It is definitely not yet time to assert that the elegant cocktail party of the mid-twentieth century a thing of a previous era, but there is a recent trend in entertaining toward more casual events. Remember Carey Grant or Fred Astaire, dressed in their tuxedos; or consider Betty Grable in her swirling gown. They gathered in a magnificent manor house, sipped martinis and waltzed through the night. Can you honestly dream of your family, friends or neighbors relaxing in such an environment and actually being thrilled about it?
Most of us don’t have friends with magnificent mansions; neither do we have the budgets that allow us to bring home many bottles of imported gin and tin after tin of beluga caviar. Furthermore, we not as comfortable in tuxedos as in unbuttoned shirts. Exquisite coffee and dessert may be more appropriate ingredients for the relaxed social evenings of our times.
Your neighborhood certainly has a local bakery that sells cheesecake, or you might explore a little farther from home to find something that all of your guest don’t already experience in their everyday lives. You can have a selection of truly exquisite cheesecake delivered right to your home from across the country or a different part of your state.
Remember that people’s tastes vary, so provide a choice of cheesecake flavors. Offer a gourmet turtle cheesecake for the chocolate lovers on your guest list. Add a few walnuts and some dark chocolate shavings to the plate.
A nice alternative would be a strawberry or blueberry cheesecake for your friends who enjoy a fruitier taste. You might want to venture to one of the more unusual berries such as Marionberry, unique to the Pacific Northwest. If you opt for the tarter flavors, you can decorate with a mint sprig.
Don’t overlook those who are interested in splurging without sacrificing their dietary restrictions too much. Magnificent sugar free, low carb cheesecakes are available with tastes and textures that can rival their traditional counterparts. Add a couple berries or a thin slice of fresh pear.
Tastefully mark these choices with cards on the buffet so everyone can choose a slice of heaven that fits their own tolerance for sin.
Borrow some extra coffee makers, so that you can offer several coffees. Choose one of the interestingly flavored roasts. Add to that a robust, non-flavored alternative from Jamaica, perhaps. Of course, don’t forget the decaf for anyone staying away from caffeine.
A gourmet event such as this can be the twenty-first century equivalent of the cocktail party. Cheesecake and coffee do not require a tux, and the absence of alcohol allows for safe travel for all of your departing guests.
