Choosing chocolate or cocoa powder

Complementary flavors for chocolate

Chocolate and protein pairings

Whether you’re serving butler or buffet style, much of your food will be presented on trays.

• Clean trays are a must—if they get dirty during the party, use soda water to quickly wipe them clean.

• When serving skewered food, place half a citrus fruit, cut side down, on the tray so guests can stick used skewers into it.

• If you are passing hors d’oeuvres with a dipping sauce, place a thin citrus slice under the sauce cup to prevent it from sliding around on the tray.

• Use natural, nontoxic materials such as flowers, herbs, banana leaves, or bamboo stalks to dress up plain trays—look to your menu or theme to determine what to use.

• Sturdy photo frames can be repurposed as serving trays: Place fabric or decorative paper inside the frame where the photograph would go.

• Mirrors can also be used for serving hors d’oeuvres. If you’re using butler service, select a lightweight mirror that can be carried easily.

• Fill a straight-edged plate or tray with rock salt, sesame seeds, or dried beans and use as a bed for hors d’oeuvres.

If your space is tight, use a round central table as the one and only food station. For larger rooms where guests have plenty of space, it’s better to spread the food out on smaller tables. Try to place food stations within easy access of the kitchen so you don’t have to balance trays while walking through the crowd.
Cocktail Party Food Serving Trays

Serving tips:

Keep Hot Food Hot. Serve hot food on smaller trays that can be frequently replenished so the hors d’oeuvres don’t have time to get cold.

Set Up Snacks Early. Before the party starts, set out some easy snacks such as nuts and olives so guests—including any early birds—can help themselves. If possible, also put out any room-temperature hors d’oeuvres. This will give you time to greet your guests at the door without worrying about feeding them.

Use Butler Service for Pricier Hors d’Oeuvres. Food set out buffet-style will be consumed in greater quantities than the passed items, so if your budget is tight, place the less-expensive items on the buffet and serve the pricier ones as passed hors d’oeuvres.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/entertaining/partiesevents/cocktailpartyfoodserving#ixzz1h5FUaBHF

Four weeks before:
• Choose a theme for your event.
• Determine where in your home you want to host the party.
• Decide on a menu and drinks.
• Make a guest list and design the invitation.

Three weeks before:
• Send out invitations (if it’s a smaller group of close friends, you can wait until two weeks before).
• Create a shopping list and cross-check with your menu.

Two weeks before:
• Plan the layout of and decorations for the party space.
• Create a shopping list for any decorating supplies.
• Buy, rent, or borrow any extra equipment needed.
• Hire a server or bartender if necessary.
• Make sure your stereo and speakers are working and create your music playlist.

One week before:
• Verify your guest list and call or e-mail guests you haven’t heard from.
• Buy any decorations needed except flowers and other perishable items.
• Place order with florist.
• Purchase ingredients that will keep.
• Write a service plan for your party, including how you will prepare before the event and how you will cook the food throughout the week.
• Start any possible cooking or food prep.

Two days before:
• Purchase the rest of the food, including perishable items.
• Decide what to wear to avoid any last-minute fashion stress.

One Day before:
• Pick up flowers.
• Clean up and decorate the party space and bathroom.
• Decorate and arrange furniture, food tables, and bar.
• Set up the bar or drinks station, making sure you have all the necessary equipment.
• Prepare as much as possible from your menu.

Day of:
several hours before:
• Buy ice.
• Double-check that you have all the food and supplies you need—this is the time to make a last-minute run to the store.
• Finish preparing the food (except last-minute heating and garnishing).
• Cut up and prepare all bar garnishes.
• Queue up your playlist so it’s ready to go.

two hours before:
• Get yourself ready.
• Cool any beverages that need to be chilled.

thirty minutes before:
• Put finishing touches on food and drinks—to keep hot food hot, store in a 125°F oven until you’re ready to serve.
• Arrange any room-temperature food on the buffet or food stations.

just before the party starts:
• Set ice and garnishes on bar.
• Turn on music.
• Double-check everything, sip a drink, and welcome your guests!

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/entertaining/partiesevents/cocktailpartytimeline#ixzz1gfJmZ94G

First Choosing and Arranging the Space

Choose which area of your home to use for your party well in advance, and set it up the day before the party so you have plenty of time to change things at the last minute. When choosing a location, think about the  theme of your party—for example, if it’s winter or near to it your fireplace would make a good back drop.

Arrange furniture so that guests can move throughout the room easily.  Although most guests will be mingling, leave some furniture placed against the walls or in small clusters.

If the space you choose is going to be crowded, use a large (preferably round) center table as the one and only food station. If your space is a little too big for the number of guests, then use multiple small tables to create mini food stations, which will encourage guests to move throughout the room.

Don’t forget to include small drop tables where guests can put used glasses or napkins. Place a tray on the table to signal that it’s a drop-off area. This will also make it easier for you to pick up any discarded items.

At larger parties, set up a behind-the-scenes sanitation station where you can leave dirty dishes and trays until you have time to tend to them after the party.  Don’t forget to stake out an area such as a closet or spare bedroom for coats and bags during appropriate seasons.

Lets set the mood with Lighting

Lighting helps establish the mood of a party. Avoid unflattering overhead lights and instead use mood-enhancing candlelight. To get enough light, place candles in clusters. To jazz up your candles, wrap patterned paper—preferably something that speaks to your party’s theme—around votive or candle holders and fasten with tape. If you don’t want to use candles, stick to table and floor lamps.

Flowers

Flowers are not a must-have for cocktail parties—with guests standing and mingling in a crowded room, arrangements often go unnoticed—but if you do want to decorate with flowers, opt for one large, high arrangement, which will make a stronger impression than several small ones. For maximum impact, place flowers on your main food station or at the bar, where guests are guaranteed to see them. Keep the arrangement simple, focusing on one color or one type of flower. Flowers are also a nice touch in the bathroom. If you want to use specific types of flowers, you may need to place an order with a florist ahead of time.

Napkins

Stock up on plenty of cocktail napkins. You will need about six for each guest: If you have 20 guests, for example, purchase at least 120 napkins. If you plan to hold more parties, consider investing in linen cocktail napkins, which are more elegant than paper; plus, since they can be reused, they’re more economical in the long run. Alternately: Spruce up paper napkins by using a rubber stamp to decorate them. Look for a stamp that matches the party’s theme with an iconic image or an appropriate quote, or stamp napkins with the date of the party.

Music

Music helps your guests relax and gets them in the proper party mood. Choose tunes that match your theme or the atmosphere you want to create. The most hassle-free way to deal with music is to create a playlist for the party so the music is taken care of for the entire evening and you won’t have to scramble to change CDs while trying to serve food.

Or let your guests play DJ. Assign the job to one person, or have several guests take turns. I like to get out an old record player and a bunch of 45s, but this idea also works with a selection of CDs or a digital music player—you can even ask guests to bring their own iPods. To avoid any awkward silences, it’s smart to have a backup playlist ready to go. And remember to check that your stereo and speaker equipment is in working order.

Cleaning

Cocktail parties take place in dimly lit, often crowded rooms, which means no one is going to notice if you have dust bunnies under your sofa. Plus, the party itself is pretty much guaranteed to make a mess and require a cleaning. Skip the initial thorough cleaning and focus on what’s important. Hide all unnecessary items, such as bills, magazines, and papers, and polish any shiny surfaces.

The one exception is the bathroom. Almost all guests will visit this brightly lit room at least once, so you really need to make it spotless. For an extra touch of hospitality, decorate with flowers or candles and fill a basket with treats like mints and hand cream.