Archive for Archive for February, 2008
Hors D’Oeuvres
Pronounced as ‘Or-derv’, these delicious morsels are the most commonly served appetizers in parties. In fact, the French term itself means “a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal”.
There’s no set recipe for the best hors d’oeuvres, but the best tips for making interesting and party-worthy ones include a unique presentation. A nice tray, cheese in wedges, well trimmed bread and crunchy toast… all these will make your appetizer dish hard to resist.
Soft cheeses are usually served in a separate plate while the chips, toasted bread or crackers stay on the tray. However, for ease of eating by guests, I suggest spreading the cheese or the liver pate on these before serving. After all, party people are mostly just standing in groups talking and probably won’t spend time hanging out on the buffet tables.
The appetizers that don’t require much effort to make are sure hits in parties. Ask the caterer to make the viands or main dishes, while you yourself can create the canapes and finger food. A real cost saver.
My example is Sauteed Mushroom on Toast. This can serve as appetizer in house parties where anyone can just go to the table and grab a bite.
Here’s what you need for a party of 4:
Toasted Bread - 8 pieces
One can of sliced Button Mushrooms - drained
Garlic - 4 cloves, crushed
Onion - one bulb, sliced
Red Bell Pepper - sliced (julienne) for garnish
Soy Sauce or Worcestershire Sauce - 2 table spoons
Hot Sauce - for spicy variation
Salt and pepper
Sautee the garlic until browned, followed by the onions. Add the button mushrooms and keep sauteeing at high heat, gradually adding the soy sauce/Worcestershire sauce, the hot sauce and the salt and pepper. Add the bell pepper strips before turning off the fire. Pour the mushrooms over the toasted bread.
For genuine Restaurant Recipes and recipe secrets, Click Here.
Seating Dilemma: Reviewing the Guest List
Sorting the List
Many hours are spent pouring over lists and lists of guests in parties, particularly weddings… and for good reason. Most tables used in parties are 10-seaters, and it’s up to the planner (you) to decide who sits with who.
Again, research. Asking if it’s a good idea to have a particular group together is safe enough if done tactfully. The rule of thumb would be to sit the relatives of the bride or the groom together. Vacant seats in tables are usual, when seating arrangements are done by family. These can be reserved for solo guests or couples who won’t mind being excluded from the general table conversation.
Sacrificing a few seats will be worth it if it means not sitting individuals or groups who might have misgivings with each other together. In this context, the bride’s mother or an older relative may prove invaluable in sorting out the guest list and deciding where to seat particularly controversial people.
Mingle Opportunities
The process should be fun, as it encourages one to imagine possible conversation topics and table scenarios. A party coordinator can even base the seating arrangement according to interests. An example would be the bride’s or the groom’s employees or bosses. They can be seated together and have business discussions that everyone else on the table can relate with.
The idea behind this is so that people who might have something in common can mingle and formally meet each other. After all, if they were invited to the wedding, there’s a good chance that they will also be invited to other affairs or parties of the newlyweds in the future.
No wedding reception is complete without wedding favors. Find Unique Wedding Favors at Wedding Things
The Ideal Bachelorette Party
Research Research!
A successful bachelorette party depends on how well the activities reflect the bachelorette-hood of the bride-to-be. Not all girls lived their single lives going out and attending parties; and certainly not everyone had more than one boyrfiend.
A party coordinator must research her love life during her single days and determine the best way to make her remember all the happy experiences. Talk to her friends, and plot to bring surprise guests, people who the bride-to-be hasn’t seen in a long time, to the party.
These guests will do a speech or bring a special gift. Some suggestions:
1. A Former Boyfriend - Someone who has moved on, and is happy now (with a wife or a girlfriend of his own or kids!). This guy must have had many fond memories of the bride-to-be.
2. A close female relative - Someone who was the bride-to-be’s confidante during her childhood, besides her mother.
3. A childhood friend who she drifted apart from - Childhood is the best reminisce memory for someone who will undergo a major change in her life. A childhood friend will remind her of that time when she barely knew the word marriage existed.
4. Her bestfriend - Though this person is expected to do a speech and has probably been the source of useful information about the bride-to-be, having her take the mic is always a good idea because she can talk about the bride-to-be like no one else can.
Does all of these seem familiar? Yes, it is like the eighteenth birthday of the bride-to-be! A debutante’s party and a bachelorette party are not as dissimilar as one would think. They both have the same purpose: to sum up the experiences of someone who embarking on a life journey; in this case, marriage.
Sex talk and tips, and naughty games will always be good additions to a bachelorette party. The main focus should be on making the bride-to-be look back on her life, and look forward to her new life as a married woman.
Click here for Free Bridal Shower Invitations. And, here for more information on Bridal Shower Planning.
Enjoy your Shower!
The Luau Party
Hawaiian Fun!
A luau party is centered around the culture of Hawaii, home of pineapple-filled dishes and grass skirts. This is a popular party theme because of the multitude of activities that can be put out, and the lively atmosphere that goes with these activities.
A barbecue is a common component in a luau. However, this can be skipped in favor of catered barbecue dishes that come in wooden containers or banana leaves. Flowers must be abundant, and available for weaving as hair ornaments or necklaces (leis).
In fact this could be a nice welcome activity for guests: Weave-your-own-Flower-Garland.
Drinks must be festive. Non-alcoholic ones should be more abundant than alcoholic ones, because any non-alcoholic fruit punch may be modified to a cocktail drink just by adding liquor, for those who want it.
Some popular Drinks in a Luau
(For more restaurant-style recipes, Click Here)
Mai Tai
- 1 oz. Dark Rum
- 1 oz Light Rum
- 1 oz Orange Curacao
- 2 oz Orange Juice
- 1/2 oz Lime Juice
- a few drops of Orgeat (almonds and sugar syrup) - can be substituted by normal sugar syrup (or you can try home-made caramel too)
Pina Colada
- 4 oz. pineapple juice
- 3 oz. rum
- 2 oz. coconut milk
- ice
Enjoy your Luau!
