Stock that Bar!
Entertaining at home is ideal in today's economy and can lead to some crazy and memorable adventures. Combining a charming host, some good friends and a bar is a recipe for success. Your party could sail into the wee hours of the night...(unless you cut them off first ;)
You needn't have all the items listed below to have a successful get together so there's no need to panic. Just build up your inventory of bar gadgets and alcohol whith each event and soon enough you'll be serving up drinks like the pro's!
Sharp Objects, Tools and Gadgets...
- Paring knife for slicing, dicing, cubing, peeling, coring and cutting
- Rind peeler for removing the skin of citrus fruits in a decorative manner
- Can opener, bottle opener and corkscrews (both the winged and server style).
- Pour spouts to replace the lids while in use
- Metal scoop and/or tongs for ice; don't use glass. If it breaks in the ice it's an evident disaster.
- Manual juicer for a squeeze of fresh juice
- Blender for Margarita's (may need an ice pick if you have solid ice)
- Measuring spoons & long handles spoons for stirring
- Covered shaker and strainer for drinks like Martini's
- Rubber drip tray; used to catch drips from shot glasses tipped upside
- Cutting board to slice and dice your fruit
- Cocktail napkins & coasters add elegance and stop moisture from damaging your bar or tabletop
- Bar clothes for wiping up spills
- Bar trays for catching drips on upturned glasses(substitute bar clothes for a 'bar tray')
- Fridge for keeping stock, beer tap, keg and soda fountain
- Straws, umbrellas, stir sticks and toothpicks
- Trays for serving and organizing, stacking glassware
- Seasoning trays for rimming glasses with salt and sugar
- Small containers with removable lids
Glassware & Receptacles
- Jiggers for measuring alcohol portions; 1/2 oz., 1 oz. and 1 1/2 oz's are common
- Shot glasses for single shot drinks
- Short and tall cocktail glasses
- Martini and decorative cocktail glasses
- Red and white wine glasses
- Champagne flutes
- Small liquer glasses and Brandy snifters
- Glass beer mugs with and without a handle
- Glass coffee mugs with handles
- Glass or plastic pitchers and jugs for mixing and serving drinks
- Individual ice buckets
- Plastic pails; storage for additional ice
- Covered recycling and garbage containers
Edibles...
- Ice; cubed, chunked or shaved
- Fresh lemons and limes
- Maraschino cherries
- Green olives
- Pearl onions
- Celery stalks (the leafy hearts look nicest)
- Salt and pepper shaker
- Granulated sugar and celery salt (each goes inside it's own seasoning tray)
- Worschestire and Tobasco sauce
- Peanuts, pretzels, mixed salty and sweet snacks
Plan your gathering so your guests either arrive full or fill themselves up at your party. Provide snacks, appetizers, a full meal, desserts or all of the above remembering the longer the party, the more imperative this becomes! Both food, water and responsible drinking make for a quality evening. When one element is removed or more, the entire event for one or all has potential to be a bust.
Drinkables...
Alcohol Free
- Water, coffee and tea
- Tonic and Soda water
- Fruit juice; Clamato, tomato, orange, lime, cranberry
- Milk, cream and whipped cream
- Soda pop or cola's; Coke or Pepsi, 7-Up or Sprite, Ginger Ale
- Near beer, non-alcoholic beer
- Grenadine (redish pink colored sugar syrup)
- Coconut flavored syrup
Containing Alcohol
- Whisky, Bourbon, Vodka, White and Dark Rum, Scotch, Tequila and Gin
- Triple Sec, Malibu, Schnapps, Irish cream, Kahlua and Grand Marnier
- White and red wine
- Cider and Coolers
- Beer
...this list is almost endless but I'm sure you get the jist, right?! ;)
Other...
- Do not allow your guest to drink and drive; have a container for keys and keep them out of sight
- Determine who your trusted designated drivers are and spoil them a little extra
- Be sure to have a place for your intoxicated guests to crashout
- If necessary, arrange for taxi cabs at the end of the party
- As the host/ess it is imperative to stay half ass sober or pin down a total sleepover and bury the keys!
- Prepare everything beforehand so when your guests do arrive you can be hosting not preparing to host
- If you don't have what your guests want tell them to bring it with em' next time ;0) and have a beer!
p.s. find a tip jar that takes only money, not sarcasm!
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