Fandango Catering Offers 4 Ideas for Late Summer Entertaining

If you'll be hosting a gathering as summer winds its way down--from closing a vacation home to welcoming back or gathering people after the summer or a special day--here are 4 ideas to make YOUR gathering distinctive and fun.

Use distinctive disposables--If your gathering is casual and you're planning to use disposables anyway, you can make your event distinctive with disposables that add color and/or style.  We love Caspari's range of designs, available at www.casparionline.com and retailers.  Or many upscale food emporiums and retailers now offer nice colors and designs in disposables.  Add color to your gathering this way! This is one of the easiest ways to add distinctiveness to your gathering.  And after your event please use up the remaining disposables with future casual meals at home, take them to work to use there, or put them in the recycling bin, making your event more sustainable!

Serve a distinctive beverage (or two)--Serving just wine, beer, and water or tea is nice but ho hum.  Add a signature cocktail and/or signature non-alcoholic beverage and take your event from boring to interesting.  Look for cocktail ideas at the cool Mrs. Lilien's Cocktail Swatchbook (www.potterstyle.com ), and for non-alcoholic beverages serve a punch (trendy), kicked up with fresh fruit, fresh fruit juice, or fresh fruit juice ice cubes, an Italian or imported soda, or even smoothies (in a hurry? Jamba Juice now comes frozen so you can make smoothies in a hurry).  Another idea would be fresh-squeezed (not commercial) orange juice--takes a little more time but you'll see how your guests glug that down, even preferring it to alcohol.

Offer a dessert (or two)--Many hosts put together a gathering and omit dessert.  Your guests will be happier if you offer a dessert or two (and grumble behind your back if you don't).  Full-size or mini desserts, take your pick or mix and match, though mini desserts add a fun touch and many people prefer them nowadays as their small size makes them feel virtuous about indulging in dessert.  Even at seated dinners we often serve mini desserts in duos or trios, and people tend to like that better than just one full-size dessert.

Play cool music that doesn't interfere with conversation--For events we like world music (our fave label for this is Putumayo), set not so loud that it interferes with conversation (of course if you want it loud for dancing or whatever, do your thing).  Use a playlist rather than all one artist or group or genre--people like the variety more, and if someone doesn't like one artist or song or genre they just have to wait for the next song!

Warmly,

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com