Tips for a perfect New Year’s cocktail party
Practise safe partying while ringing in 2015
The biggest party night of the year is less than a week away. If you’re planning to play host or hostess, you’ll want to keep stress low by starting your party prep right away. Failure won’t be an option if you plan ahead. So, how do you plan the perfect cocktail holiday party and be known among friends and colleagues as the host or hostess with the mostest? Here are nine tips to help you out. 1. Manage your guest list: Make sure you don’t go overboard when deciding who to invite. Keep numbers manageable — between 15 and 20 people (depending on the size of your space, of course). Anything higher than this and you might consider hiring a caterer so you can actually enjoy your own party. 2. Send out your invitations: Sending email party invites used to be considered bad form. Not so anymore. Times have changed and using social media channels, such as Facebook, has become a popular practice for getting the word out. 3. Plan your menu: According to chef Michael Blackie of Next restaurant and catering in Ottawa, you should plan for a maximum of 20 pieces per person. Chef Blackie also suggests making three “touch dishes” — appetizers that only require you to use three ingredients. Canapés should be mouth-sized. 4. Deck the halls: Decorating your space is something you can do well ahead of time. Decide on your theme and colours and go from there. Decorating magazines or websites have plenty of great ideas for making your home festive for the holidays. 5. Prepare as many dishes as ahead of time: No one wants to be up to their elbows in pâté and meatballs when guests are arriving. 6. Consider hiring a professional cleaner: Avoid the mad scramble to make your house immaculate before your party. If you don’t usually have help cleaning your house, treat yourself this one time; it will be well worth the money and you’ll love the way your house looks and feels. 7. Hire a teenager to help you serve and clean up: Why spend your precious time serving and clearing dishes when you can hire a friend’s son or daughter to help? You’ll appreciate the extra set of hands and your helper will welcome the extra cash during the holidays. 8. Practise responsible partying: ’Tis the season to raise a glass and toast to the holidays. Make sure you have non-alcoholic choices such as soft drinks, juice, water and coffee for your guests. Ensure there are designated drivers so partiers arrive home safe and sound. 9. Enjoy your own party: The more prepared and less stressed you are, the more you will be able to mingle with your guests.
If you’re MIA (stuck in the kitchen) all evening, you really can’t be considered the hostess with the mostest — can you?