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| Party Cat Willow after a long night. |
A confession: I have about 12 posts partially written, but K is off of school and camp this month and I am job searching and well, avoiding reality by planning a cocktail party. Which is exactly the sort of thing I tend to be slightly ocd about. So, I'd love some thoughts on things like :
• Your favorite cocktail party recipes, make-ahead if possible.
• Little plates or just fingers and napkins?
• Is a cocktail party dinner (for me, usually) or not?
• How many kinds of pickles are too many?
• Many bottles of one kind of wine or a mixed case or so?
• Cheese: Crackers or bread?
• Is there ever too much pate?
• Am I the only one who truly loves deviled eggs?
• Pimento cheese: Is celery really the best option?
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| K's favorite parties involve cookie decorating |
This eggplant dish is make-aheadable and quite tasty on pieces of bread. You can never have too much cheese (or too much pate) at a party.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pithyandcleaver.com/?p=697
With bubbly: potato chips, smoked salmon, lemon creme fraiche. Shallots optional if shallots aren't your thing.
http://palatepress.com/2010/09/wine/late-summer-feast-in-praise-of-lower-alcohol-wines/
• Your favorite cocktail party recipes, make-ahead if possible.
ReplyDeleteThis could a long one. To keep it short, see the book "Cocktail Food" by Barber and Whiteford.
• Little plates or just fingers and napkins?
Both. You'll need little plates for the buffet or food station, with a fan of cocktail napkins nearby (an excuse to buy some in pretty ones!). This lets people choose a little selection without hovering around and crowding the table. When you pass around a tray of delicacies, you'll need to offer the tray with one hand, and napkins with the other.
• Is a cocktail party dinner (for me, usually) or not?
Snacks only. Not dinner. Many will use it as dinner, but that's not your problem. You do not need to offer a balanced meal. One meal of crispy fried things and pâtes will with strong alcoholic beverages will not kill your friends. They'll deal.
• How many kinds of pickles are too many?
Five. But not three.
• Many bottles of one kind of wine or a mixed case or so?
I'm a mixed case girl. If you know one wine will be really popular, you can get two bottles. But at a cocktail party much of the fun lies in discovery -- "Did you try that amazing Chinon?! You want people to experiment.
• Cheese: Crackers or bread?
Bread, definitely. Crackers are usually too salty and fatty; they weigh you down and coat your palate. Get some lovely baguette and slice it thinly. Make crostini if you have the time. Way better.
• Is there ever too much pate?
Is this a trick question?
• Am I the only one who truly loves deviled eggs?
No, a fact which I find unfathomable.
• Pimento cheese: Is celery really the best option?
Your best option is no pimento cheese. And nobody loves celery except with Bloody Marys.
Thanks Maggie and Meg
ReplyDeletePlanning continues. I did go for the mixed case of wine, so we'll see what people like. Today was baking day with double choc cookies, saffron snickerdoodles and two types of cheese crackers!
I'll let you know how it goes.