Must Have Hors D’oeuvres at your Next Celebration!
It’s no secret that I am a huge foodie and I certainly love a good bite-sized hors d’oeuvre! It could be that they are SO cute or that they are always a comfort food classic with a unique spin! I thoroughly enjoy the creative process when it comes to menu planning for celebrations, weddings and dinner parties especially for cocktail hour!
I feel like cocktail hour is when everyone lets loose and mingles, indulges in a variety of bite sized delights and sips on unique signature cocktails, it might just be my favorite part of any celebration!
When I’m not in my kitchen cooking up some of my very own appies for dinner parties that I host, I am brainstorming client menu ideas. I always ask clients to fill out a questionnaire when we start the planning process and it includes questions like what are your favorite restaurants, what are some dishes that you can’t live without, your go-to cocktail of choice, do you want a menu theme based on your location and so on. Creating a menu that not only reflects the clients but also your celebration’s aesthetic and the variety of taste buds and dietary restrictions for all your guests is important. Ask yourself some of these questions because it will help guide you to find the perfect caterer, private chef or online recipes!
A new trend we have seen with more intimate celebrations is the extensive menu including a long list of delicious hors d'oeuvres that are outside the box and multi-course dinner menus and I absolutely LOVE it! Can you tell I get excited about food?! To get you inspired I have rounded up a list of hors d’oeuvres from some of my past celebrations.
The tiniest BLT with Vermont Cheddar, Mustard Aïoli on a Homemade Biscuit that has ton of flavor! made with love by Saltbox Farm Catering. Photography by Move Mountains Co.
Mini Steak Frites made with love by me, Cristen!
This platter of hors d’oeuvres was from my (Cristen’s) wedding made with love by 24 Carrots Catering! Front bottom left is Grilled Lamb Chops with Sicilian Pesto. To the bottom right is Medjool Dates stuffed with whipped feta and wrapped in prosciutto with honey drizzle and crushed pistachios. The ones faded in the back are Chicken Baklava Lollipops, Butternut Squash and Sage Arancini, Bite-Size Cottage Cheese and Potato Pierogies and Crab Cakes with Whole-Grain Mustard Aioli and Micro Celery. Photography by: Move Mountains Co.
These Lobster Rangoons should be on everyone’s menu! I rarely see them on any menus on the West Coast, it must be an East Coast thing and I certainly miss it!
This classic Italian comfort food is a must have as a miniature version - The Meatball! This platter of meatballs was made with love by the chef’s table and photographed by About time photography.
These just might be one of my favorite sliders I have eaten at a wedding, EVER! It has to be the homemade Brazilian Cheese Bun made with love from the team at Events by BH.
There is a lot of hors d’oeuvre inspiration on this platter! Starting from the bottom - Crispy Zucchini Pancakes with crème fraîche and chervil - the perfect light bite for a summer celebration or for your vegetarian friends! And, you can’t miss those mouthwatering Buttery Maine Lobster Rolls - A New England Tradition! Some other bites on this platter are the Scallops Wrapped in Bacon with a honey lime glaze and aleppo chili along with those BLTs I talked about earlier and Sun Gold Tomato Toasts with whipped ricotta & sunflower seed pesto! All made with love by our friends over at Saltbox Farm Catering!
Chinese Take-out anyone?! These adorable Stir Fry Chinese Take out Boxes are the perfect late night appie to grab and go so you can get back on the dance floor! Photography by Jessica K Feidan
Yellowfin tuna with Avocado, shaved Cucumber, Sweet Chili on a Crostini made with love from Azucar Restaurant & Bar and Captured by Move Mountains Co.
CANTALOUPE, PEACH & MINT BITE wrapped in PROSCIUTTO and without - the perfect appetizer service two ways for both those meat and non-meat eaters! These hors d’oeuvres were made with love by Applecroft Catering. Photography by Jamie Mercurio Photography
You must be hungry now after seeing all those delicious hors d’oeuvres! Meal planning got a whole lot more exciting! I hope you feel inspired to create a unique cocktail hour menu for all your guests whether it is at your wedding, in your home or your next party!
Happy Planning, friends!
Cheers,