Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Party Strategy: Simple Hosting for Spontaneous Visitors
In this busy season, while there's plenty happening that even energetic people may sometimes anticipate a quiet respite of the new year, it's very simple to overlook details. I believe I'm not the sole person who has ever felt startled awake while at work by a message by a friend wondering, "What time are we expected over tonight?" No worries; whether you are absent minded, and just prone to impromptu plans, I've got some solutions.
The Key to Memorable Get-Togethers
First and foremost, and I can't emphasize this enough, whether you have been planning for months or only 15 minutes, the best parties tend to be the simplest. What anyone really wants are engaging talks, a drink to enjoy, plus sufficient nibbles that guests don't feel like gnawing their arm on the ride home. Unless you are a fictional millionaire, no one expects professional bartending, fancy food or entertainers.
The most successful gatherings are the most basic. However, a theme is useful to mask the reality you have just thrown the party on while coming after a long day.
Choosing a Style to Guide The Shopping
That said, a theme is helpful to conceal the fact you've just put the party on while returning after work. And by theme, I mean something like the holidays. Going slightly more specific (Swedish-style festivities, for instance, featuring mulled wine, warm beverage, fish snacks and flatbreads, Scandinavian music playlist; or Mexican Christmas, including ponche navideño, chilled brews and margaritas, and heaps of corn chips, salsa & avocado dip, with Luis Miguel on the stereo) helps direct the selection on the upcoming shopping trip.
Practical Shopping for Your Event
While shopping, pick a drink or two (an alcoholic option if you drink, one not for others avoid alcohol) plus a couple of snacks suited to the style, then get as much of them as you can afford, rather than stressing over offering guests endless options. No thing appears more welcoming and celebratory as a bounty – I would consistently prefer to be welcomed with a container stocked with iced containers of affordable sparkling wine than one glass of expensive champagne. (Add some bags of cubes, as well; you'll find never plenty of ice.)
Drinks and Large-Batch Drinks Simplified
If you feel the need to show off and provide a special beverage, then prepare ahead a sizable amount in a container so that you aren't left busying yourself with drinks while you ought to be socializing. Once the party begins, ask a close friend or helper to watch it then top up as necessary till it's gone. Do the same for the alcohol-free option; people enjoy to be given a task at a party allowing them to experience some of festive spirit.
For large-batch drinks, whichever mix you go for (they abound online), steer clear of anything overly sugary – children present ought to have kid-friendly options – and should you own one, place a bottle of bitters nearby (don't add any to the bowl since they're inappropriate for people abstaining from drinks entirely). Put in some work with how it looks so that the soft punch doesn't seem neglected; it only takes a short time to slice several pieces of citrus for garnish.
Snacks That Shine Without Effort
In my view, I recommend passing on the readymade platters with "party foods" that pop up at grocery stores seasonally; they feel overly complicated, and usually require heating things up (should you opt for these, be aware that everyone truly favors toasted bread and/or small hot dogs anyway). It's my firm opinion you can't beat several sizable containers of tasty snacks (salted is universally liked), and, provided there are no allergies, one of those big and excellent value bags of mixed nuts available in the South Asian section at the market, along with a few pitted olives for colour (try not to still be finding stones around the house in the future).
If, like my mum, you don't consider chips substantial fare, one sizeable chunk of tasty cheese on a platter and crispbreads plus elegantly arranged fruit always looks visually appealing. A serving dish with some salted or prepared prosciutto or seafood displayed there (only one type, unless you have a large budget), or an attractive ready-made pastry, like those available on deli counters seasonally, proves more substantial, while you really won't fail by serving rustic pieces of flatbread, because they don't need spreading butter.
