Late Night Entertaining

My company's holiday party is this Friday and my husband and I are hosting an "after-party" for a few of my close colleagues. We will all have enjoyed a four-course dinner, but I feel like I need to have some snacks and drinks available at my house. Any suggestions for an appropriate, easy to assemble spread?

Bonnie Benwick, the assistant food editor at The Washington Post offered this advice:
We're big fans of these chocolate grapes (see recipe below), which are light and refreshing -- guaranteed to disappear. As for drinks, I saw a party idea on a holiday entertaining show recently that might be fun for your friendly bunch:Print several special drink recipes on cards and have them strewn about a bar setup that can be done ahead of time, which would include all the ingredients called for. People can make their own, and there's less fussing for you.

Chocolate Grapes
Makes 3 cups

You can make (and eat) these in minutes. Adapted from "Happy in the Kitchen," by Michel Richard (Artisan, 2006).

1 pound stemmed and chilled seedless grapes
4 ounces 60 percent semisweet chocolate, melted, at body temperature
1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Wash and dry the grapes well; place in a large bowl. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Add the melted chocolate to the grapes, 1 tablespoon at a time, carefully scraping down the sides of the bowl and stirring through the center of the grapes so that they are evenly coated.
As the chocolate begins to set (which will be almost immediately), place the cocoa powder in a small strainer and sift the powder, little by little, over the surface of the grapes. Gently toss or stir the grapes as you continue to sift until all of the grapes are well coated and separated. Spread the grapes on the baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the chocolate has completely set, or up to 1 day.

Annie Groer, a staff writer at the Home section of the newspaper who writes frequently about entertaining, had the following suggestions:
Since you'll have had cocktails, plus wine with dinner, I'd offer good strong coffee (caffeine and decaf), herbal tea, fizzy water, maybe cranberry or mango juice. Do the European thing and serve two or three nice cheeses (set them out at room temperature before you leave for the party), with some grapes, crackers or thinly sliced sourdough bread, a dish of salted almonds and nice olives. If they are thoroughly sated, just offer fruit --clementines, sliced pear--that can be eaten with fingers. And to drink? Red and white wine and/or a digestif: Think port, cognac, maybe a liqueur like Poire William (pear) or Chambord (cranberry). If your guests have over-imbibed at dinner, push the non-alcoholic stuff.

From Terri Sapienza, a reporter in the Home section:
Sue Bluford, a D.C. floral designer and sometime party planner, gave me this great idea for a late-night party: serve cordials, cocktials, coffee and desserts from 10pm-1am (or later). This is a particularly fun idea during the holidays, when people get invited to several events on the same night, usually scheduled earlier in the evening. Guests can go to their respective parties earlier, then all convene at your house late-night.

Leigh Lambert, a former caterer who works in the Post food section, had this to say:
I would keep it to anything you can get from Trader Joe's or the like. A few spreads (veggie, pate, dip, cheesy things), some snack mix and possibly a tray of chocolate (thin mints, dark and not too much of a gooey mouthful).
Coffee and mulled cider to swish.

By Liz Seymour |  December 5, 2006; 1:41 PM ET  | Category:  Parties
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