. He likes Caymus Cabernet or--if he’s feeling rich--Chateau Margaux, both of which pair nicely with the spicy fare.

--Ginny Chien

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The Hosts

Nightlife/Hollywood Power Duo

Nightlife maven Arazm opens the kind of velvet-rope palaces (Shag, Parc, the soon-to-debut Central) where stalkarazzi agencies duke it out for the best perches to snap pics of Jessica Biel and other marquee regulars. Koules, meanwhile, just bought the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, but producing fare such as “Two and a Half Men” is his day job. He co-founded Evolution Entertainment, whose Twisted Pictures arm created the “Saw” franchise.

House Specialty:

A hot-spot preview It’s a tradition in the Arazm-Koules household to test-drive the food and drinks served at her clubs/eateries. Every few weeks, lucky guests are treated to snob-worthy vino like Franciacorta sparkling wine and Maculan Dindarello dessert wine, as well as dishes spiked with Italian white truffles. Lately, it’s been all Italian, all the time, thanks to Arazm’s current project, Terroni restaurant. On the menu at their most recent fete: butternut squash tortellini and beef filet tagliata.

WHERE: Beverly Hills

Their hilltop minimalist manse is party-perfect except for one feature: “We’re moving the pool,” says. “Oren and I entertain here so often that we’ve found there’s nowhere to stand outside.”

RSVP LIST: The couple’s very inner circle

The duo keeps things decidedly non-Hollywood even though Arazm counts many of her clubs’ A-list visitors as pals and Koules’ company manages Charlie Sheen and other TV talents. Guests typically include close friends such as Arazm’s co-restaurateur, Cosimo Mammoliti, and Koules’ business partner, Mark Burg.

party lines: Prepare to be grossed out

Torture porn with your pasta? Whenever Koules was working on a “Saw” film, he always invited the cast and crew to the house to screen the first cut, ahem.

--Ginny Chien

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guru of green

Greg Salmeri

Think of Rolling Greens as a slice of Eden in Culver City. With more than 2 acres of all things plant-related, the nursery has become a hub for botanical buffs, thanks to its “arrangement bar” where you can pick an assortment of flowers or perennials and have them potted in a container of your choice. Owner Greg Salmeri reveals what’s in for the holidays--and what’s best left at the North Pole..

How do you get a traditional feel without looking chintzy?Bunches of berries in glass with water are beautiful. At Christmastime, hydrangeas are great, and you can touch them with gold or silver floral spray paint. Or if you want something that doesn’t scream holiday, you can do white orchids.

Is there a particular flower that’s really hot this season? Actually, it’s succulents. It’s a clean look at a time when everybody’s going crazy with arrangements. We’re doing a lot of fresh moss wreaths with succulents planted directly in them.

And accent colors? Chartreuse greens are big again this year. And we’re using some pinks and corals together. It’s very warm, very Paris flea market.

What’s an alternative to the standard centerpiece? When we do a buffet, I like driftwood with candles and flowers in them. It’s like pieces of art.

What should be banished forever? There are displays in some homes with all these animated things moving. My mom loved to decorate for the holidays, but there was always one thing, like the reindeer with an elf riding on its back, and I’d be like, “Aw, mom, what’s that?”

--Steffie Nelson

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THE pro

Uber-planner

Mitie

Tucker

As a producer of some of the glossiest fashion fetes in town, Mitie Tucker never scrimps on style. Take, for instance, bringing in 600 Philippe Starck chairs for last month’s Hammer Museum gala honoring Miuccia Prada and Mike Kelley. The events maven--who also counts Gucci and Armani as clients--shares how to bring the fabulousness home.

In this era of Evites, what’s the best way to grab attention? Sending an object as an invitation is a bit of a trend now. I did a dinner for Chanel where we sent a small orchid plant. And a handwritten note is such a nice thing to receive these days--that would really stand out.

What are a few essentials for a welcoming event? Having a fire and cozy seating--pillows on the floor around the coffee table, that sort of casual-but-still- chic environment. I love to do anything I can outside too, like stringing amber cafe lights.

Where do you stand on catering at home? If I had catering, I would still pass around the trays myself. With waiters, there’s a formality to it. Whenever you’re doing something in your house, that’s what’s special about it. Don’t try to transform it into some overly done stage.

What about drinks? It’s hard to go wrong with Champagne, but I love Prosecco. It’s lighter and cleaner. It’s also nice to have warm apple cider with cinnamon in a tea cup, something that nods to the time of year.

Are guests expected to bring a gift to all holiday parties?

You should never show up empty-handed, but during the holidays it doesn’t have to be a bottle of wine. Bring a beautiful tree ornament or a box of note cards.

