The holiday season is all about getting together. Hosting a gathering for family, friends, neighbors or workmates is a wonderful way to show you care. It's also a route to display your culinary, decorating, and merry-making skills. Nobody knows that better than these seasoned Madison party planners, who share some of their favorite tips and tricks.
Claire Herbst, special events coordinator at the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation Inc., plans fun and innovative benefit parties.
On making an impression. I think retro fifties parties are still very popular and relatively low-cost. Serve a fabulous Jell-O mold, Tom Collins and Shirley Temples, play lounge music and, if you can swing it, rent a photo booth for guests to take pictures in. (I think TravelingPhotoBooth.com is the best option - if you rent one, can I come?) Or, buy a vintage camera online or find one in your closet and encourage guests to take photos with it. You will have some unique, classic-looking souvenirs. If you're looking for a venue, I think a bowling alley is a good choice to have a retro party. It has everything you need, and it's relatively low cost - there's bowling and the accompanying bowling outfits, fried foods, cheap beer and, if you're lucky, a claw machine.
What to splurge on: If your budget is tight, pick a top priority and invest in that. You can ask your guests to help participate in other facets of the party, but be sure you're offering one really high-quality treat. Maybe it's the food or the drinks or the new, amazing party game, but invest in that one thing. So if you're having a wine tasting, do not skimp on the wine! In fact, alcohol is rarely a bad place to splurge. For large-scale cocktail parties, make sure you have high-quality wines, beers and mixers. And if you're serving drinks to that many people, you do have to feed them something.
On eating/drinking combos that work. A BCRF volunteer coordinated a beer and salsa tasting at Wonder's Pub this fall and donated proceeds to the BCRF Endowment Fund. It was an enormous success, and I think that's essentially because so many people love Wonder's Pub, and they also appreciated a chance to experience a new, more casual event at a fun place. Often, people try to plan the "nicest" or "best" party and then forget a party should also be fun!
We also expanded our annual wine gala this year to feature an emphasis on pink and rosé wines. These wines are becoming more popular, and it was a way to offer new wines that even wine connoisseurs had not sampled before.
On working kids into the mix. My advice is not to go overboard with kids activities. Kids can actually be easier to entertain than adults. Witness the Slinky, hula-hoops and games like pick-up-sticks. You may want to have crayons or a board game and perhaps serve a kiddie cocktail for them, but more than that is not necessary.
On coping with a party blunder. There are a lot of things that may go wrong, but it's really more important to concentrate on the things that go right. Treat your guests well during the party, make sure they get home safely, thank them afterwards, and your party will be a success.
Deb Shapiro and Rachael Bower are local party mavens whose years of entertaining experience have resulted in some of the tastiest food around.
On the best hors d'oeuvres. Spicy peanut dip! And we always try to have some healthy choices - attractively sliced vegetables, fresh fruit; nuts and nut mixes from Trader Joe's are a big hit, too.
On drinks. Champagne punch with raspberries - really easy to make: 1 bottle of champers, 1 of ginger ale (about equal to champagne), one container frozen pineapple juice plus 3 or 4 cups water and a couple shots of Chambord. This all goes over lots of ice and about half a package of frozen raspberries, or fresh if available.
To create a winter wonderland, I'd... Go with color themes - always the easiest, especially if you're working with a budget. In the dead of winter, go with all red or orange flowers, napkins, candles - to make everything glow. Low lights mean no one notices a little dust.
What to splurge on: Nibbles - really good chocolate, spiced nuts - and plenty of non-alcoholic beverages as well as alcohol.
On achieving that mingle magic. Concentrate on "do it yourself." Have guests mix their own drinks, top their own crostini, choose what to dip in the chocolate fondue. Have people bring their favorite drinks or dishes if they like to cook. People love to "introduce" their favorite dishes or wines to friends.
Angle on holiday fun and games. I've tried to do gingerbread decorating; mixed success. We tend to set up our parties without much organized activity beyond eating and drinking and conversing. I think potlucks always work. We once did a post-Thanksgiving "make your leftovers into a brunch dish" party which went really well. Brian's mom's casserole (white trash Christmas casserole) was a huge hit. (See Recipes, below.)
Coping with a party blunder. The first time Rachael made chocolate fondue, we ended up with 15 little kids getting high on sugar; there was one little one who was sticky from head to toe. Not truly a blunder, but sorta. I think what Julia Child said applies here: "No matter what happens in the kitchen, never apologize."
