When I first start planning my parties my first few thoughts are; who to invite, what I will wear, and what the theme will be. I always like to have a theme for my parties, it helps everything come together, adds a special element of fun for you and your guests, and makes you look like a master in the craft of entertaining.
A theme doesn’t mean that if it is “South of the border night” men come wearing sombreros, or if it is “Hawaiian Holiday” the women show up in grass skirts and coconut bras. This simply means that the food, music, and most importantly, drinks, are influenced by the theme. So break out the rum, slide the coffee table against the wall, and get to partying, Havana style!
Guests
Guests are probably one of the first thing you will want to think about when planning your party. If it is a sit down dinner, consider inviting only people who have met before, or you know would be able to have a good conversation. Because of the intimate setting of a dinner party, guests need to feel comfortable being involved in the conversation. Nothing makes for a more uncomfortable party than a bunch of people who have never met, and have no common interests.
For a cocktail party, guests don’t need to have that familiarity that you would want in a dinner party. The drinks will get the guests talking, even if they don’t share many common interests. Besides being able to open up over a few drinks, the nature of a cocktail party allows your guests to walk around and mingle, and get to know the other guests at the party.
Food
For a real retro Cuban fiesta you need hearty, full of flavor dishes. Ropa Vieja is one of my all time favorite dishes, and can be made hours ahead of time and placed in a crock pot, which makes for extra simple menu planning. If you aren’t big on the red meat, Jerk Chicken is a wonderful, tasty, and very spicy option, that will definitely put your guests in the mood for mambo. For a dessert you could serve up this delicious flan, or some sliced up pineapple, mangos, and star fruit on the side of some ice cream.
For some Cuban appetizer ideas, check out Taste of Cuba.
Drinks
With the wide array of flavors that Cuban, and other Caribbean foods provide, guests are going to want something cool, and slightly tropical to drink. A Mojito, Daquiri, or Cuba Libre can provide the ambiance, along with fun that is needed for a themed party. Make a large pitcher of your drink, so guests can help themselves. Use garnishes such as cherries, limes, and pineapple slices to make your drinks even more festive.
Decor
The key to decorating is lots of rich, vibrant, and contrasting colors. Nothing in the world says party like some bright, colorful streamers and they aren’t just for kid’s parties anymore. A bowl full of tropical fruits on a table make an incredibly beautiful, colorful, and simple centerpiece on any table. Hang some colored lights around the room to set the mood or dim the over head lights to help set the mood.
Music
Music is one of the easiest, and also one of the trickiest ways to set the mood for any party. What you put on your record/CD/i Pod player can really make or break your party. I have a very extensive collection of both records and MP3’s, however, if the guest list is more than four or so, I prefer to use the i Pod. The reason for this is obvious, it’s easier. With the i Pod I can plan out a play list ahead of time, hit the play list when guests arrive, and sit back and enjoy the music.
My very, very favorite record, which guarantees to get people up and dancing is A Touch of Tabasco by Rosemary Clooney and Perez Prado. Look for vintage mambo and cha cha music, such as Yma Sumac and Perez Prado. For some great compilations, check out the Ultra-Lounge collections, Mambo Fever and Cha Cha de Amor.
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Indulgences » Blog Archive » Friday Favorites, 01/04/08 says:
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January 4th, 2008 at 10:35 am