"Firstly, and I cannot stress this enough, whether you've been planning for a year or 15 minutes, the best parties are the simplest. All anyone is hoping for is a good chat, something to drink, and enough to eat that they don't feel like gnawing an arm off on the bus home. Unless you're Jay Gatsby, no one expects a full bar, Michelin-starred catering or a live band."
"That said, a theme is helpful for disguising the fact you've just thrown this thing together on the way home from work And by theme, I mean something like, for instance, Christmas. Getting slightly more specific (Scandinavian Christmas, say, with glogg, spiced punch, smoked fish and rye crackers, Nordic beats playlist; or Mexican Christmas, with ponche navideno, cold beers or margaritas, and heaps of tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole, and Luis Miguel on the stereo) will focus your options on the inevitable supermarket sweep."
Keep last-minute gatherings simple and focused on conversation, drinks and enough food to prevent hunger. Choose a clear theme to narrow menu and music choices and to disguise hurried planning. Select one alcoholic option and one non-alcoholic option to cover guest preferences. Buy a couple of themed nibbles in bulk so abundance feels generous rather than chaotic. Offer competitively priced sparkling wine chilled in a sink or cold bottles rather than a single expensive bottle. Provide plenty of ice. Use a concise playlist matching the theme to set atmosphere without extra effort.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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