Stacy Mlsna, catering director at Gaylord Catering Service, coordinates food and service for events from picnic pig roasts to elegant wedding receptions.
On making an impression. Plan a "progressive dinner," where guests travel from house to house for each course. Begin at one person's house for cocktails and appetizers, head to another person's home for the first course, another for the second, and so on, finally finishing up with after-dinner drinks and dessert at the last stop. It adds a neat element to any holiday party because everyone gets to participate, demonstrating their creative decorating and cooking skills. It is also good for out-of-town guests who want to visit multiple people in one evening. Incorporating a theme into the evening can also be fun.
On the best hors d'oeuvres. The best hors d'oeuvres are ones that bring something new to the table and leave your guests not only satisfied but also talking about them for years to come. Items like green gazpacho and shrimp shots (see Recipes, below) are delicious and memorable.
On drinks. Eggnog is a classic, but one that seems to be getting better with time. It is a very versatile drink; it can be served hot or cold, with or without alcohol. Recipes have also emerged with healthier versions, such as using soymilk instead of dairy or combining low-fat evaporated milk with 2% or whole milk.
When it comes to decorations, I tend to follow the simple rule of "less is more." Most of the time the least amount of décor, like a little fluff on the buffet line, can be all that is needed, especially if you have other things (such as the food) that you want your guests to focus on. Having one or two special seasonal pieces adds the holiday spirit without making your house feel cluttered.
What to splurge on: The food. I may be biased, but in my experience it seems like if you have good food the party is bound to be a success!
Angle on holiday fun and games. Incorporating family and/or cultural traditions into holiday activities is a good way to build a memorable experience for everyone involved. For example, each fall my family gathers together for a day of lefse-making. These times not only produce a tasty treat, but also create a festive atmosphere that we look forward to every year.
What are the sweetest treats? Desserts that put a modern twist on family favorites are always a hit. They provide something a little different but have enough of the familiar components to bring back those wonderful holiday memories. I like creating healthier versions of my favorites so that everyone can enjoy without overindulging. Local and seasonal ingredients have more intense flavors and truly make the holiday season something to look forward to every year.
Betsy Jenkins is the owner of It's Your Party, the company that brings Madison's U.S. Bank Eve to life.
On making an impression. Create a fond memory with unique entertainment - something people will talk about for days. Fortunetellers, caricature artists or strolling magicians are great interactive options to get people involved while having fun.
On the best hors d'oeuvres. Grilled marinated vegetables with a balsamic finish, baked brie (tried and true), and mini open-face grilled tenderloin sandwiches.
On drinks. Mini-martinis are always popular. Any signature drink you come up with will lend a special air to your party. Pick out fun glassware to serve the drinks in.
To create a winter wonderland, I'd... Play up a cozy Northwoods lodge feel or a Swiss chalet. Make your party warm and inviting by lighting a fire in the fireplace. Add mood lighting and enjoyable background music. If you wish to create a theme, an event company such as ours can provide great rental props, specialty linens, or creative centerpieces and accent décor to spice things up.
What to splurge on: While great food and spirits are key to a successful event, providing proper space and flow are tantamount. You need to take into consideration elements such as comfortable seating, places to set food and drink, easy-access buffet and service areas and where people will place their coats during the party. Successful party givers start setting up many days in advance. My mother always labels all of her buffet service platters ahead of time so it is easy to set out the food the day of the event. You want to be able to enjoy your guests, not stay stuck in the kitchen.
On working kids into the mix. This is really a personal preference. I do not like to mix evening parties with kids and adults unless it's a family get-together. Movies, kid-friendly snacks and board games are appropriate. You can pre-arrange to have pizza delivered.
Angle on holiday fun and games. Know your demographic. Your main goal is to create a comfortable environment where people can interact easily. And keep in mind that just because something sounds fun to you, it may not translate to everyone. We have had great success with casino night games, game shows and murder mysteries. For a special souvenir, set up a digital camera and printer and design a holiday backdrop with a sleigh, snowman or other visual and take each guest's picture. A hint, though: Don't be so organized that people feel pressured to participate if they just want to relax and socialize.
What are the sweetest treats? Caramel fondue with apples and cranberries for dipping, cheesecake bites on a decorative pick and, of course, a chocolate fountain - which is always a hit with any number of dippers, from marshmallows to fruit to pound cake.
Partiers
Betsy Jenkins, It's Your Party, 608-845-3450, www.iyparty.com
Stacy Mlsna, Gaylord Catering Service, 608-222-1267, www.gaylordcatering.com
