What kind of hors d’oeuvres should you serve?
Keep the hors d’oeuvres easy for guests who will be milling about with a cocktail in one hand. One or two bite appetizers that do not require a plate work best. Choose hors d’oeuvres that have minimal drippy sauces. Make sure to have a nice variety: two seafood, two vegetarian, and two meat as well as both hot and cold styles to keep it interesting. Here is a sample menu for a Holiday Cocktail Party:
- Fall Phyllo Cup, Piped Blue and Goat Cheese with Herbs, Topped with a Fig Compote
- Mini Hot Dogs in a Blanket, Chefs Dipping Sauce
- Lump Crab and Artichoke Bisque Soup Sippers
- Sirloin Steak Sates, Horseradish Cream
- Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers Tai Pan
- Lobster Salad Gaufrettes
- Hot Bruschetta
Connecticut Caterers provides servers and bartenders for your party
How long and what time should the cocktail party be?
5-7 pm is the perfect cocktail party time. Scheduling the time any later gets close to dinner hour and guests will be expecting dinner. You could also list a three hour time period on your invitations (4:30-7:30) knowing that many people will drop in and out. A longer cocktail party works if you add more stationary foods. You can stagger the foods throughout the evening for example:
Your guests are greeted with a glass of sparkling Cava topped with a Canape on the glass (traditional Tapas style). Stationary hors d’oeuvres tables are set up at this time with crudites and a tower of assorted tea sandwiches. A variety of hors d’oeuvres are passed. Half way into the party more substantial foods are added to the buffet such as a shaffing dish with mini picked meatballs in a Gorgonzola cream sauce, a cold Chicken Tai Pan salad over angel hair pasta, and a tray of mini crab cakes. Later in the evening coffee service is set up with a display of mini treats such as creme de menthe squares and chocolate covered strawberries. In this example there is enough food to have the party last 4 hours. Really it is dinner just finger food style combined with a bit of buffet.
How many hors d’oeuvres per person? (a question that is so commonly asked)
If you are doing a cocktail hour that will be followed by a sit down dinner 2-3 styles of hors d’oeuvres with 4-6 pieces per person is a good estimate. If you are inviting guests to a cocktail party (2-3 hours usually) 6 choices and 3 pieces per hour is the calculation most caterers use. So for twenty people a good suggestion would be to order 2-3 dozen of each style of hors d’oeuvre. People will usually consume much more than 3 pieces in the first hour and slow down as the night goes on but the calculation will average out. If you are hosting a longer cocktail party consider adding 1-3 stationary hors d’oeuvres. An artisan cheese table or a Mediterranean table with hummus, pitas, and other dips and spreads will compliment the passed hors d’oeuvres nicely. It is a good idea to have plates on hand for the stationary tables.
How many drinks per person?
For a 3-4 hour cocktail party depending on your guests drinking habits 3-4 drinks per person is a good guideline. Many cocktail parties start with a signature drink followed by wine and beer. Here are some great festive holiday cocktails Connecticut Caterers offers:
Pomegranate Martini
Pumpkin Tini
Perfect Pair Martini
Cucumber Cosmo
Our cocktails usually involve chef made purees mixed with your favorite brands of alcohol with fresh decorative garnishes such as cranberries, skewered blueberries, star fruit, or cinnamon sugar rims. The possibilities are endless. Ask us to design a cocktail just for you!
Have extra red wine on hand for your winter cocktail party. Each wine bottle serves 4-5 glasses. For red wine most people drink Cabernet Sauvignon and favorite whites include: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc. Besides Cab, Malbec is the hottest red wine currently and Pinot Noir is a must have. For Pinot Noir both the California and New Zealand styles are popular and Argentina is one of the best producers of Malbec.
Don’t forget dessert! Mini Chocolate Mousse Cups are the perfect elegant touch…
Contact a Connecticut Caterers Party Planner to assist you with planning your holiday cocktail party today at 860.567.4900
SWG Party Planner, Brett Clugston
Saltwater Grille Blog 