paying less. In the summer, for example, delicious fresh tomatoes, corn, lettuce, and beans are in abundance at farmers’ markets; in the fall, the stalls are overflowing with just-picked apples, pears, squashes, kale, and brussels sprouts.
Your Party Helpers
D etermine whether you need to enlist help to throw your party. If you’re planning a big event, research options for caterers, bartenders, and servers ( see Chapter 5, When You Need a Supporting Cast, page 49 ). Know that for liability reasons, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional bartender. Check with a local caterer or a favorite restaurant to see if they can recommend one. If you can’t afford professional waitstaff, enlist the help of your neighbors’ high school–age children or local college students to pass hors d’oeuvres, serve food, clear, and clean up the kitchen. (We’ve waitressed many parties for our mom and her friends.) Pay them by the hour, and be sure to include a 10 to 15 percent tip.
----
A Tip from Anna
INFO AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Having your resources at your fingertips makes your planning easier. Keep a sourcebook (or file on your computer) with business cards, contact information, prices, and notes for florists, caterers, wine and specialty food sources, take-out menus, and rental companies. Added bonus—your friends will start looking to you as the ultimate resource.
----
Your Sources
W hatever your budget or the size of your party, you’ll want to offer the best you can for your guests. Base your choices on quality, not just price. Learn to forage and gather great components for entertaining. Think about:
F ARMERS ’ M ARKETS : The best for fresh and local foodstuffs, farmers’ markets offer an amazing variety of produce, baked goods, flowers, cheeses, and more.
S PECIALTY S TORES : Shop for great guestworthy products: cheeses, cured meats and fish, olives and tapenades, artisanal breads and crackers, freshly prepared sides and salads, and main dishes, such as soups and chilis. Always ask for a taste. Wine, cheese, and gourmet food shops can offer more than just great products. Owners and staff are usually enthusiasts, willing to answer questions and give advice.
S PECIALTY W INE S TORES : You don’t have to be an expert to know good wine, but an expert at a wine shop can help you pick out the right wine at the right price for your party. If you’re looking for a good wine pairing in your price range, bring along your menu. Look for a shop where the staff really know their stock and aren’t saying things like, “Oh, pinot goes with everything.”
G ROCERY S TORES : You may need to check around at more than one store to get the best-quality foods. Find out who has the best meat, fish, produce, cheeses, breads, and selection of staples, like olive oils, vinegar, quality pastas, grains, and odd ingredients. If you’re lucky to have a good all-around market in your neighborhood—especially one that also carries flowers and a decent beverage selection—it can be a big time-saver.
W AREHOUSE S TORES : You can save by buying your food, beverages, and party goods at one of the big chains (Sam’s Club, Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s), most of which also offer a solid array of frozen foods—pizza, desserts (tiramisù, cheesecakes, mini éclairs), and appetizers (mini quiches, bacon-wrapped scallops, crab cakes)—as well as large jars of salsa and pesto, dips and sauces, meat, vegetables, fruit, wine, and beer. Be sure to read the ingredients and check out their source. Never serve guests something you haven’t first sampled yourself. If it passes the quality and taste tests, consider adding extra spices or garnishes to make it your own.
T AKEOUT—THE U LTIMATE DIY C ATERER : You’d be amazed at the number of restaurants that offer takeout. Think beyond Thai, Chinese, and pizza—although they’re great, too. Your favorite barbecue restaurant might supply ribs or pulled pork, and a local bistro may be a good source
Your Party Helpers
D etermine whether you need to enlist help to throw your party. If you’re planning a big event, research options for caterers, bartenders, and servers ( see Chapter 5, When You Need a Supporting Cast, page 49 ). Know that for liability reasons, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional bartender. Check with a local caterer or a favorite restaurant to see if they can recommend one. If you can’t afford professional waitstaff, enlist the help of your neighbors’ high school–age children or local college students to pass hors d’oeuvres, serve food, clear, and clean up the kitchen. (We’ve waitressed many parties for our mom and her friends.) Pay them by the hour, and be sure to include a 10 to 15 percent tip.
----
A Tip from Anna
INFO AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Having your resources at your fingertips makes your planning easier. Keep a sourcebook (or file on your computer) with business cards, contact information, prices, and notes for florists, caterers, wine and specialty food sources, take-out menus, and rental companies. Added bonus—your friends will start looking to you as the ultimate resource.
----
Your Sources
W hatever your budget or the size of your party, you’ll want to offer the best you can for your guests. Base your choices on quality, not just price. Learn to forage and gather great components for entertaining. Think about:
F ARMERS ’ M ARKETS : The best for fresh and local foodstuffs, farmers’ markets offer an amazing variety of produce, baked goods, flowers, cheeses, and more.
S PECIALTY S TORES : Shop for great guestworthy products: cheeses, cured meats and fish, olives and tapenades, artisanal breads and crackers, freshly prepared sides and salads, and main dishes, such as soups and chilis. Always ask for a taste. Wine, cheese, and gourmet food shops can offer more than just great products. Owners and staff are usually enthusiasts, willing to answer questions and give advice.
S PECIALTY W INE S TORES : You don’t have to be an expert to know good wine, but an expert at a wine shop can help you pick out the right wine at the right price for your party. If you’re looking for a good wine pairing in your price range, bring along your menu. Look for a shop where the staff really know their stock and aren’t saying things like, “Oh, pinot goes with everything.”
G ROCERY S TORES : You may need to check around at more than one store to get the best-quality foods. Find out who has the best meat, fish, produce, cheeses, breads, and selection of staples, like olive oils, vinegar, quality pastas, grains, and odd ingredients. If you’re lucky to have a good all-around market in your neighborhood—especially one that also carries flowers and a decent beverage selection—it can be a big time-saver.
W AREHOUSE S TORES : You can save by buying your food, beverages, and party goods at one of the big chains (Sam’s Club, Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s), most of which also offer a solid array of frozen foods—pizza, desserts (tiramisù, cheesecakes, mini éclairs), and appetizers (mini quiches, bacon-wrapped scallops, crab cakes)—as well as large jars of salsa and pesto, dips and sauces, meat, vegetables, fruit, wine, and beer. Be sure to read the ingredients and check out their source. Never serve guests something you haven’t first sampled yourself. If it passes the quality and taste tests, consider adding extra spices or garnishes to make it your own.
T AKEOUT—THE U LTIMATE DIY C ATERER : You’d be amazed at the number of restaurants that offer takeout. Think beyond Thai, Chinese, and pizza—although they’re great, too. Your favorite barbecue restaurant might supply ribs or pulled pork, and a local bistro may be a good source
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