Felicity Cloake's Quick-Fire Entertaining Guide: Simple Hosting for Last-Minute Guests
In this festive time, when there's plenty going on which even energetic individuals may sometimes anticipate the quiet respite of the new year, it's very easy to forget things. I expect I cannot be the only person who has once been startled awake at work because of a message from someone wondering, "What time should we come over tonight?" Fear not; if you are absent minded, and simply prone to impromptu gatherings, I have you covered.
The Secret to Great Get-Togethers
Firstly, though I cannot stress this enough, whether you've organized for months versus just a quarter-hour, the greatest parties are the easiest. All anyone really wants is engaging talks, a drink to sip, and sufficient nibbles that they don't feel like gnawing something on the bus back. Unless you're a fictional millionaire, no one expects extensive drinks, gourmet food and entertainers.
The greatest parties tend to be the simplest. That said, an idea is useful to mask the fact you have only thrown the party together on the way back from the office.
Choosing a Style to Direct The Party Planning
Still, an overarching idea is helpful to conceal that you have just thrown the party on while returning from the office. By concept, think of for example a seasonal celebration. Getting a bit more detailed (Nordic holidays, say, featuring spiced drink, warm beverage, fish snacks plus flatbreads, Scandinavian music playlist; alternatively Latin American celebration, with holiday punch, chilled brews or margaritas, along with heaps of snacks, tomato dip & green spread, with Luis Miguel in the background) helps direct your choices on the upcoming supermarket sweep.
Strategic Purchasing for The Party
While shopping, choose one or two beverages (an alcoholic option for those who do, a non-alcoholic one for others avoid alcohol) plus some snacks that match the theme, then buy as much of them within your budget, instead of worrying about giving people endless options. No thing looks more welcoming and as festive as abundance – I'd consistently prefer to be welcomed by a tub full of chilled bottles of reasonably priced sparkling wine over a small serving of expensive bubbly. (Include some bags for chilling, as well; you'll find seldom enough ice.)
Cocktails & Large-Batch Drinks Streamlined
If you must show off and serve a special beverage, then prepare ahead a sizable amount in a container so you aren't left busying yourself with drinks while you ought to be enjoying yourself. Once underway, request a significant other or volunteer to watch it and top up when needed until it runs out. Follow suit for the soft drink; guests enjoy to be given a job during gatherings so they can enjoy some of goodwill.
Regarding punch, whatever recipe you go for (they abound via search), skip anything overly sugary – young ones present ought to have kid-friendly options – and if you have one, plonk flavor enhancers nearby (avoid adding any into the punch as they are inappropriate for those who do not consume alcohol altogether). Make an effort with how it looks so that the soft punch doesn't seem neglected; just spend a moment to slice several pieces of lemon or orange to the punch.
Nibbles That Shine Without Effort
In my view, I recommend passing on the pre-made assortments of "party foods" available in supermarkets seasonally; they seem fancy, and frequently require heating things up (if you must go this route, know that everyone truly likes garlic bread and/or cocktail sausages regardless). I truly believe you can't beat several large dishes with decent snacks (simple will offend no one), plus, assuming no allergies, some of those big and excellent value containers of mixed nuts typically found in the international aisle in stores, along with a few ready-to-eat olives as a garnish (you don't want to find pits in odd places months later).
In case, like my mum, you don't consider snacks proper food, a single large piece of quality cheese on a platter and crispbreads and some beautifully placed grapes always looks artistic. A platter featuring preserved or ready-to-eat salami or salmon arranged on it (a single variety, except if you have a large budget), alternatively a nice store-bought pie, of the type available on deli counters during festivities, proves more substantial, while you really can't go wrong by serving homestyle chunks of Italian bread, because they require no spreading butter.
