"Cocktail Parties" news and stories

New Year's Eve is the perfect night for a long cocktail party. While they still take some planning, the combination of good drinks and small, munchable foods (as opposed to a sit-down dinner) is perfect for entertaining. Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! Easy Hors D'oeuvres, Delicious Drinks, and Inspired Ideas for Entertaining with Style is a fun, relatively short book that will help you put parties together in no time. It has plans for 12 "gently themed" parties (so no pressure to theme your own) along with decorating tips, menus and signature cocktails. The recipes are for finger food-types of dishes that can usually be made ahead. Depending on how fancy you want to go with food and drinks, the recipes might not be the book for you if you tend to opt for really cutting edge bites, but they are far from boring. They include Asparagus Parmesan Bites, Curry Coconut Scallops and Wild Mushroom Tartlets. And whether you use the 60 or so recipes or not, the menus and tips are still helpful, especially if you need a hand getting things off the ground.

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Hey, we don't doubt that you are the consummate host or hostess at your party - greeting guests at the door with a cocktail, cooking, serving, clearing plates, chatting, and all done with utter grace. However, there might be times when you want to kick back for one second (just one, mind you), and let someone else do the work. Or some thing, that is.

These Rolling Serving Dishes from Fines' Makers (out of Israel) might help for that one second you have to retreat to the powder room. Sure, they don't serve themselves, but they sure will keep your guests entertained as they "take on and pass ti on." Besides, they're so adorably sleek and chic.