Fandango Catering Offers 5 More Ideas for Cool Hors d'oeuvres Parties

As folks begin to return to their routines after summer vacations, many will begin planning a gathering, either for late summer, early fall, or mid fall (or later).  Thinking of hosting an hors d'oeuvres or light bites event? Today we offer 5 more ideas for creating cool hors d'oeuvres events.

Let the coolness begin with a little color on the table--For an evening event, try a black table linen for your food station table--stunning, and sets off any serving pieces put on it.  Or a black table linen with a colored overlay if you want a bit more color.  Another idea--seen in this month's Food & Wine--is to use a Tuscan or other floral table runner (www.surlatable.com and other retailers)--adds color and is suited to a casual event, indoors or outdoors.

Add color with colored paper plates--So easy and fun.  Stacks of red, yellow, or other colored plates or designs like zebra print, chosen to go with your decor or theme, especially if you use a nice table linen or runner, look stylishly cool.

Serve skewers--People are crazy about food on skewers! Whatever the reason, you simply can't have a cool hors d'oeuvres party without at least one kind, and preferably several kinds, of skewer(s).  Vary the skewers by serving them with seafood, meat, chicken, and/or vegetable skewers (or have an all skewer event--easy and cool).  If you have no time to set up skewers artistically and haven't hired a caterer to do it for you, put the skewers spoke fashion on a round, square, or rectangular tray with a dipping sauce in the middle.  Gild it a bit more by adding long chives, either over or under the skewers or even gathered in a corner--this is one of our signature presentations and it's fast and beautiful and our clients and their guests really like it.  And do make sure the skewers are spiced, not just grilled, as just grilled is not as tasty.  A classic rub: chile, paprika, cumin, and garlic, with or without a bit of cinnamon; or try some of Penzeys' wonderful rubs (www.penzeys.com ).

Add an unusual (but doable) hors d'oeuvre--Shrimp cocktail or cold soups in shot glasses; hot soups in small cups or sake cups;  cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls drizzled with a good vinaigrette and skewered; puff pastry shells filled with chicken salad or pesto shrimp or mini salads or some other mixture...all you do is bake the shells, cut out the precut holes, and fill, then decorate with fresh chopped herbs or minced chives; different kinds of sliders and fixings for a slider bar...But something unusual, to make YOUR event cool and distinguish it from the ho hum ones.

Use an unusual serving piece--Moroccan or Indian beaten, etched, or hammered trays; unusual shapes (we have a wonderful large porcelain shell-shaped tray from Italy); a nice color or pattern like a Chinese lacqueur or a pastel--any of these add flair.

Warmly,

Kristina

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