Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Entertaining Guide: Simple Entertaining for Last-Minute Company
In this busy season, while there is a lot going on that even lively individuals might occasionally look forward to a quiet break in the new year, it's very simple to forget things. I'm sure I'm not the sole one who has ever been surprised back to reality at my desk because of a message by a friend wondering, "What time do you want over later?" Don't worry; whether you're distracted, and just likely to make impromptu plans, I've got some solutions.
The Key to Memorable Gatherings
First and foremost, though I can't stress it enough, whether you've been planning for a year or only 15 minutes, the greatest events tend to be the most straightforward. What anyone is hoping for are pleasant conversation, a drink to sip, plus sufficient nibbles so they do not feel like gnawing their arm on the bus back. If you're not you're a fictional millionaire, no one expects a full bar, gourmet catering or a live band.
The greatest gatherings are the easiest. However, a concept helps to disguise the fact you have just thrown the party together on the way back from the office.
Selecting a Concept to Focus The Party Planning
Still, an overarching idea can be useful for disguising that you've only thrown this thing on on the way from the office. And by theme, think of for example a seasonal celebration. Getting a bit more specific (Nordic holidays, for instance, featuring mulled wine, spiced punch, fish snacks plus flatbreads, Scandinavian music selection; alternatively Latin American celebration, with traditional drink, cold beers and margaritas, and lots of tortilla chips, tomato dip & avocado dip, and Luis Miguel on the stereo) will focus your options on the upcoming shopping trip.
Practical Buying to Support Your Gathering
While shopping, pick a couple of drinks (one alcoholic for those who do, one not for some prefer not to) plus a couple of nibbles that fit your concept, and purchase a generous amount as you can afford, rather than worrying about giving people endless options. No thing looks as generous and celebratory as abundance – I would consistently rather to be welcomed by a tub filled with cold bottles with competitively priced crémant or cava than a small serving with swanky bubbly. (Include several packs of ice, too; you'll find seldom plenty of ice.)
Drinks & Party Beverages Made Easy
If you must show off and provide a special beverage, make sure to prepare ahead a sizable amount in a jug so that you're not stuck faffing around with it while it's time to having fun. Once underway, ask a partner or helper to watch the drinks and replenish when needed until it's finished. Do the same with the non-alcoholic punch; people enjoy to take on a role while socializing so they may enjoy some of festive spirit.
On the punch front, whichever mix you choose (there are many via search), steer clear of anything too sweet – any kids present should have their own drinks – and should you own one, place aromatic bitters close by (refrain from putting any into the punch since they are inappropriate for individuals abstaining from alcohol altogether). Take care with how it looks so that the alcohol-free drink isn't perceived neglected; just spend a moment to add several pieces of citrus for garnish.
Snacks That Shine With Minimal Fuss
In my view, I recommend passing on the readymade trays with "party foods" available in shops during the holidays; they seem overly complicated, and frequently involve turning the oven on (should you opt for these, remember that all guests secretly prefers toasted bread or mini sausages anyway). It's my firm opinion nothing beats two large bowls of decent snacks (plain salted is universally liked), and, assuming no dietary restrictions, one of those big and excellent value packets with nuts available in the international aisle in stores, with perhaps a few pitted olives as a garnish (you don't want to still be finding pits around the house next Easter).
In case, similar to some, you don't consider snacks proper food, a single sizeable chunk of quality cheese served simply with crackers plus beautifully placed fruit often appears visually appealing. A platter featuring salted or prepared meats or fish arranged on it (only one type, except if money is no object), alternatively a handsome ready-made pastry, of the type that appear on deli counters seasonally, is even more filling, and you truly won't fail with artisanal slices of Italian bread, since they don't need buttering.
