How can we serve something hot and keep it hot, yet it still be pretty?!
Answers: Hey. My family is having a 50th wedding anniversary party for my grandparents next week, and we wanted to be able to serve hot apple cider, but are worried about it getting cold. My mom had the idea of serving it in a crock pot, put the rest of the family was afraid it would be tacky. Keep in mind, this is a hot drink alternative for the punch we will also be serving on the other end of the table, so the arrangements sort of have to complement each other and look balanced. Any ideas on what we can do?
Nothing at all with the crock pot idea. It works well.
Another option is to rent a coffee warmer and pots. The warmer is kind of like a hot plate but with burners specifically designed for coffee pots, the kind that you see in restaurants and in the office.
What the heck does that mean?
well, just an idea
but if you serve it roght away you can put the glasses in the oven to warm them up (warm, not hot so that they burn themselves)
then it might stay warm longer. or you can put it in a thermos thing that people can pour it themselves hot.
theres many ways.
Better tacky than cold. Not that I think its tacky.
You can rent a silver samovar,( a coffee, hot water type urn, with a spout). You can also rent a silver punch bowl, for balance. Happy 50th, to your Grandparents! Good luck with the partry!
Unless this is a black-tie event, a nice crock pot should work just fine. An alternative would be a large thermos, but, that would be more tacky. You can get a six quart, stainless steel crock pot for about $50 if no one has one.
If you are going all out, hire a caterer and let them keep it warm in a sliver server (aka: a samovar) with sterno under it.
Use a large coffee urn!
Run down to WalMart, Target, whatever your local discount department store and visit the small kitchen appliances aisle. There are coffee urns made by Mr. Coffee and others starting at $30. Just fill with your cider and turn on (they plug in). You don't need to install the brew unit portion, but it doesn't matter if you do.
Another option, possibly less expensive, is to buy a stainless finished thermos with a vacuum pump feature on it. Heat the cider in a pot on the stove, then fill the thermos for serving.
BTW - a signature thing we do in my catering business at holiday parties is to have a hot beverage and dessert bar. We will serve urns of coffee, cider, and cocoa with flavored syrups, rimming sugars for the mugs, and a variety of other mix-ins. Offering caramel syrup with hot cider is to DIE for.
Have a great party!
Keep The cider in a thermos... the pump ones work well. In the meantime you can keep it hot in a cooler (yes a summer cooler also keeps hot things hot)... then transfer as needed.
Good Luck
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