Pâtétaining:
Party Stations!
Keep the party moving in just the right way with Alexian!
Getting your guests up, moving and mingling can be a daunting task. Setting up casual self-serve stations for appetizers, drinks and desserts is a great way to get guests socializing. Get creative at your next dinner party with these entertaining tips:
Set up your appetizer headquarters. A long, narrow tabletop is perfect but any table will do. For casual get-togethers, a kitchen island is perfect but a card table with a decorative tablecloth works, too. This will be your party's high traffic area, so make sure your revelers will have room to maneuver.
An Alexian Pâté Platter can easily appeal to all of your guests' tastes. Start with cubed bites of our Chicken and Veal and Pheasant Rosemary varieties, then contrast with a mousse, like this month's featured Duck Liver Mousse with Cognac. Include something lighter like our Mixed Vegetable or Curry Bell Pepper. Cut coarse varieties into bite-sized pieces and serve with toothpicks and accompaniments like mustards or jams. Offer the mousses or vegetable varieties as a spread or dipper for vegetable sticks or breadsticks.
It's all about the accompaniments. Fresh strawberries and raspberries, goat cheese, aged cheddar, Brie cheese, pickles, grapes and mixed nuts are just a few mouth-watering complements to pâté. Have fun with your arrangement and alternate colors for an attractive setup. Station these right on the pâté platter for a decorative touch or next to it for convenience.
Set up the drink station a few feet away from the food to make it easy for your guests to replenish. Include your favorite wines and craft beers or non-alcoholic beverages alongside an ice bucket, a bottle opener, and a corkscrew. Stemware and glasses give an elegant look to the table but plastic cups are a simple touch that can make for a more relaxed atmosphere and easier clean-up.
Don't forget the dessert lovers! Satisfy those sweet tooth guests with a tray full of chocolates, mini cupcakes, assorted cookies and candies.