"This year's theme is the white party," Mr. Gill, 53, explained, as a swirl of buff waiters (male models from Denver) passed around silver trays of lobster risotto, Kumamoto oysters and Patrón margaritas.

The auction room was transformed, with waiters dressed in black Gucci outfits passing trays of fruit-flavored sodas in psychedelic colors.

Members of the Bishop's Holy Guard set aside their weapons to pass trays of sandwiches and cookies.

Whenever I serve them, people are speechless in the face of their lusciousness, especially people who are used to being passed trays of things like blanched snow peas piped with tasteless fish paste or skewers of dried chicken saté.

Efficient waiters with winning ways pass silver trays of complimentary hors d'oeuvres.

Servants passed silver trays containing flutes of champagne and a small orchestra played from one corner of the room.

At Mrs. Menicheschi's wedding reception, waiters passed silver trays of San Pellegrino water, Lone Star beer and Champagne.

For hors d'oeuvres, waiters passed trays holding duck confit and apples in phyllo, salmon rillettes on toast, wild mushroom and Catalan vegetable tartlets, and celery-root remoulade.

The party was catered, with two bartenders working behind counters and liveried waiters passing trays of hors d'oeuvres and California champagne.

On board, happy flight attendants pass trays of food and pour drinks.