Felicity Cloake's Quick-Fire Party Plan: Effortless Hosting for Last-Minute Guests
Throughout the holiday period, while there's plenty happening which even vivacious individuals might sometimes anticipate the calm respite in January, it's all too simple to overlook details. I'm sure I cannot be the only one who's ever been startled back to reality at work by a text from a friend wondering, "What time are we expected us tonight?" No worries; if you're distracted, or simply inclined toward spontaneous gatherings, I've got you covered.
The Key to Great Parties
Above all, and I cannot emphasize it sufficiently, if you have organized long in advance or just a short while, the best events tend to be the easiest. What anyone is hoping for is a good chat, a drink to enjoy, and enough nibbles that they don't feel like gnawing their arm during the bus home. Unless you are a fictional millionaire, no one anticipates professional bartending, gourmet catering or musical performances.
The most successful parties tend to be the most basic. Still, an idea is useful to cover up the fact you have only put the party together on the way home from work.
Selecting a Theme to Direct The Party Planning
That said, an overarching idea can be useful to conceal the fact you have just put the party together on the way from the office. By concept, think of such as the holidays. Going slightly more specific (Swedish-style festivities, for instance, with mulled wine, aromatic cocktail, smoked fish plus crispbreads, Nordic beats playlist; or Mexican Christmas, with traditional drink, chilled brews or cocktails, along with lots of tortilla chips, salsa and green spread, and Luis Miguel playing) helps direct your choices during the upcoming supermarket sweep.
Practical Purchasing to Support Your Event
While shopping, pick one or two beverages (an alcoholic option for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one in case others avoid alcohol) plus a few appetizers suited to the style, and purchase as much of them as possible, rather than fretting about giving people too much choice. No thing appears as generous and celebratory than abundance – I would always prefer to arrive by a container full of iced containers of affordable crémant or cava than a single glass of swanky bubbly. (Add several packs of ice, as well; there is seldom plenty of ice.)
Beverages & Party Beverages Simplified
If you feel the need to impress and provide a mixed drink, then mix in advance a sizable amount in a pitcher so you aren't left messing about with preparation when you should be socializing. Once the party begins, ask a significant other or friend to watch the drinks then top up when needed till it runs out. Follow suit with the soft drink; guests love to take on a job at a party allowing them to enjoy a share of festive spirit.
On the punch front, whatever formula you choose (there are many via search), skip any recipe overly sugary – children there should have their own drinks – and if it's available, put flavor enhancers close by (don't add them into the punch since they're inappropriate for individuals who avoid drinks altogether). Take care in presenting it so that the alcohol-free drink doesn't seem like an afterthought; it doesn't take a short time to slice a few rounds of citrus to the punch.
Nibbles That Work Without Fuss
In my view, I'd skip the readymade platters of "party foods" that appear in shops at this time of year; they feel fussy, and frequently involve turning the oven on (if you must opt for these, remember that everyone truly favors garlic bread or mini sausages anyway). It's my firm opinion it's hard to top two really big bowls with good-quality snacks (plain salted is universally liked), and, assuming no issues, a package of big and excellent value packets with nuts often sold in the international aisle of supermarkets, and maybe a few pitted olives for colour (it's best to avoid to find pits in odd places in the future).
In case, as my mother says, you think snacks proper food, a single sizeable chunk of good cheese on a platter and crispbreads plus elegantly arranged fruit often appears painterly. A platter featuring preserved or ready-to-eat salami or salmon arranged there (just one sort, except if money is no object), or a nice store-bought pastry, of the type that pop up in specialty sections seasonally, proves more satisfying, while you really can't go wrong by serving artisanal pieces of focaccia, because they don't need additional preparation.
