Retro revival
Holidays are a time of ritual and celebration – not to mention nostalgia. So a retro holiday party is a perfect fit! Dust off the old record player and pull out some old Christmas favourites. There are plenty of cookbooks available from the 1940s with vintage hors d'ouvres such as ham and cucumber sandwiches (without the crust, of course), and baked bacon-wrapped pineapple chunks. Classic cocktails are also retro-chic so think about serving Grasshoppers, Pink Lady's and Brandy Alexanders.
Other suggestions from The Martini Club include creating a beach holiday party. Let your guests step out of the wintry night into a warm, exotic getaway. Between the umbrellas in their tropical drinks and the calypso carols, they'll believe for a few hours that they've escaped the snow.
Or in keeping with the realities of the season, lower the thermostat a little, light a fire and have your guests dress as they would at a ski lodge. Spiced cider, warm eggnog and hot chocolate with Bailey's or mint schnapps will make it feel like you've just come in from a day in the Alps.
For an elegant shindig, dress the house in white and silver. And have your guests dress accordingly, too. It complements the snowy outside, while adding some sparkle to the party. Serve white drinks like the classic martini with silver stir sticks or for some striking contrast go with vibrant red drinks like a cosmopolitan.
If a more intimate gathering is more your style, you can't go wrong with candles. Host a small dinner party surrounded by candles. You might even go so far as to make it a medieval kind of feast. Serve up some hearty comfort food and let the raucous conversation commence. For ambience, put on some instrumental Christmas songs in the background.
Read more in Food & Entertaining and Party Planner
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