How To Throw A Fabulous Cocktail Party

I love cocktail parties, whether going to one or giving one. I think entertaining is an art. Hosting people at your home is a fabulous way to spend time with your friends and get to know new people. I never let a cocktail party seem thrown together. It's all about the details!

First I settle on a theme. Now when I say theme I don't mean like a kids birthday party (Pirates!), I mean a more subtle theme. This time I thought of "An Evening By The Pool". I even started to think of songs that I would play at the party, such as Little Jimmy Scotts "An Evening In Paradise". I tried to carry everything through thinking of this theme.

No need to go crazy serving a million things. I chose three drinks I think cover the men, women, and non drinkers. This time I chose Mt. Gay and Tonics, Mojitos with fresh mint, Jack and Gingers (with fresh ginger), and Club soda with lime. We cut up limes and lemons and had all the garnishes ready to go.





We set up the bar outside so that Hubby would fix the first drink, and the guests would usually make theirs after that. Of course hubby's Mojitos were so fabulous we had to make him continue making them all night!

Hubbys Fabulous Mojito Recipe:

1/2 Lime
Mint
Club soda
Bacardi light rum
sugar
ice

Quarter the limes. Wash mint and take leaves off stems. Take a martini shaker and squeeze two lime quarters and six-eight mint leaves. Add two shots of light rum, two teaspoons of sugar and fill martini shaker three quarters full with ice. Put the lid on and shake the heck out of it, therefore muddling the mint and dissolving the sugar. Pour contents into a tall glass. Add club soda and stir. Fabulous!



We set up the back area (after weeding, sweeping, hosing down and de-cobwebbing), in a comfortable seating for conversation and set the mood with candles everywhere. I used table cloths outside that normally go inside the house because unless you're doing a BBQ, those bright outdoor table cloths seem a little tacky for cocktails.




The hors de oeuvres were simple but had style.

Asparagus with garlic herb spread wrapped in prosciutto: (blanch asaparagus, let it cool, cut off the ends. Spread garlic spread on prosciutto and wrap!) This was courtesy of Miss Rachel Ray.


Seafood Gazpacho Shooters With Shrimp:



Recipe

1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, cut into pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil
1/2 English cucumber, cut into pieces
1/2 small sweet onion cut into pieces
1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (old bay)

3 Yellow tomatoes seeded and cut into pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Combine first eight ingredients in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to large bowl. Add tomatoes to food processor, and process until smooth. Stir tomatoes into veggie mixture. Stir in lime juice and chill before serving. We sauteed shrimp in olive oil and salt and pepper to dangle outside of the glass.


And sliced baguette with three different toppings:

Stilton Blue Cheese and fig jam



Herb Goat Cheese and olive tapenade

Mushroom Brie with peppers



They were so good! (I didn't toast the baguette but it was bought par baked.)

The Guest List is important too. best to keep it under 16 people total unless you want to be running around. I pre set most everything. Who you invite is essential to great conversation and the way the party flows. You need a few great story tellers and big personalities, some arty types, a few intellectual bookish people etc. Our party had a famous actress, musician, a producer, a director, a real estate agent, a contractor, a sales rep, an agent, and a few others. Granted, I live in LA so it's hard NOT to have an industry party, but it was a diverse group of personalities and cultures.
and last and most important the music. I created a play list on my mac and added it to my ipod. Here was the song list.

An Evening In Paradise - Little Jimmy Scott
Black Coffee- Peggy Lee
Golden- Jill Scott
Breezin'- George Benson
Golden Time of Day- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Yes Sir That's My Baby- Milt Jackson
I've Got The World On A String- Frank Sinatra
Masquerade- George benson
Back In Stride- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Aint No Stoppin Us Now- Luther vandross
Cosmic Girl- Jameriqui
Touch The Sky- kanye West
Get Right- Jlo



A great evening! Got any cocktail party tips? Share!