We want to have a monthly cocktail party at our house w/ the same group of people – what do we supply?
We have two small kids so we can’t get out much and have a pretty tight budget. We have a great group of friends that we see occassionally but not near enough. We want to have a standing cocktail party once or twice a month; people could stop by after 7pm for drinks and snacks. We expect a core group to show up for most of the parties but anticipate others being invited occassionally by us or by people in the core group. What would it be ok to ask friends to bring? What should we supply?
I would do some sort of a theme every time, not nessc outrageous. But for the first supply some cocktails and a couple chips and dips and have everyone bring their favorite bottle of wine or drink to share. You could have everyone bring something different everytime. Their own drink, appetizers another, dessert party another. Also, rotate and have one person bring or arrange a different game or entertainment each time.
You have a great idea there, a monthly cocktail party. It reminds me of our ‘youth’ when we could not afford babysitters and we would take turns in each others houses…the kids would all be asleep by 8 (the good old days) and the adults would enjoy their time…having said that…maybe you could have the favorites of one particular individually rotating until everyone has had their favorites…and all chip in every time….the hosts could always supply the same thing, e.g. the drinks or the dessert or whatever. It now becomes fair for everyone…
Have a stock of good drinks (but don’t use them all up at once!) You can also take turns with being in charge of the drinks and canapes. Besides, it’s still your venue.
One of my favorites is "Pita Pizzas" very simple to make and you can have everyone bring ingredient’s you will need to buy Pitas Large or Small your choice.[not flat bread] I like BBQ Chicken pizza with grilled or canned chick, your favorite BBQ sauce, Cheddar cheese and jalapenos optional. Another is your standard Italian pizza with any topping you can think of also if you would like to spice things up buy some "Pizza & Pasta seasoning" made buy Chef Paul Prudhomme’s excellent taste. Try putting Hummas on the pita then putting on some fresh vegatables. Anyways the options are endless. You will need to Preheat the oven to 375 degres, then oil the back side of the Pita that will be on the baking sheet, then assemble your Pizzas as you would like. Bake for 12-14 minutes depending on your altitude. Walla your done make them ass people show up have them make there own and put them all in at the same time up the time 2-3 minutes for 3 or more pizzas.
Meat and Cheese Antipasticks
2 pounds Italian "pick-up" sausages such as mini-sopressata, abruzzese, calabrese sticks, see cook’s note, or 1 pound chunk Genoa salami cubed into 16 pieces and 1 pound slicing pepperoni, cut into 16 pieces
1 1/2 pounds provolone, cut into 16 chunks
16 pepperoncini, jarred or from bulk bin
1 package 8-inch bamboo skewers
Cook’s note: Look for these sausages near deli with pepperoni sticks; each are individually wrapped
Cube Italian sausages or salami and pepperoni into bite size chunks. Cut provolone into bite size chunks. Skewer meat and cheese then pepperoncini and arrange on a platter.
Caprese Antipasticks
1 package 8-inch bamboo skewers
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
2 (1 pound) (small balls of fresh mozzarella), drained
24 leaves fresh basil
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and pepper
For caprese sticks, skewer tomatoes and mozzarella bites, placing basil leaves between them. Drizzle these sticks with extra-virgin oil and season with salt and pepper, to your taste.
Chicken, Fig, and Pancetta Bites
12 fresh or dried figs, split
2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
A drizzle balsamic vinegar
A drizzle extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
24 slices pancetta, available at deli counter
1 package 3 or 4-inch wooden party picks
If using fresh figs proceed to the preheat instructions. If using dried figs, place a small pan of water on stove and bring to a simmer. Add figs and plump them in water for 5 minutes. Drain and cool.
Preheat griddle or grill pan over medium to high heat.
Cut chicken into large chunks: cut a tenderloin in half or cut a thigh into 3 chunks. Drizzle chicken with balsamic and oil and toss to coat. Wash hands and season chicken with salt and pepper.
Place a half fig on each piece of chicken and wrap with 1 slice of pancetta. Skewer to secure and place on grill. Wash hands again. Grill chicken bites 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Okay, I don’t think people who are saying that you should be supplying all the food and liquor every time either read your whole question or are understanding what it is you’re doing. I have a group of friends, at times about 12 to 15 of us, who all like to get together. We usually end up at one couple’s house though, because they have the room for one thing… they also have a pool table, a huge bar in the rec room and a pool. Just because they have the room to have better parties than everybody else, nobody has ever expected them to be entertaining us every time we go.
Like somebody else said, theme parties would be good. Let everyone know what the theme would be and let them bring an appetizer or dessert that goes with that theme. You’ll probably end up supplying most of the mixers for the drinks but if these are good friends, and this was everybody’s idea, then nobody will be expecting you to pay for the whole thing.
I’m thinking you might want to supply some booze!?! LOL
Maybe you could do a theme everytime, like Martini night, Mojito night, Beers around the world night……etc …etc….
Booze can be spendy so depending on how great your friends are or how big your budget is maybe you can tell everyone the theme and have it be a BYOB type of deal and maybe have everyone bring a differnt appetizer.
Having a cocktail party at the same place every month will start to get kind of blah. Why not suggest that you and your friends rotate turns. I can relate to having small kids, but getting out at least once a month is a MUST. Just get a sitter for a couple of hours. You’ll feel great about it. If you’re hosting, you really should supply everything. Most people will bring something, but asking them will be kind of crass. Be sure to have lots of ice, chasers, garnish, and most importantly clean glasses appropriate for each diff type of cocktail.
Why not have a "cocktail club" that way you can all take turns footing the bill for the hoer d’ourves and liquor? Maybe rotate by month. I know you want to host it at your house each time, but a change of venue monthly might be fair too so everyone doesn’t always have to travel the distance to your place.
Another option would be a "Bring a bottle" party. Everyone brings their ingredients for a favorite cocktail. That way you only buy one cocktail supply and hoer d’ourves….
Either way, sounds like fun!
I wouldn’t think it out of line at all to ask people to bring snacks or even mixers. Though, I believe the host should provide the booze if it is just you and a few close friends. If you anticipate a lot more people then might might have no choice but to BYOB or ask for people to chip in a little bit.