Entertaining with Entertaining with Food!Food!

Miss GodbeyMiss Godbey

Why do we Why do we entertain?entertain?

Informal or Formal? Informal or Formal?

Themes and DecorationsThemes and Decorations• Can be more fun with a theme• Theme: Specific idea on which the

occasion is based!

– Holidays– Birthdays– Graduations

Provide ready-made themes!

Themed Parties/EventsThemed Parties/Events• Apple Dippin’ • Tacky Christmas Sweaters• Sports-themed• Luau (Hawaiian)• Western

InvitationsInvitations• You want to invite people who will

enjoy each other’s company and be interested in one another.

Informal: in person, by phone, email

Formal: invitations

What kind of What kind of party is it? party is it?

What is the What is the theme? theme?

Menus for EntertainingMenus for Entertaining

• Find out about special food needs or preferences

• Keep food choices simple• Appetizers

Plating FoodPlating Food

Tips for TraysTips for Trays• When making up a tray, be sure to

separate the colors. Try not to put different foods of the same color next to each other.

• Trays also look best when arranged symmetrically. Keep in mind that balance is important, particularly when making a round tray.

CenterpiecesCenterpieces• Hollowed-out foods can make wonderful

bowls for your dips. Try hollowing out peppers, tomatoes, round bread loaves, cabbage, or eggplant. Serve fruit salad in a pineapple, cantaloupe, or watermelon.

• Or, for winter, try serving soup in a pumpkin, or rice or stuffing in a baked squash half. Edible bowls are both beautiful and functional; they create interest and reduce waste

• How food is plated, or arranged on the plate and garnished, figures deeply in one's reaction to it.

• Don't get carried away!• A plate that's too elaborate can be as

bad as one that's too careless. • You want that hot dinner to still be

hot when it reaches the table, so you don't really have time to get too fancy.

• Another food presentation tip is to plan for variety of shapes and forms as well as of colors.

TemperatureTemperature

• Serve hot foods hot, on hot plates. • Serve cold foods cold, on cold plates.

How could we make this more appealing?

Watermelon Basket with Fruit

Sauce SwirlsSauce Swirls

AppetizersAppetizers

Appetizers can be:Appetizers can be:

1. Passed2. Plated3. Buffet Line

How do I choose? How do I choose?

• When selecting appetizers, it is important to include a variety of foods and flavors the menu. Make sure they compliment, not duplicate the taste of the menu.

Appetizers TipsAppetizers Tips

• Presentation is key in serving appetizers.

• They must be visually appealing• Neatly organized• Use garnishes