What Foods to Serve at a Cocktail Party

Cocktail party food should be easy to eat while socializing.

A cocktail party is the classic casual get-together. There is no need to prepare a full dinner; simply fix up a few hors d'oeuvres, stock up on drinks and invite your friends over. The best kinds of cocktail party foods are those that can be prepared ahead of time and eaten in small bites while leaving the host or hostess plenty of time to talk, drink and socialize.

Seasonal Foods

Serving seasonal foods at your cocktail party will assure that you can find the ingredients that you need at reasonable prices. Hors d'oeuvres based around local ingredients and produce that is in season will taste better than those that include out of season ingredients. Try serving a corn and tomato relish on crackers, asparagus wraps or salsas and salads that take advantage of in-season produce. You can even serve hot or cold soups in shot glasses to use fresh ingredients.

Unique Foods

A cocktail party is the perfect time to experiment with some unusual foods. Because there are multiple food choices and servings are small, you can try a new dish without ruining the entire evening for your guests if something does not turn out well. When you are experimenting, your only limit is your imagination. Try smoked salmon or vegetable chips with dip, ceviche, or individually-sized kabobs with sauce. These foods will allow you to wow your guests without risking too much.

Classics

While you are experimenting with unique and seasonal foods, don't forget to include a few classics at your cocktail party. Serving a few classic dishes will help to assure that all of your guests can find something that they enjoy. Try shrimp cocktail, a cheese ball with crackers, a tray of cheese and olives or a crudités platter. In addition to being almost universally liked, these dishes are easy to prepare before the party and set out leaving you with time to fix the more complex dishes.

Vegetarian

Remember that at any party at least a few people are likely to be vegetarians. This means you need to be sure to have a few meat-free options. Serving a cheese or olive platter is helpful, but make sure some of your main hors d'oeuvres are also vegetarian-friendly. Vegetarian options could include a mango salsa with crackers, bruschetta topped with tomatoes and basil or vegetable fries with dipping sauces. Vegetarian options will not only keep your meat-free friends happy, they will provide some variety for all of your guests.

References

• Epicurious: How to Throw a Cocktail Party; Linnea Johansson

Resources

• Epicurious: French Fries With Three Dips; Linnea Johansson
• Epicurious: Lamb Skewers With Hot Mint and Pistachio Sauce; Linnea Johansson
• Epicurious: Cocktail Party Buyer's Guide; Linnea Johansson