Choosing a Signature Cocktail for Your Event

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.7" custom_padding="0px|||||"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.7" custom_padding="0px|||||"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.7" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.7" hover_enabled="0" text_font="Lato||||||||" text_font_size="22px" text_line_height="1.5em"]

From sugary sweet ingredients to savory garnishes, cocktails are one of the more inclusive alcoholic beverages, and they are quickly diversifying. In events of all types, they are catered to guests in order to keep their conversations flowing nicely and the atmosphere light. However, not having the appropriate drinks for the setting is a slippery slope that could lead to an all in all mediocre experience. Nobody wants to indulge in a mimosa at a formal dinner party, considering the taste of it and the ambiance it would establish. Guests are more likely to want a citrusy, bitter drink paired with dinner than something sugary, which goes better with a brunch. If you’re having trouble finding the right drinks for your event, take a look below to see which cocktails should be used for birthdays, weddings, and bridal showers.

Sweet for Summer

One cocktail you might consider serving at a birthday party is originally a Cuban highball drink; the mojito. These are a trifecta of sweet, citrus, and mint, which can be a blessing for fatigued guests in the hot Summer weather. The classic version of this signature cocktail is white rum paired with sugar and lime juice. It can be infused with mint leaves or simply have them as a garnish. It is also important to note that over-muddling the mint and lime juice will create an imbalance in the flavor. Using this technique for no more than 5 seconds will give it a memorably zesty taste. There are also variations of the mojito that you could use to coordinate a theme. Two ideas for this are the watermelon mojitos for a sunny, outdoor party, and the frosty coconut mojito for an event in a coastal location. No matter where you serve them, attendees are bound to enjoy its chilling effects and livening flavors.

Classy Weddings

For any traditional wedding, an old fashioned is just the drink to fulfill your guests’ cocktail needs. This is a signature mix popular with formal affairs and is often served with whiskey, sugars, and bitters over ice. It has a charmingly bitter taste, topped with a twist of orange or lemon rind. Despite having been around since 1806, the original flavor of this drink has remained mostly loyal to its prototype, with few variations on it except for brandy and rum. It is even sometimes muddled with a maraschino cherry to sweeten it. Because the winding history of this drink aged so well, it makes for a delightfully classic beverage that invigorates the recipient. Weddings typically use this drink for the very reason that it is traditional, which can be part of the ongoing theme for the occasion. It is best paired with a savory appetizer such as blooming French onions or a spinach artichoke dip.

Bridal Showers

Sangrias have all the requirements to be catered in a bridal shower: a red wine typically mixed with orange juice or brandy and containing chopped fruit. These ingredients create a deliciously potent punch for your guests to enjoy. It is perfect with fruits such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, and more, which shows the expansive coverage of sangrias. That being said, there are certain variations of this drink that should be used correctly for your event. For example, the original red wine sangria will do well at a traditional bridal shower, but the recent innovation of sangria blanca (sangria with white wine) will add more to the modern take on bridal showers. It might be important to know that the traditional sangria attracts older generations, while the sangria blanca attracts younger generations. Depending on your own age group and personal taste, you could maximize the amount of guests at your event.

The Takeaway

Cocktails are becoming more varied and more popular in events of all types. They are part of what fuels the guests in your event to keep them mingling, so it’s important to not only have a scrumptious signature cocktail available for them, but also for it to fit the time and location the event is held in. It is mostly overlooked that drinks can set up a lot for the climate of a party. You can keep your guests entertained with the newest flavors such as sangria blanca, or let them reminisce with an old fashioned. Even experiment by adding different fruits, garnishes, and mixers to your signature cocktails. But most importantly, these alcoholic beverages should be served responsibly so that everyone is safe to drink, as well as have a great time at your special occasion.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Planning a Catering Menu the Whole Party will Love

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.7" custom_padding="0px|||||"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.7"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.7" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.7" text_font="Lato||||||||" text_font_size="22px" text_line_height="1.5em" hover_enabled="0"]

Planning a Catering Menu the Whole Party will Love

One of the most difficult aspects of planning any party, from a birthday party to a wedding reception, is creating a menu that everyone will enjoy. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think. When you use a catering hall in Staten Island, such as EVE, you can work with their catering service to come up with the perfect menu for everyone. We’ll discuss some tips here that will help you with that.

One thing to consider is the theme of your event. A casual birthday party will call for a different type of menu than a semi-formal work party, which is entirely different from the menu for a wedding reception. If your event has an overall theme it will be easier to come up with a menu that matches it. For example, if you’re having a child’s birthday party at a catering hall in Staten Island, the food will be simple and easy to eat while featuring a lot of options for adults. For something like a cocktail party, you’ll want finger foods that aren’t too filling.

Before settling on any food items, you’ll need to make contact with your guests to find out dietary restrictions or food allergies. You may decide to change your options based on this information, or consider providing multiple dish options. It’s common to have two entrees at an event, one with meat and one vegetarian or vegan. In the case of allergies, the catering staff will need to know as soon as possible. They’ll take precautions to make sure there’s no cross-contamination between the allergen-free foods and the other dishes.

Outside of allergies or restrictions, consider your guests’ preferences. They may not have a huge impact on the catering, but some adjustments might need to be made. If you find out that the guest list is almost completely filled by fitness buffs, offering an array of deep-fried and otherwise unhealthy foods probably won’t go over well. These situations could also be resolved by offering more than one option on the menu if you’re able to do that.

Another decision you’ll need to make at your rental catering hall in Staten Island is how the food will be served. A popular option for large events is a buffet-style meal, where all of the food is laid out and guests serve themselves. This is convenient and tends to be the most cost-effective, but it has a much more casual feel than other serving methods. A more formal option would be a sit-down meal. Catering staff will serve guests at their seat, and there will typically be more than one course. This is great for nicer occasions but does limit the time guests have for each dish and is usually the most expensive option.

Novelty methods of food service are becoming more popular such as the food bar – it’s similar to a buffet, but there is an array of ingredients for a certain dish. It could be a taco bar, nachos, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, pasta, or anything else you can imagine guests putting together. Another fun serving option is a food truck. Food trucks are often available as rentals for events. They will park outside the venue, and you can choose if they are paid in advance for a certain amount of food or if each guest buys their meals individually.

If you take all of these things into consideration and contact your catering service about them, you’ll come up with a menu that everyone will love. Fitting the feel of the event, the restrictions, and preferences of the guests, and the method of service will guarantee a meal that works well and satisfies everyone. Consider contacting EVE to be your catering hall in Staten Island, and work with their own catering service to find what’s best for you.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]