If you have ever been to a really great dinner party, you might already know that the distinction is in the smallest details. The perfectly paired wine, a hard-to-find cheese at just the right temperature, or maybe something as simple as pre-sliced limes and lemons for your water.
And while these small additions may translate as extra work (when dinner and cleaning are keeping you busy enough!), there are a few simple things you can do to personalize your holiday parties that guests will remember long after the last bite has been served.
Customize Your Garnishes
One of the greatest party tricks for any good cook is the phrase, “Oh, I made it!” It’s the This old thing? of effortlessly cool foodies.
Consider elements of your meal that may come out of a jar or container, like butter, ketchup, or olives. With just a few little additions, those otherwise unremarkable ingredients can be showstoppers!
For instance, a simple compound butter turns otherwise basic rolls into an intentional and thoughtful duo: rolls with cranberry butter, or roasted garlic butter, or honey butter.
Speaking of honey, a simple infusion, like this Rosemary-Scented Honey, can be drizzled over goat cheese, used to glaze carrots, or served alongside apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Friends will say, “This honey is amazing, where did you find it?” And you know what you’ll say. In fact, nearly anything from the grocery store can be zhuzhed up. Add zest to turn mayonnaise into a lemon aioli, or garlic for a garlic aioli. Marinate olives to add your favorite flavors.
You can even serve simple popped corn at a fancy party if you customize it. To make seasoned salt, just combine your everyday salt with ingredients like lemon zest, smoked paprika, or savory spice blends. Make a flavored butter by melting high-quality butter with garlic, herbs, or even crumbled dried seaweed. Or, for the easiest yet, sprinkle that popcorn with your favorite grated hard cheese, like Pecorino Romano.
When it comes time for dessert, serve freshly whipped cream flavored with real vanilla bean or maple syrup, or make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate.
Think Drinks
Having a good variety of beverages—both spiked and non-alcoholic—is a surefire way to make every guest feel catered to. Treat each option like a specialty cocktail at a fancy event, so that even a sparkling water can feel special.
Set out a variety of garnishes, like citrus twists or skewered olives, that can go in any drink. For the holidays, these Sugared Cranberries are a festive touch. Prepare a simple syrup to serve alongside iced teas or lemonades, and consider a specialty syrup with holiday flavors, like spiced orange or ginger, that folks can use in their cocktails.
Know Your Guests
Every guest wants to feel like your VIP. And while you can’t please everyone all the time, you can make sure there’s a little something for everyone at your party. If your aunt loves grapefruit, pick up a bottle of grapefruit Italian soda to put on the bar. If your nephew loves ketchup on everything, place a small bowl of it at his place setting, just for him.
It doesn't have to be an extra effort, either. If you're choosing beer, pick a friend's favorite. If you're buying olives, get the kind your sister loves. Your friend's new boyfriend will never forget that you put out a bowl of his favorite candy for nervous nibbles, and no small detail will go unnoticed.
