Tasting Parties

I was out of town two weeks ago and to kill some time one afternoon, I stopped by the local Pier 1 Imports store. I love this store because I always walk in and feel so inspired to entertain, and without fail, this visit created the same reaction. Or maybe it was worse this time. I. WANTED. IT. ALL. :-) In the words of Rachel Zoe, "I DIE!"

What's the big deal? See photo below. Pier 1 has a new line of tableware for tasting parties! 

What is a tasting party? This concept comes from the tapas and small plate trends in restaurants. I would personally host a tasting party and either a) have an excuse to make a bunch of different recipes that I love, or b) invite others to bring along their favorite dish to share with the rest of the party guests.

What makes this a fun concept is that a tasting party is meant to taste... so the portions are smaller, unluck a traditional potluck event. So if I love food so much, why would I want to eat less?? Hello, annual holiday season weight gain! :-) I love the tasting party concept especially for holiday celebrations for a few reasons...

1. We all tend to groan at yet "another" holiday party.
2. It will enable you to provide food for your guests without stressing over the party budget.
3. It provides a variety of options for every palate.
4. Since you will not be providing a full meal, you can host a tasting party at alternate time (like afternoon) which will help ease the stress for guests who have multiple holiday party invitations for the same evening. 
5. You can elect to pair the food tasting with a beverage tasting as well. Try out some new concoctions or wines you've been wanting to try. Or, invite your guests to bring their favorite beverage to share since you'll be providing the food.

Photo courtesy of Pier1.com

What might possibly be the most fun part about a tasting party is the miniture dishware that Pier 1 Imports now offers for your convenience.... and just how CUTE are those mini spoons?? Click here to browse through Pier 1's online store to check them out for yourself.

Photo courtesy of Pier1.com

You don't need to limit yourself to hosting a tasting party solely during the holiday season. Use this concept for a chocolate tasting, a night with the girls (or guys), a child's birthday party, or a viewing party for the big game.

Chocolate Tasting Party

Host a chocolate tasting party as a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day... or a Girls' Night Out, or any other special occasion (bridal shower, baby shower, etc.).

Enjoy drinking chocolate, chocolate truffles, chocolate bars, chocolate dipped fruit, and more in your own home. Find a local store that sells a wide variety of chocolate. Pick out several types of light and dark chocolate, plus other varieties in-between. As you sample the chocolate, move from light to dark because the flavor becomes more complex (like wine).

At your tasting, throw in a chocolate trivia or a chocolate-themed board game. Check out these 50 trivia questions from brownielocks.com. Or, do your own research on chocolate and create your own game!

Don't forget to develop a creative ambiance for the party. Consider a color scheme like white (to show off the chocolate) or pink and brown. Have music playing in the background and some nice dessert wine ready to pour. In addition, you may want to provide other food options such as appetizers to help combat the sugar rush from the chocolate!

If you have additional thoughts or ideas to share, please do so in the comments section. Have fun!