SIPS // bubbles SIPS // bubbles
Social Lubricant
KURT COLLINS
W
hat makes or breaks a great party is a matter of personal choice, but this much is always true: a centrally located, spiked punch bowl is key. The punch bowl has multiple functions, serving as a centerpiece, a networking location and a dispenser of social lubricant. No matter who you are, after a few glasses of spiked punch, music is more groovy, lights twinkle brighter, and your overall view of the party shifts toward awesomeness. Whether served from bowl or fountain, Champagne flutes or plastic cups, a great party punch has three components: Color: Bright and festive colors visually scream fun. Taste: The flavor should be a combination of effervescence, fruitiness and sweetness. Whatever alcohol you use, it should be mellow and smooth. Save the chest-burning brandy, scotch or whisky for your flask. Effects: Easily drinkable like Kool-Aid or soda, you may mistakenly forget the alcohol content of the punch. Drinking too much too quickly isn’t recommended. It is best to drink moderately. Know your limitations, and if you partake of the punch, drink responsibly. No matter the occasion, my absolute favorite party cocktail is called a Woo Woo. This is one part peach schnapps, one part vodka and three parts cranberry juice over ice. You can convert this cocktail into the most amazing punch, keeping approximately the same ratios.
// by Roxanne Wallis
Spike your punch bowl.
BOOM BOOM POW CHAMPAGNE PUNCH 4 bottles of Champagne (each 750 milliliter, standard size) 1 liter of peach schnapps 1 liter of triple-distilled vodka 1 gallon cranberry juice cocktail 2 cans diced peaches in light syrup 1 pint strawberries 1/4 cup sugar Wash, de-stem, and quarter strawberries. Place strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Refrigerate strawberry mixture until syrupy. Then, combine strawberries with diced peaches and add one to two cups of water. Freeze mixture in ice cube trays or as one large ring using a bundt pan.
Fill large punch bowl with remaining liquid ingredients and stir well. Before serving, add ice cubes to individual glasses or ice ring to punch bowl. Stir periodically to keep ingredients well mixed. Keep simple syrup or grenadine near the punch bowl so guests can adjust the sweetness of their drinks. Make simple syrup by combining equal parts sugar and boiling water until sugar completely dissolves. Make non-alcoholic Pow Punch by substituting peach nectar for schnapps, apple juice or pineapple juice for vodka and ginger ale for Champagne. As always, adjust recipe to your dietary needs and personal tastes.
Express Yourself by Donna Ladd
H
ello, and I like you. That’s what humorist and self-ordained mistress of entertaining Amy Sedaris wants your guests to hear from you. “I tend to live my life like a deaf person,” she writes. “I communicate with my actions: the way I dress, the way my home is decorated, and the gifts I give all speak for me. I take this to heart when I entertain.” And if her book, “I Like You,” tells the story, she is a quirky, fun, memorable party-giver. We suggest that you consider Work. Live. Play. Prosper.
borrowing—OK, just downright steal ’em—ideas from Sedaris’ delightful book, and let it inspire you to entertain in quirky, memorable ways. Yes, even for office parties. What is more predictable than boring office parties? Lighten up. Be creative. Here are some ideas: 1. Have a low-brow (or “white trash” party). Serve barbecued Spam, little weinies on sticks, baked Tater Tots (covered with Velveeta?), Jell-o cups with fruit inside. Give a prize for the best, er, costume.
2. Give a crafty party where everyone makes collages or cookie ornaments, or string popcorn. Serve a cocktail made in a glass shaker. 3. Make sure your parties have a crazy mix of people. It’s better to have drunken political arguments than folks sitting quietly around in a circle under bright lights. 4. Speaking of lights: Dim the dang things. More parties are ruined by bad lighting than anything else. Oh, except for boring people. 5. Music: new, retro, unpredictable. 59