Whether you remodeled your kitchen or the whole house, no renovation is truly complete until you’ve shown it off to your friends and relatives. And if you don’t throw very many parties, hosting your own get-together can be stressful.
Between all the effort that went into your home renovation, choosing who you will invite, and deciding on the music playlist, you have your hands pretty full.
Obviously your home remodel will take center stage, but no matter how impressive it is, people are going to want something to eat and something to drink.
Here are a few tips on how to throw a successful, low-stress party so you can finally show off your handiwork.
1. Trader Joe’s Appetizers
Trader Joe’s has some of the most unique ready-made food in any grocery store in the United States. They are reasonably inexpensive for a store that has so many organic options. You will find a Trader Joe’s in almost every city in the country.
If you take a walk down the frozen food aisle, you will find some delicious appetizers that are inspired by the cuisines of the world.
I highly recommend the spanakopita which is a savory Greek pastry filled with spinach and cheese. The Birds Nests are delicious tempura-battered vegetables that go great with sweet and sour sauce.
They also offer guacamole in a variety of spiciness and a caramelized onion dip that is both sweet and savory.
2. Desserts from Goldbelly
Goldbelly is one of the greatest inventions in food delivery ever created. The online company offers appetizers, entrees, and desserts from famous restaurants all over the country.
You can order your guests treats from the Magnolia Bakery in New York or cheesecake from Eli’s in Chicago. I recently served the chocolate walnut Kentucky Derby pie from Kerns Kitchen and my guests loved it.
3. Liquid Refreshments
There are many types of liquid refreshments to serve at parties. I like Topo Chico, a sparkling mineral water from Mexico that is taking the U.S. by storm. You can usually find it at Whole Foods (and sometimes at Costco) ever since the company was purchased by Coca-Cola.
Before that, this sparkling water was the best-kept-secret of foodies in Texas.
You can usually find Topo Chico in “regular” and lime flavors, although occasionally you might luck out and find a case of grapefruit-flavored sparkling water. Glass bottles are the best experience, and those bubbles are very robust.
Other types of refreshments include punch, lemonade, Italian sodas, and even alcohol ice pops or craft beer if your guest list prefers refreshment with a little something extra.
4. Party Plates from Whole Foods
Who doesn’t love Whole Foods? They offer everything from gourmet, to organics, to the very best meat substitutes for your vegan friends. They have many different party platters and it goes well beyond simple veggies and dip.
I recommend getting the French cheese tray with a selection of wines that will pair with each of the cheeses.
If you think Whole Foods is expensive, you should know that some of their trays are the same price you will pay in a supermarket and they are of a much higher quality.
There are cheese trays that will feed 12 people for about $50.
If there are vegetarians at your party, you may want to try their vegan cocktail meatballs. They also make delicious veggie side dishes that are sure to please anyone.
You will find a fine selection of olives, salsas, and mustards in this store and they will complement your food perfectly. At my last party, I offered my guests the store’s organic juices as an alternative to soda and they were quite a hit.
Throwing a house renovation party can be a little intimidating, especially since you just spent a good part of your recent history in a state of disarray while you remodeled your home.
Hopefully these tips will help take some of the stress away.
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