AT THE table
Raise
the BAR I by FANNY SLATER
remember partying in the â80s. I was 4 and no taller than the hairy, high-socked legs of my grandparentsâ friends. While many middleage couples elect to eventually slow down their social calendars, my dadâs parents were in no hurry to cease celebrating life. Or Passover, or the Super Bowl, or any other occasion that called for a six-foot-long sub sandwich and an open bar. As a child visiting my grandparentsâ New Jersey home, I remember silently observing caterers as they scattered lastminute tufts of parsley over platters of lox moments before the ďŹrst guests arrived. I remember my Uncle Mitch effortlessly snapping the cap off of a chilled Mexican lager and handing it to a nearby partygoer. Iâm sure my familyâs love of entertaining inďŹuenced the hostess I am today â well, that and my unbridled enthusiasm for eating and drinking. What I learned from my family is that the point of gathering is not just about where, itâs also about how we do it and what we designate as the star of
the show. For my grandparents, it was smoked salmon and everything bagels. Recently, for me, itâs beer. You read that right: Iâve been elevating dinner parties by thinking beyond whatâs on the plate.
Bottle share
Iâm a product of my generation, in that Iâd rather spend my paycheck on an experience than a material good. Iâll take a trip instead of invest in a new car, and, on a smaller scale, maybe even pass up some new shoes to attend a local food truck festival. I also love to frequent craft breweries, a trend thatâs seemingly here to stay. As interest in specialty microbrews grows, Iâve noticed another trend within it: Open a bottle, or order a pint, and pass it around among friends. Itâs an informal take on beer ďŹights. Translated to entertaining, my friends and I like to buy a bottle, open it at home, and share sips alongside appetizers. This is a way for hop-lovers, no matter particular preferences, to expand their brew knowledge and their palates. photographs by ANDREW SHERMAN
90 | WALTER