What type of food and drink would be good to serve at my big Christmas party?!
I generally cater from a local Italian restaurant for thirty people. It's all buffet. I provide two types of beer (I'm a homebrewer) and some wine. If people ask me what they should bring, I tell them dessert.
Be careful with hard liquor; you don't want people getting trashed in your home....or driving home drunk.
Answers: That would really depend on the type of party and who's invited.
I generally cater from a local Italian restaurant for thirty people. It's all buffet. I provide two types of beer (I'm a homebrewer) and some wine. If people ask me what they should bring, I tell them dessert.
Be careful with hard liquor; you don't want people getting trashed in your home....or driving home drunk.
We're doing turkey, eggplant, and a bunch of salads. We'll probably have two-three varieties of koolaid and pop to drink.
I can recommend the party food from M&S its so easy they have a great range of cold eating and hot eating from simple mini sausages to lavish steak rolls and it can all be frozen, all cooks at the same temp in oven and your guests will love the mini fish and chips or mini melt in the middle puddings, YUM
plus its all on a 4 for 3 this month. Bargain
Ideally you want a mixture of rich and luxurious food & drinks mixed with lighter items. Such as salami, hearty cheeses with with luxurious items such as shrimp and/or oysters. Vegetables, fruits and salads, dips with breads and crackers. Eggnog or mulled cider or hot cocoa can all be "spiked" by the guests or not. A signature cocktail such as a cranberry martini. Little hot appetizers are always welcome such as stuffed mushrooms or crab/ artichoke dip. A ham or smoked turkey served warm or cool could be a centerpiece for a holiday buffet. I usually begin planning a menu with three or four proteins and add seasonal fruits and vegetables. Plus breads and crackers or pasta, rice or potatoes if you are serving a full meal. Then of course sweets.
Well when I think of party, I think of it quite different than a dinner. So I would think at a party you would be serving finger foods with a few salads. I would have potato and macaroni salad. An antipato spread. I would have the following platters: veggie, mini salad sandwiches (tuna, chicken, ham, seafood), and cheese & crackers. I would have hot & cold dips (spinach, shrimp, onion, etc.). I would have a few hot crockpot items such as sweet & sour kielbasa and meatballs, and beans. For dessert I would have fruit salad, a few pies, cakes, and cookies. For refeshments I would have punch, soda, juice, wine, beer, and liqour. Don't forget coffee and tea.
It's got to be shrimp cocktails cos' you can prepare it way early... Vege sticks to compliment. Sparkling grape juice would be nice... Merry Xmas!
