Paul Suesse
One of the best things in life is spending time with friends and family. But wearing the hat of a host can become a drag when entertaining falls in your hands. Fortunately, there are ways to guarantee an easy evening of shared food, drinks and lots of laughter—minus the stress. Here are six quick and easy entertaining tips to bring it all together in a jiffy.
1. Clear the decks
A quick tidy-up is all that’s needed to create some bench space to lay out the perfect cheese platter. Don’t fuss too much; just create a few welcoming surfaces to serve from and work around the rest. Flick on the fairy lights, put flame to a few candles and switch on your favourite playlist to set the mood for fun.
2. Have nibbles at the ready
Always keep a stock of non-perishable nibbles in your pantry for when friends drop in. Putting something in front of them to graze on whilst you talk them into staying is a sure-fire way to keep the good times rolling. Good staples include:
- Nuts – keep sealed in airtight containers
- Olives – jars are great to store for emergencies
- Stuffed vine leaves
- Popcorn for kids (and kids at heart)
- Hummus
3. Keep the cellar stocked
You’re not a bar or restaurant, and you’re not expected to produce a fully stocked bar cart at the drop of a hat. However, it can’t hurt to keep a back-up bottle of wine in your house for an impromptu catch-up.
No need to start a boutique wine cellar (unless that’s already your thing), but having an ‘in case of an entertaining emergency’ bottle of your favourite drop (for us, it’s a bottle of something from Handpicked Wines). And if you’re planning ahead for a casual gathering, grab a few bottles of something (a red, a white, a rose), and ask your pals to BYO additional drinks of their own choosing to share.
4. Bubble up your beverage game
A little bubbly water goes a long way and plenty of ice cubes makes for a dash of decadence. For a simple yet stylish drinks idea, start with your Soda Stream to bubble water and dress it up in tall glasses with a flourish. Add a splash of fruit cordial—think elderflower, blood orange or raspberry—and top with sparkling water over ice. Finish with a slice of fresh citrus or a few berries for a pop of colour.
It’s a no-fuss way to offer something refreshing and pretty, with zero alcohol required—though a dash of gin or vodka wouldn’t go astray if the mood strikes. Always keep citrus on hand in the fruit bowl.
5. Keep it simple
Order in, or cook the first thing that comes to mind. Use a favourite recipe, and you won’t have to concentrate too much. Get crafty with the ingredients you have on hand to create a shared meal. Open a bottle of wine to share as you cook, and pump up the music to enhance the mood.
6. Share the load
It’s all about staying together in the moment, so accept all offers of help and enlist many hands to make light work of entertaining at home – kids, friends and family can all pitch in to enjoy the cooking process.
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