Hosting is no easy task. Between cleaning, setting up the table, and hauling all your precious dinnerware out of storage, there can be little time left for the essential task of cooking. The good news is that you aren't strapped for options any longer. From artisanal bread rolls and gourmet dips to pre-made pies, the roster of store-bought foods is only increasing with time. You don't have to worry about timing recipes perfectly or preventing last-minute cooking disasters.
After years of hosting and entertaining, I've realized something: a great signature drink takes a party from meh to festive! I've tested dozens of holiday cocktails and mocktails to find out which ones actually taste good, are easy enough to make, and spark that "ooh, what is that?" reaction. I've put together a list of all my favorite holiday drinks, whether you're hosting Christmas dinner, need a signature cocktail for New Year's Eve, or just want something festive to sip on a quiet evening.
When you're at a restaurant and your grilled hanger steak comes to the table with a small pile of microgreens on top, or your cocktail shows up with a floating edible flower, do you actually eat the garnish? If you don't, you're not alone. Garnishes are intended to make a dish look more appealing and help the empty space on the plate look fuller, but they don't always add taste to a meal.
Often in the world of cocktails, people will get caught up in the main ingredient and then skimp on the accoutrements. By now we know that the perfect garnish might be the difference between a great Gibson and a mediocre martini. And we should also know that since a margarita and many other drinks is two-thirds lime-sugar-agave mix to alcohol, it might make more sense to spend some more time making sure that mixer is great instead of the other way around.
