The idea of serving a group of coworkers, friends, or family can be daunting and exhausting in an attempt to make everything just right. These ideas are specifically for having a wonderful and easy gathering of people around you, with good food and drink that you have prepared.
The ideal, and inexpensive party, starts with making a list of purchases that are heavy on vegetables, some fruit, some cheese, some bread or crackers, and limited meat. I try to not exceed $10-15 per person, excluding the cost of drinks.
You will need one day for deciding on what you want to serve and cleaning your space, then another day to “hunt and gather” the food items and prep them. Then finally the third day is when the party happens and you will spend a few hours putting everything together. But before you know it, you will be done and ready for the party to being.
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Bagel Entertaining:
An easy gathering of people around a bagel bar with options for people to eat from, regardless of diet. Just make sure there is some bread that is gluten free available and food will be there for everyone.
Drinks: Spa Water Drinks and Sangria for those that drink
Centerpiece: The herbs used on the sandwiches (chives, mint, basil, dill)
Table Cloth: Use a festive single basic colors (red, yellow, blue, green, orange)
Serving Dishes: Use baskets for the bread (label the gluten free) and white dishes for their clean look.
French Entertaining:
Wikipedia: Crudités are traditional French appetizers consisting of sliced or whole raw vegetables typically dipped in a vinaigrette or other dipping sauce. The French word means “raw things.” Here you are playing with color, shapes, and flavors.
Drinks: White wine or sparkling wine + Spa waters
Centerpiece: a vase of colorful orange and yellow flowers using herbs as greenery (like oregano or verbena) to add a floral and earthy aroma
Table Cloth: Use a nice floral and colorful one appropriate to the season
Serving Dishes: Bring out your fancy serving dishes, the more delicate or crystals ones. Provide small plates and salad forks along with cloth napkins.
German Oktoberfest Entertaining:
The original Munich Oktoberfest dates to Oct. 12, 1810, when a party was thrown to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Nowadays, Oktoberfest is a party celebrating the Bavarian way of life and life in general – meant to be singing, dancing, drinking and eating with family and friends.
Drinks: Lots of beer (include alcohol free beer) and some German white wine
Centerpiece: A large beer stein or two with feathers
Table Cloth: Light blue and white checkered tablecloth
Serving Dishes: Bring out your ordinary dishes with lots of napkins
Music: Very important to be playing traditional oompah Oktoberfest music
Games: If inclined games are always at the fest
Greek Meza Party:
The Greeks focus on fresh flavor and textures, and have historically always served classic foods that rely on fresh ingredients: bread, meat, herbs, and of course olive oil. Meza are small plates, so there are lots of bowls and platters of food to choose from.
Drinks: Water, Spa water, wine or Ouzo (an anise-flavored Greek aperitif)
Centerpiece: Smaller vases of flowers and greens
Table Cloth: White tablecloth with blue napkins
Serving Dishes: Bring out your blue and white dishes
Taco Bar Party:
Easy party to give, just provide corn and flout tortillas and all the taco fixings. This is a help-yourself comfort meal of lots of goodies sure to please.
Drinks: Spa Water, Sangria, or Margaritas
Centerpiece: I would place a Piñata or vases with cilantro
Table Cloth: red, green, white, yellow, orange are the color theme
Serving Dishes: I would use my fiesta-ware dishes of bright colors
Unusual Foody Party:
This is a party where the whole point is to show off your unusual foody techniques and ideas. You want folks walking away impressed with good food and its presentation. Or invite people to bring a dish where food is both the serving dish and the food, like a salad served in crispy tortillas. Take a look at some of the ideas I found and see what you think.
Drinks: I would like white and red Sangria at this party
Centerpiece: Flowers for the season
Table Cloth: Green, browns autumn colors
Serving Dishes: Plain white