Cocktail Party Tip: Do One Passed Appetizer

We're starting to think about holiday entertaining, and for us, that means appetizers. Our hors d'oeuvre tables are usually filled with cheese, bread, olives and other no-fuss nibbles, but we like to do one or two special items that deserve a little special attention.

Why not make those special items a passed appetizer?

It would be great for something fresh from the oven that's best eaten hot – like these cheddar and blue cheese gougères. This was a passed appetizer at a cocktail party we attended, and we watched everyone's eyes light up as the cheesy bites emerged from the kitchen and made their way around the room.

We think it's a great idea because hopefully your guests are busy enjoying themselves and in the middle of conversations, so they may not notice a new addition to the buffet table. This way, everyone gets a chance to have a bite before they get cold. Plus, it just adds to the feeling of hospitality.

If you don't have too much else going on, you could pass the appetizer yourself. Or, you could enlist a co-host or good friend who's offered to help.

Do you usually do a passed appetizer?

(Image: Joanna Miller)

Comments (7)

I would love to do several passed hors d'oeuvres. I haven't had a cocktail party yet. But I am planning one at the end of the year. Those gougères look delightful. I think I will add those to my list.

posted by shantell on November 3rd 2009 at 11:13am
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Never done it before but thanks for the tip! I'll definitely do this at my housewarming party next weekend.

posted by syrupandhoney on November 3rd 2009 at 11:56am
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Shots of hot soup in fall/winter or cold soup in spring/summer. Then I go back around with the tray and whisk everyone's shot or teacup away so they can move on to the room temp. table apps....

posted by lotusmoss on November 3rd 2009 at 12:45pm
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ewwwww...germs!

posted by stephie80 on November 3rd 2009 at 1:37pm
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@lotusmoss - love the idea of soup shots! Might have to borrow :)

posted by marmite on November 3rd 2009 at 3:18pm
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Soup shots! Then I wouldn't feel ridiculous with my collection of vintage shotglasses when a) I don't do shots and b) no one measures their drinks that preciously (at least not any of my early-twenty-something friends)

posted by percent on November 3rd 2009 at 4:14pm
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@marmite: please do! My favs are:
-butternut squash soup (you know--something with either apple, curry powder, other warming spices) garnished with a dallop of yogurt and some snipped chives
-carrot soup (either a simple carrot/ginger served chilled or hot or lentil, coconut milk, carrot) garnished the same way
-cucumber-yogurt soup (container of plain yogurt, olive oil, two peeled seeded cukes, salt pepper and lots of fresh dill) served cold, and which is so pretty garnished with chive blossoms, flavored oil, or a shrimp on the rim of the shot glass or teacup

People freak out and think this is so fancy, even if all it entailed was warming up some soup you froze a couple months ago and putting some herb garnish on top....

posted by lotusmoss on November 4th 2009 at 1:28pm
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