How to Prepare Food for a Stock the Bar Party

Stock the bar parties are great fun for couples who enjoy entertaining. A stock the bar party can serve as a theme at a wedding shower, a house-warming party or a retirement party. If you are thinking about hosting a stock the bar party, planning a complementary menu will ensure that your event is a smash.

Things You'll Need

• Fondue
• Non-alcoholic beverages

Instructions

1. Inspire nostalgia with a selection of fondues. This retro dish from the 70's provides recipes that can be tailored to the kind of drinks you are serving. To complement wine, serve cheese fondue with bread chunks and raw vegetables. To complement liquor, allow guests to simmer meat or poultry chunks in broth.

2. Rent a chocolate fountain. This concept is similar to fondue, but the cascading chocolate makes a dramatic presentation for a party. The fountain can also be filled with barbeque sauce for dipping meats.

3. Look at recipes to discover complementary food pairings. If a food tastes good in a dish, it will probably taste good served alongside the dish. For example, tequila is a common ingredient in Mexican dishes, so Mexican appetizers will complement drinks made with tequila.

4. Prepare enough food for your stock the bar party. A general rule of thumb dictates that one pound of food be served for each guest. If the party will occur during the lunch or dinner hour, plan for 1 1/2 lbs. food for each guest.

5. Take advantage of your freezer. Many finger foods can be prepared a week ahead of time and frozen. Exceptions to this are dips and fondue, which must be prepared the day of the party.

6. Host your stock the bar party responsibly. Offer non-alcoholic punch and soda to guests. Check to see that there is a designated driver for each group attending the party. Post the phone number to your closest taxi service by the front door.