Cocktail parties arrived on the scene in the 1950’s. Hollywood glamorized the cocktail party as celebrities stood around in glitzy rooms with the sounds of laughter, music and ice cubes clinking in glasses.
One reason that cocktail parties are a great way to entertain is that they accommodate all kinds of guests, ranging from neighbors to business associates. Mixing guests at a cocktail party is easy. The traditional time frame for a cocktail party is two to three hours in length, held between 6 P.M. and 10 P.M.
Perhaps the best thing about a cocktail party is the freedom to experiment with a wide variety of food on the menu. A cocktail party is not a dinner party, so the menu can be elegant, delicious and even playful. When bite-sized appetizers and hors d'oeuvres are served, you can try our a wide variety of flavors, or you may want to have a “theme” menu: Moroccan, Thai, Indian or tropical. We have even catered a James Bond-themed menu where we served the guests from our lighted lucite bar and well-appointed martini bar. We also had a cigar rolling service set up in one corner in a cabana lounge and served food from the era – like Monte Cristo sandwiches, tomato in brioche and stuffed olives. The men wore tuxedos and the women were all Bond girls.
Most catering services offer complete cocktail party menus with a wide range of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres to choose from. Hiring a caterer to cater your cocktail party will allow you the freedom to mingle with your guests and relax. The going rate for catering a cocktail party is about $20.00 per person and up. Talk things over with your caterer in regards to food selection and the quantity of food offered to your guests.
Consider these bits and pieces while planning for your cocktail party:
• Stock up on plenty of ice as you'll need it for chilling bottles of wine or champagne, as well as serving in drinks on the rocks. A good rule of thumb is planning to have 1-pound of ice per guest.
• Be prepared with an assortment of glass styles to cover the types of drinks you plan to serve. These include wine glasses for wines, juice and water, straight-sided highballs for tall drinks, tumblers for spirits and juices, and martini glasses.
• Have twice as many glasses on hand as guests
• For a 2-hour party where you only plan on serving wine and/or champagne, you'll need to have one bottle for every two guests. Have a mix of white and red varieties.
• For a basic bar you'll want to stock up on vodka, whiskey, wines and beer. For a more complete bar you can add gin, tequila, rum, bourbon, vermouth, sherry and brandy.
• Don't forget to stock up on mixers, including orange juice, soda, tonic, ginger ale, cola, diet cola, caffeine-free diet cola, cranberry juice, lemons, limes and olives. If you are serving bloody marys, make sure to have tomato juice, celery, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and salt and pepper. Remember to have plenty of bottled spring water on hand, as well.
• If you anticipate your guests will be wine drinkers, you can prepare by uncorking a few bottles in advance and then replacing the corks.
• Have coffee available for any guests that may need a little assistance at the end of the party. Your local taxi company phone number should also be handy and offered to any guests you believe shouldn't be driving.
Generally the catering service will be able to provide you with a professional bartender ($25.00 –$40.00 per hour) to mix the drinks for your party. Hiring a caterer will allow you much more time to socialize with your guests. There are even caterers that specialize in bartending services only. If you hire a caterer to handle the drinks at your party, the caterer will be responsible for the alcohol, glasses, ice, etc.
A cocktail party suggests a grown-up party. Find a babysitter for babies and pets, dust off your high heels turn the volume up on the stereo and have fun!
Visit us at L’Hermitage Catering and Gourmet Emporium. We are located in Fort Lauderdale on the SW corner of Federal Highway and Oakland Park Blvd. (diagonal from Target)
L'Hermitage Catering & Gourmet Emporium
3045 North Federal Highway Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33306
(954) 568-2383
L'Hermitage Catering & Gourmet Emporium
3045 North Federal Highway Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33306
(954) 568-2383
