Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Every year I host one decent sized cocktail party and Saturday is the day! I look forward to it every year because other than the holidays it is my chance to make all kinds of fun finger foods and get my (very) non-foodie friends to try new things.

I am expecting 40 to 50 people this year. Here is the menu. Your thoughts are welcome!

Garlic stuffed dates wrapped in bacon
Baby Bunny Chow (chicken curry in a roll;traditional South African street food)
Buffalo Wing Dip (could be meatballs, not sure yet)
Candied Bacon
Cheese Plate
Cheese Straws
Cream cheese with chakalka spices, henna stenciled
Crudite Tray
Curry Shrimp Tarts
Dark Chocolates
Dilled Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Red Onion and Capers on Endive
Gerkins, Olives, Nuts
Margarita Grilled Shrimp
Mini Fruit bowl (small [1 1/2"] apples and pears, small carribean bananas)
Mini Scotch eggs with quail eggs
Montaditos (tapas sized sandwiches - brie and cranberry / chorizo and manchego)
Pate a Chouix with Marscapone & Mango
Potato, Corn, Pita chips; Guac, Salsa, Edamame Hummus
Raspberries stuffed with dark choc chips
Spinach and Cheese Palmiers
Sticky Sesame Butternut Squash cubes
Stuffed Mini Potatoes
Tomato, Mozzarella and Balsamic Pipettes

I boiled and peeled about 80 quail eggs yesterday. I had about 6 or 8 bad ones (that were black when peeled) and broke a few that got snacked on, but I think I ended up with about 65 or 70 in a bowl. It took freaking forever.

--Lisa

Nice Lisa!

I'd add something with beef...first thought.

Also, is this a cocktail party, or a wine tasting party? Some things, e.g., curry, aren't particularly wine friendly.

Amy

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the feedback. I have a lot of vegetarians, so I generally only offer one heavy meat dish. This year it is the bunny chow. But maybe I will add something if I have time. If nothing else *I* will eat a beef dish.

It is more of a cocktail party in truth, because we are the only real oenophiles in our local circle. I have everyone bring a bottle of wine they want to try and I provide all the food. I have had everything brought from $50 bottles to, no lie, Manischewitz.

When I first started doing this years ago. I would have all one type of wine (E.G. Cabernet) and would serve all foods that went with that particular wine. It didn't go over so well, it was just too serious for the attendees.



--Lisa

Looks good. What time is the party?

If you are not averse to adding beers, some nice IPAs would be really nice with the curry dishes. Also, champagne-method beers go with an amazing variety of foods. The bonus is that they can be served in flutes just like their grapey cousins.

The party starts at 7 pm, it usually runs in two shifts: the early crowd and the late crowd. I plan for 10-12 pieces of food per person, and it usually comes out okay, although you never know.

Beer is definitely not welcome at this party. I don't drink beer at all, and I am surrounded by beer drinkers. My husband and several of our friends get together and drink fancy beer all the time, and several of them make beer as well. This is my one chance a year to have wine stand center stage.

There will be homemade lemonade and soda for the non-drinkers, and some flats of water.

Sounds amazing! Sounds like it a wine drinking party. I approve of that.

Mary

Looks like a great varied menu....I just found out today that I will be hosting a couples wedding shower for a niece at the end of March. It will be wine and appetizer/finger foods. Your menu gave me some great ideas.

Sounds great to me.

Inexpensive and very delicious, this wine would go with most of the menu, http://www.meiomiwines.com/

Mary, that is an excellent description and I do believe I will be stealing it in the future!

--Lisa