Even if you don’t get to enjoy a three-month hiatus from work during the summer, the season is still rife with festive opportunities. From barbecues and cocktail parties to family reunions, it seems like every weekend brings a different social function. And while it’s certainly fun to go to a friend’s house and not have to worry about investing in food or cleaning up the mess, you should occasionally take on the responsibility yourself and host your own fete.
When you do, be sure that you have made of the proper preparations before hand. Compose a list well in advance to ensure you have enough food, drinks and entertainment. Cleanup is easier and there tends to be less of a mess if you can keep the party outdoors, but always be prepared for adverse weather conditions; that means keeping a supply of drink coasters and carpet cleaner on hand at all times in case the party has to move indoors.
Caviar connoisseurs would freely admit that the dish’s presentation is just as important as its taste. As is the case with all high-end food stuffs, caviar is meant to appeal to the eyes just as much as the palate. If you’re hosting a dinner party and salmon caviar is on the hors d’oeuvre menu, don’t skimp on presentation. You should use your creative talents to set up a striking display.
The caviar should be removed from the refrigerator approximately 10 minutes before service and allowed to stand at room temperature. Then remove the lid and place the bowl or container on a bed of ice. Most caviar spoons are light in color and fashioned out of bone, which enhances the overall ambiance of the experience. Metal utensils work just fine, but they don’t provide the same light-dark contrast as bone. While you may be concentrating on the caviar, don’t neglect to put out fine glassware as well.
Pint glasses are a type of glassware usually used to hold beers, ales, and lagers. They are so-named because they usually hold a British pint of liquid. Pint glasses come in many shapes, textures, and designs, and they are a staple of the modern pub or bar.
A British or Imperial pint is equal to 1/8 of a gallon, or 568 mL of liquid. In the United States, a pint is equivalent to 16 ounces, or roughly 473 mL. Most pint glasses follow the British measure of a pint, though oversized glasses are also available, and in the United States, many pubs use glasses that hold a US pint — which is just over 80% of the liquid found in an Imperial pint glass.
Since the head that forms on a beer necessarily takes up some space, and since many people wish to retain the head, oversized pint glasses are sold so that a full pint of liquid can be poured with a head. These glasses are also known as lined glasses, because they usually bear some sort of marking at the pint line to let the pourer know when he or she has poured a pint of liquid into the glass.
The image on the top and the numbers below are for a formal dinner place setting.
1. Napkin
2. Fish Fork
3. Dinner or Main Course Fork
4. Salad Fork
5. Soup Bowl & Plate
6. Dinner Plate
7. Dinner Knife
8. Fish Knife
9. Soup Spoon
10. Bread & Butter Plate
11. Butter Knife
12. Dessert Spoon and Cake - Dessert Fork
13. Sterling Water Goblet
14. Red Wine Glass
15. White Wine Glass
A Tom and Jerry is a variation of egg nog. This is the recipe from the famous Trader Vics in California. Also check your local grocery store or liquor store as they will usually have some of this batter already premade. Serve in a glass barware mug.
Tom and Jerry Single Serving - Home made batter
Makes: 1 serving
I N G R E D I E N T S:
1 egg, separated
1 teaspoon bar sugar
1 ounce dark Jamaica rum
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 ounce brandy
Hot water
I N S T R U C T I O N S:
Beat egg yolk with sugar, rum and allspice until smooth and thick. Separately beat egg white until stiff. Fold white into yolk mixture. Put mixture into a preheated mug. Add hot water to fill mug 3/4 full. Stir gently. Add brandy. Dust with grated nutmeg.
Drink Mix From Prepared Batter -
1 heaping teaspoon prepared Tom and Jerry batter
1/2 ounce Jamaican rum
1/2 ounce brandy
Boiling water, hot coffee or hot milk
Preheat a 6 ounce Tom and Jerry mug with hot water. Add batter, rum, brandy, and stir. Fill mug with boiling water, hot coffee or hot milk. Stir.
Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. Historically, wine often went bad. By adding spices and honey, it could be made drinkable again. Nowadays, it is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. Typically served in a glass barware mug.
It is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus, cardamom, ginger, bitter orange, and suger.
To prepare mulled wine, spices and/or spice extract are mixed into the wine, which is then heated to (140°-158° Fahrenheit). The temperature should not be allowed to rise above (173.12° Fahrenheit) in order to avoid evaporation of the alcohol. When preparing home-made mulled wine using spices, the hot mixture is allowed to infuse for at least an hour, often longer, and then reheated before serving.
A hot toddy is a drink that is usually associated with relieving the symptoms of colds or sore throats. The hot toddy is a spirit-based drink with an added sweetener, such as honey or sugar. As well as being used for medicinal purposes, the hot toddy can also be used to help a person relax in the evening. It is also used when people have been exposed to cold weather or have incurred a shock to the system.
There are varied accounts of the origins of the hot toddy. Popular thinking holds that the hot toddy came from Britain by way of India. In India, the juice of certain palm trees was called tari. This juice was made into a dark, sweet alcoholic drink. The English in India at the time replicated the drink by using spices, fruit, and alcohol and introduced it to Britain. Variations on the drink itself are abundant. The main alcohol used is usually some form of whiskey, but different types of alcohol are acceptable. A hot toddy can be used to relax after a shock, and this effect is mainly accomplished by the alcohol. Use your Christmas barware cups to serve this drink. Or glass barware cup will also do just fine.
Hot buttered rum is among a family of spiced drinks popular during the holiday season. The drink is made with butter, rum, sugar, and spices, and diluted with hot water which warms it. After a day in brisk winter weather, a hot buttered rum can be a pleasant way to warm up and relax. Usually, hot buttered rum is served in thick ceramic mugs which will retain the heat without cracking. The drink tends to be sweet, with a strong kick from the rum that makes it quite delicious.
Like many hot alcoholic drinks, hot buttered rum has its origins in Europe. Spiced drinks made with various alcohols have been around for thousands of years. Hot buttered rum probably entered the scene in the 1700s, when the potent liquor began to be imported from the Jamaican colonies. When water supplies were potentially dangerous, people often consumed a great deal of alcohol, and came up with creative ways to prepare and serve it. In the winter, warming drinks were vital in poorly insulated, cold buildings. Use your Christmas barware cups to serve this drink. Or glass barware cup will also do just fine.
Eggnog is a libation traditionally served during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Eggnog is made from cream or milk, egg yolks and sugar. Those who imbibe may choose to add brandy or rum to their eggnog. Those who drink eggnog are customarily supposed to drink to each other’s health, though after a few glasses of spiked eggnog, most will drink to anything.
Eggnog, which translates to “egg inside a cup”, actually has a bit of history behind it. It was derived from an English drink called posset. The posset contained eggs, cream and wine or other spirits. It was only a matter of time before it took on a life of its own.
Eggnog became popular in the early 19th century and was mostly enjoyed by the upper classes. During that time in London, only those who were well-to-do could afford to drink a glass of milk, let alone serve it at parties. Revelers enjoyed mixing it with a little alcohol to give it an extra “kick. Nowadays most people don’t make up their own eggnog. They purchase a carton or a case at their local supermarket or liquor store and spike it once their guests have arrived. It’s a convenient, delicious way to toast to good health and good friends. It’s lucky for us that eggnog caught on! Use your Christmas barware cups to serve this drink. Or glass barware cup will also do just fine.
Bitter Basics:
Use Angostura for Manhattens and Old-Fashions.
The classic Sazerac calls for Peychaud’s Bitters.
Although sometimes hard to find, Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters have cinnamon and cardamom that creates magic in a Rob Roy and other whiskey/whiskey based classics.
Gary Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6 is essential in the original martini.
Most whiskey type of drinks are served in old fashion glass barware.