It is your first time to hold a sit down dinner party, barbeque, or buffet. However, you are not sure of what are the right appetizers to choose, how to consider everyone’s tastes, and the recipes you know do not fill quite at par with the guests you are hosting. So, you need to know what are the factors to keep in mind as you choose the right appetizer for your dinner party that your guests will love before the main course. Appetizers are an amazing way to set the mood and tone for your party, as they give the first impression of what to expect of the overall event. Below are factors to consider as you choose the right appetizer for your dinner party.
Be Familiar With Your Guests
Every dinner party needs a solid plan and there is a lot to consider here. Knowing your guests should be part of the plan to avoid preparing your appetizer blindly. If you are not as familiar with them, enquire from someone who is or has ever host them for dinner. In this way, you will get to know the styles, likes, dislikes, tastes, and you can know what menu will work effectively for them. However, do not stick to the appetizers that they only like, by incorporating different and new appetizers that they can try. Especially, those that will be a surprise for them, cause if they like it, the praises of your dinner party will go on for a while.
Go for Balance
Since there are many types of appetizers that you can make. You must balance all the types as the people coming to your dinner do not have the same tastes. Plus, even though they all love meaty appetizers, it will not hurt if you add some veggie appetizer. Entertaining experts recommend to always have a veggie appetizer. Through this, you will please those who opt for a healthier option for a start, and vegetarians will be pleased as well. What’s more, you may prefer to start with various veggie appetizers if your larger plate items are going to be meaty or vice versa.
Make It Easy For Yourself
Depending on the number of dishes and guests you have at the party. Have the appetizers ready to go by making it easy and simple for yourself. This will make the party flow well as they have the appetizers ready as they arrive. So, plan for appetizers that can be made in advance. Try a bruschetta that is light and healthy, sausage pinwheels, veggie dill dip, among others for various tastes. More importantly, as you get the appetizers made in advance. Ensure you don’t get globally carried away as the appetizers need to be of a similar taste profile to the other dishes. For instance, you cannot serve Thai appetizers if you are planning a Mediterranean dinner party as they are complete opposites.
Where and When the Event Takes Place
Appetizers are a must-have in numerous events, not only dinner parties. In places such as an afternoon tea, midday brunch, formal evening party, among other places. Hence by knowing where and when your event will take place. It is easy to plan the types of appetizers that are suitable. Also, you will know whether to prepare a buffet or family-style event, prepare hot or cold foods, among other things that need to be at par with where and when the event will take place. For instance, for an evening event, it is vital to have cold and hot appetizers. Small finger foods, wine, cheese are wonderful choices for evening events as well. Whereas for a daytime event, offer vegetables, small cookies, tea sandwiches, and spreads.
Choosing a Variety
The variety should not be on the different types of appetizers such as veggies, dips, or meaty appetizers. They can also be on a variety of colors, textures, flavors, and shapes. For this reason, try to have no more than one food on a skewer, at least one crunchy food, and one soft food. Additionally, have appetizers in lots of shapes, such as triangular spanakopita, round sliders, long cheddar breadsticks, and square mini pizzas. Several non-bread foods are also a plus when added, and you can have garnishes with color like pesto and mustard dip. Visit various online food sites to get inspiration on the type of appetizers to try to achieve these various varieties.
Have Appetizers Sweet or Savory
When you are out shopping for your appetizer ingredients and necessities. Visit your cheese shop, wine store, and the local specialty market to get the best of them. Also, enquire more about what you are buying so as it does not have a taste that overwhelms the palate of the remaining dishes but tempts it. Also, extra spicy appetizers are not a great addition. Keep your appetizers savory or sweet as they are best to please the palate, and in this way, you can offer your guests a sneak peek of what they can expect. If you are having a challenge knowing how to choose the sweet and savory types. Ask entertaining experts to chime in and assist you to choose the appetizers that fit the event you are hosting.
Presentation
There is no need to prepare several lovely appetizers and fail at your presentation. Thus, consider this as you choose the appetizers that you will serve at your event. Try individualizing every appetizer in their small plates or use skewers for a visually inviting setting. Also, you can use shot glasses or small cups as holders for dips or as the base for your appetizer among other ways.
All in all, ensure you choose the right appetizers as they make all the difference in a party. Select amazing varieties as well, and as you serve them, ensure your presentation delights the sight and taste as well. Make your party great by following the above tips while choosing your appetizers.
