Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Entertaining Guide: Stress-Free Entertaining for Last-Minute Visitors
During this festive season, when there is a lot going on which even lively people might occasionally look forward to the calm break of January, it is all too easy to neglect details. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's once felt jolted awake while at work by an inquiry from a friend asking, "What time do you want over later?" No worries; if you are distracted, or simply inclined toward last-minute plans, I have your back.
The Key to Great Gatherings
Above all, and I can't emphasize it enough, whether you've been planning for a year versus just a quarter-hour, the best parties are the most straightforward. What everyone is hoping for are engaging talks, a drink to enjoy, and sufficient to eat so guests do not end up chewing something during the ride home. Unless you are a fictional millionaire, no one expects a full bar, gourmet catering and entertainers.
The most successful gatherings are the easiest. Still, a theme helps to mask the fact you've just put the event together while coming back from the office.
Choosing a Theme to Direct The Shopping
That said, an overarching idea is helpful for disguising the fact you've just put this thing together while returning after work. And by theme, think of such as a seasonal celebration. Getting a bit focused (Nordic holidays, say, featuring spiced drink, warm beverage, cured seafood and rye crackers, folk tunes playlist; alternatively Latin American celebration, with holiday punch, refreshing lagers or tequila drinks, along with heaps of tortilla chips, salsa & green spread, with Luis Miguel playing) will focus the selection on the inevitable shopping trip.
Practical Shopping to Support Your Party
While shopping, choose a drink or two (an alcoholic option for those who do, a non-alcoholic one in case some don't want to) plus a couple of nibbles suited to the style, then purchase a generous amount as possible, rather than worrying about offering guests too much choice. Nothing appears more welcoming and as festive than a bounty – I'd always prefer to arrive by a container stocked with chilled bottles of reasonably priced sparkling wine than one glass of expensive bubbly. (Add some bags for chilling, as well; you'll find seldom plenty of ice.)
Drinks and Large-Batch Drinks Streamlined
If you feel the need to show off and offer a mixed drink, make sure to pre-mix a large batch in a jug so that you're not left messing about with preparation while you should be socializing. Once underway, enlist a close friend or helper to keep an eye on the drinks then refill when needed until it's gone. Do the same for the non-alcoholic punch; guests love to have a job during gatherings so they may experience the positive vibes.
For large-batch drinks, whichever recipe you pick (there are many via search), steer clear of any recipe too sweet – children present need separate beverages – and should you own one, plonk aromatic bitters within reach (refrain from putting them in the mix since they are inappropriate for people who avoid alcohol altogether). Put in some work with presentation so the non-alcoholic option doesn't feel unimportant; it doesn't take a moment to slice some slices of lemon or orange for garnish.
Snacks That Shine With Minimal Preparation
Personally, I would avoid the store-bought platters of "party foods" that pop up in shops seasonally; they come across as fancy, and frequently involve using the oven (if you choose to opt for these, remember that everyone quietly favors herb bread or mini sausages anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top two large dishes of decent snacks (simple is universally liked), and, assuming no allergies, a package of large and economical bags of nuts typically found in the international aisle in stores, with perhaps some ready-to-eat olives as a garnish (try not to find stones in odd places in the future).
In case, as my mother says, you think snacks substantial fare, one large piece of good cheese on a platter and crispbreads plus artfully draped fruit tends to seem painterly. A serving dish with some cured or cooked prosciutto or seafood arranged on it (a single variety, unless you have a large budget), alternatively a nice pre-made pastry, similar to that pop up in specialty sections seasonally, is more substantial, while you really won't fail with artisanal slices of flatbread, since they don't need additional preparation.
