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Planning a Party at Home
When
planning a party, decide the best way to set-up and serve
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When
planning a party at home, there are several ways to set-up and
serve your fabulous party food.
Decide what is best for your budget, space, time of day and
number of guests. Check out first
things first to help you decide these things.
Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch
A
breakfast
gathering is
fantastic for a church fundraiser or early business
meeting. A brunch
menu
is the perfect party style for a baby shower, bridal shower, or
birthday party.
With adequate space, host this party right
from your home
kitchen. Make use of your breakfast bars and cooking
islands.
Coffee, espresso, cappuccino and even light wines or spiritzers are
good beverages to offer.
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Light and
delightful. Breakfast foods do not have to be substantial
unless it is a special holiday starter
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Go beyond bacon and eggs.
Add melon and
prosciutto, sautéed mushrooms on toast and fresh
brioche and marmalade
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Potluck Menu
Make requests of your guests at least two weeks ahead of time.
Consider
each person's particular cooking abilities. Potlucks also
decrease your responsibilities as a host and leave you more time to
enjoy the fun
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Brunch menus can be served
from mid-morning to early afternoon and tend to be a little more
filling then breakfast.
Lunch menus can
feature even more substantial edibles. Some people are accustomed
to a hearty lunch in lieu of a light supper or
dinner.
Breakfast, Brunch,
Lunch Favorites
Buffet
Buffet style is
one of the best ways to entertain any size group,
especially
a large crowd.
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Perfect
for
any type of food, any time of day and occasion, casual
or formal
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If
you have the room, use separate tables for separate foods such as a
meat and seafood table or a desserts only table.
Set-up
a Picture Perfect Buffet Table
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Offer one course at a time or
bring dishes out in stages - room temperature foods first, cold foods,
lastly hot
foods
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Place utensils, napkins,
salt, pepper, condiments and beverages
on a separate table or at the end of the buffet table with adequate
space for guests to briefly park
their filled plates.
Buffet Favorites
Sit-Down Service
A dinner party
is a special event; a time to
create closeness and make
new friends
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For easy menu planning and
less effort, dinner parties are more suitable
for no more then 6-8 guests
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A dinner party
menu allows you more creative control
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Create more stunning
presentations and control food
portions
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Pre-planning
and a make ahead menu are critical.
Dinner Time
Cocktail
Party
 Perfect for
limited space and
a
limited budget. On a cocktail party menu,
present
one or two substantial
appetizers
and one or two that are easier and less filling. Avoid food
that is messy, too big or too hot.
Hosting
a Cocktail Party
Guide to Serving Alcohol
Entertaining Outdoors
A wonderful change if the weather is perfect. The atmosphere is casual
and the food is simple and uniquely flavored.
Not all of your guests may enjoy the great outdoors so you might
consider an indoor-outdoor combination such as the
main course prepared outdoors on a grill and brought indoors to enjoy
with the rest of the
outdoor
party menu.
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