Q: I am currently at a loss for food ideas for a themed party I'm throwing, so I thought I'd see if I could get some inspiration here. My boyfriend has just been retrenched and will be having his final work day at his current company in three weeks' time. I'm throwing him a "retrenchment party" to celebrate, rather than have us sit around at home moping.
So I was wondering: what snacks could I serve that would match the retrenchment theme? I really haven't been able to think of anything. — Sent by Emma
Editor: Emma, we're so sorry your boyfriend was laid off! But it's great you are throwing him a little party to end his job (and start a new career) on a bright note. These parties have been cropping up rather frequently lately, and they have a name: Pink slip parties! Here's one article with ideas on throwing your own pink slip party:
• How to throw a fun "pink slip" party - Ideas here include lots of alcohol, a dart board with your former company's logo on it, and "lots of hugs."
We'd suggest a pink theme: Pink drinks, pink cupcakes with lots of icing, and any other comfort food in pink that you can think of.
Hopefully the readers will have some great ideas on food and drink to go along with the theme, too!
Related: Weekend Entertaining: Ideas for Themed Dinner Parties
(Image: Broadcast Engineering)
It's not an impressive dish or really anything special, but there's a dessert in Quebec called "pudding chômeur", usually translated as "poor man's pudding", though another translation could be "unemployed man's pudding".
Here's a link for a recipe:
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/maple_pudding_chomeur.php
view Michelle of Montreal's profile
When my second job got thrown out by a competitor, the majority of the office got canned. What to do? Throw a 'lei off' party! They made leis out of old brochures, made everyone wear company shirts and had beer pong. If you want to go for something classier, you could go for a more tropical theme (pineapple, mai tais, etc...).
view kestrel127's profile
A bunch of my co-workers and I had a recession party. I made a pink-slip dress out of a 40 cent pillowcase. We served bottom shelf drinks (Pabst, Naragansett) and low-budget snacks (store brand cheese puffs. Pretzel rods. Charleston chew bars, only because the packaging reminded me of the 20s and the last big recession)
For cheap, indoor fun, we hoola-hooped. A good time was had by all.
view caitlin's profile
"lei-off" .... HAHAH! excellent.
view rebecca_f's profile
Along the same lines as the poor man's pudding, you could serve po' boy sandwiches (short for poor boy sandwiches). They're primarily made with fried shrimp as the protein, on a hoagie roll.
Alternatively, I love the idea of throwing a 1920s recession costume party.
view Cbina's profile
Eeeee, I gotta say, I would find a party like this extremely awkward.
I understand the intent (it's very sweet of you), but it's kind of like when someone has made a few too many self-deprecating jokes and you become unsure whether or not you should laugh and are grasping to steer the conversation elsewhere...
If it was me, I would probably just call it a pity party, make sure there was plenty of booze, and skip the cutesy theme stuff.
view akay's profile
If your boyfriend is into it, cool; if he's not, then maybe the party isn't such a great idea. I would also be careful about the amount of pink used. Unless he loves pink, it could be a little too 'Legally Blonde' for his taste.
I saw a great cake a while back that read "Not Laid Off, Paid Off". Maybe you could recreate this. As long as you keep it cheap and festive it should be fine. I do like those luau and po'boy ideas, though.
view heartmignardise's profile
Lemonade! (it seems life has handed you a few lemons)
view HazeL4844's profile
Be sure to play the appropriate music--
Take this job and shove it
Workin 9-5
What else?
view kelleyk's profile