An atmosphere of relaxed hospitality is the key to successfully hosting any perfect meal. That means thinking well ahead to plan a menu that requires little last-minute attention and frees you to enjoy your guests.
Brunch makes a delightful choice for many reasons. A number of recipes allow advance preparation and easy service. The timing of brunch allows greater flexibility for guests busy with business affairs or evening events. The cost and “liability” of serving a variety of alcohol selections is minimized. Let’s look at the elements that contribute to a perfect, stress-free brunch from Sears Imported Autos.
Map your plan
This is not the occasion to serve that perfectly-timed soufflé or made-to-order omelets. Choose menu items that allow advance preparation. Quiche and stratas are two of the best main dishes; in that they can be prepared ahead, pre-cut into portions, and easily reheated. Fruit and mixed green salads offer the same pre-preparation advantages, with only last minute touches to be added.
An elegant touch for serving fruit is the use of champagne glasses or small ramekins—and don’t forget about some of those delicious baked fruit dishes like pears with raspberries or baked grapefruit.
Self-service food “stations”, utensils, and decorations
Whether or not you choose to seat guests at your well-appointed dining room table or scatter them about the living room, setting your food and drinks in different locations accomplishes several things: guests can help themselves while you mingle or replenish serving dishes.
To one side of your main buffet table, set out plates, bowls, silverware, and napkins. Pre-arrange trivets and serving spoons and include salt, pepper, and other condiments. To minimize line-ups, set pots of coffee and tea and pitchers of juice and mimosas in a separate area. A third table could present pre-cut desserts and cheeses with forks and dessert plates.
At each of your serving tables, theme decorations to the season or occasion. If you host a baby shower brunch, make clever “piles” of building blocks or other toys that also can serve as gifts. For an Easter or spring brunch, white lilies make a simple, beautiful “perfumed” bouquet.
Engage helpers
Guests like to be involved, so plan ahead to ask for specific help. Perhaps a friend will keep an eye on the drink table to refill pots, pitchers, cream, and sugar. Another friend could gather up empty plates and utensils. In fact, if you fill one of your sinks with piping hot, soapy water, dishes can be slipped right in to ease the clean-up process.
All of these tips create a relaxed atmosphere and allow you to be free of stress to enjoy your guests.