--Steffie Nelson

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THE HOSTs

eastside cognoscenti

Flavio + Laura Morales

Flavio is vice president of programming for mun2, the Telemundo/NBC Universal bilingual youth network. He and wife Laura met outside of a rock en espanol concert in 1993, when Flavio was host of his own cable access show and she recognized him wielding the microphone.

house specialty: “Welcome to East L.A.” bashes

The two are known for their low-key gatherings with DJ music, lounge-style outdoor seating, a full-service bar and professional lighting. Laura pulls together her brand of Californio cuisine from disparate sources: the El Mercado deli for a cheese platter, Liliana’s on Cesar Chavez Avenue for chile rojo (pork in red sauce) and Shinano in Monterey Park for sushi. “Most people at our parties have never been in a real house with a real backyard in East L.A.,” Laura says. “We’re both kind of freaks. We choose to live here.”

WHERE: East Los Angeles

The Morales’ house is midway between Laura’s and Flavio’s childhood homes in Boyle Heights and City Terrace, respectively.

RSVP LIST: A microcosm of Southern California

Guests range from Latin rock royalty (Ozomatli’s Wil-Dog) and Hollywood execs (UTA agent John Pantle) to the hosts’ extended family and friends.

party line: Finish with a “golden brush”

“To give your party that extra something, you have a mariachi,” Flavio says. The couple say they like including music that’s culturally relevant, along with the DJ. “On special occasions, you have [mariachis] serenade your party guests,” Laura adds. “It shows that you’re making a special effort. Es acabar con brocha de oro [It’s finishing with a golden brush].”

--Yvette Doss

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THE HOSTs

captains of newport

The Duffields

In 1970, Marshall (“Duffy”) Duffield, then 19, designed an electric boat based on in-board gas-powered cruisers from the’50s and ‘60s. He’s made more than 5,000 since, many of which cruise the channels and bays around his home in Bayshores, an exclusive Newport Beach enclave where he and his wife, Terry, grew up.

house specialty: A sunset cruise and barbecue

Terry picks up skewers of chicken, beef kebabs and sausages that Duffy grills on a barbecue attached to the stern en route to a quiet spot in the Back Bay. But sometimes even that seems like too much work, so the couple orders New England clam chowder from Bluewater Grill. “Food just tastes better when you’re on the water,” Duffy says.

WHERE: Newport Beach

As vice chairman of the Newport Beach Harbor Commission, Duffy knows every secret inlet and scenic spot, but his favorite party anchorage is in Upper Newport Bay, a protected estuary. “Rare birds fly all around you. It’s like going up the Nile River.”

RSVP LIST: Sailors and Trojans Two of the Duffields’ children, Kelly and Tyler, attended USC, as did Duffy’s father, Marshall Duffield, a two-time All-American quarterback, so Trojan boosters such as AXA Financial exec Jamie Shepherdson are always welcome onboard. Other regulars include Newport Harbor Yacht Club sailor Dennis Durgan, an America’s Cup race veteran.

party line: Let Duffy drive

Among his neighbors, there’s a fair amount of jockeying when deciding whose boat to entertain on. “But I’m a better driver and navigator,” Duffy says, “so I usually get the call.”

--David Lansing

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THE pro

june cleaver 2.0

Sandra Lee

Forget about turning lemons into lemonade. “Semi-Homemade” diva Sandra Lee--who splits time between L.A. and New York--says her memoir, “Made From Scratch,” due out this month, is all about “turning manure into rosebushes.” Yep, this is the food-stamps-to-fortunes saga behind those homecoming-queen good looks and that brand-name-meets-fresh-food formula for culinary shortcutting. This month, Lee also comes out with three cooking/entertaining books, so let the foodies wince with every slice of Farmer John Quick Serve bacon. Sandra Lee is cookin’.

You’re single and don’t have any children. But your ideas target the harried mom. I’m like a modern June Cleaver. But what’s different is that we can make better foods in shorter periods of time than she ever could.

What store brands should foodies give in to? Simply Potatoes. You can buy them cubed, mashed or as hash browns. They cut the cooking time way down.

What foods can’t you shortcut? Turkey and gravy. The secret to great turkey is lots of butter, under the skin and on top.

What’s your favorite fast dessert? An ice cream “baked potato,” where you mold ice cream into a potato and top with whipped cream and pistachio nuts to look like the sour cream and chives.

Cool Whip or Reddi-wip? Always Cool Whip. It’s all about consistency.

--Alexandria Abramian-Mott

For a few of Sandra Lee’s favorite “Semi-Homemade” recipes, go to latimes.com/magazinelee.