Image via Complex Original
Football season is in full swing, and the weeklybeer-and-wing escapades at your local bar, while enjoyable, are starting to wear on your wallet. The easiest way to put your budget in line? Bring the party back to tu casa instead.
We know taming a crowd can be taxing, which is why we brought in entertaining expert Mark Addison to help you survive any party scenario with ease. As the head of event design firm EVENTSTYLE and the organizer of too many celebrity events to count, it's safe to say Addison knows a thing or two about throwing a killer party.
Here, Addison channels his passion for engineering events into a concise, easy-to follow guide to every scenario you might find yourself in this football season. Learn a new party trick or two with Deeper Than Wings: 5 Killer Football Spreads.
By Shanté Cosme (@ShanteCosme)
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With the Boys
The game plan: A laid-back day watching a game with friends
Eating: "Something hearty and filling. A big one pot meal you can make in advance, a stew, a chili, or jambalaya. Boys need to invest in a crock-pot. There’s nothing sissy about a crock-pot. It’s a lazy-man meal-machine. You throw it all in a pot, you set a timer, you forget about it. Then you take it and throw it on the table. If you want to kick it up a notch, serve it in a bread bowl."
Drinking: "Parrot Bay frozen pouches will keep you in the game and in front of the television. And great beers. I really love Guinness, and my favorite drink to do is a black and tan. Doing a black and tan at a party on the back of a spoon is very impressive. Pour your lighter beer first and your darker beer next and it creates this perfect black and tan. It's something a lot of people assume people you can only have at a bar."
Words of wisdom: "Take the opportunity to take them places you haven’t been before."
With a Woman
The game plan: The game with your main girl, with some post-game overtime
Eating: "Actually cook something. Plan on making a meal. She maybe doesn’t want to sit in front of a television and watch the entire game, so you need to entice. Know what her favorite foods are. 'I made you veal scaloppini because I know you loved it in the restaurant a couple of weeks back and I figured out how to do it.' It doesn’t have to be tailgating for two party. Elevate it and be impressive. You can do a gourmet baked potatoes, and make your own mini potato bar. Take some lobster or shrimp and throw that on top of a potato. Keep the surprises up. Potatoes and caviar go really well together."
Drinking: "Turn on the champagne, or have a nice sparkling wine, or even a dessert wine or dessert coffee."
Words of wisdom: "You can’t be a one-hit-wonder. Have something else ready for a commercial break. You have to end the night with romance. Have some decadent chocolates or macaroons on hand. Boys, learn what a macaroon is, because girls love them!) Or strawberries and cream, because that’s a nice interaction."
With the Boss and Co-workers
The game plan: Network and watch the game at the same time.
Eating: "Charcuterie and cheese, because the assumption is that you may go on to dinner. Take a cue from one of your favorite restaurants. Upgrade from just grapes; use apple or pear if they're in season. Use Spanish almonds instead of traditional almonds; whole grain or Dijon mustard; different types of bread and textures; and different meat or cheese spreads."
Drinking: "If you know what your boss's favorite wine or spirit is, impress them with something they might not normally have along the same lines. Know them and know they’re preferences."
Words of wisdom: "Know what your serving and appear knowledgeable. Whether you’re entertaining colleagues, your boss, or prospective partners, it makes that person feel comfortable when you have a knowledge base outside of your field. It makes you a more well-rounded, interesting person."
With the Family
The game plan: Managing your family members without losing your head.
Eating: "I love creating individual dips and spreads for the family. You fill disposable baking tins, (or votive candle holders, or mason jars, whatever) with hummus dip, or a layered bean dip. You can do the same thing with a crudité with Green Goddess dressing from your grocery store and it becomes a personal little crudité. It’s a fun concept so you don’t have a giant bowl that ends up being a colossal mess by the first quarter. Everyone has their own and they feel satisfied."
Drinking: "Something easy and fun, like frozen drinks made with Parrot Bay frozen pouches. Women love frozen drinks. If you want to be interactive, you can have a platter of fruit with skewers so you can make you own according to your preferences."
Words of wisdom:"Keep the kids removed from the television, so the giggling and screaming doesn’t distract from the game. Have some sports trivia, finger footballs, and fun mocktails. Kids drink juice boxes all day everyday. You can get a bunch of different types of sparkling soda, and have some different squeegee bottles of fruit flavors and then they get to play spin art and squeeze bottles into their drinks and make different concoctions."
For Any Party
On keeping things stress free: "It’s all about planning. Ask for help if you need help (but don't make your guest's work at the party). Plan ahead and get as much preparation done in the day or hours before your guests come. Start small. If it’s your first time out of the gate, just invite friends. If something goes wrong, they’ll be okay with it."
Three keys to making your party a success:
1. "Always make sure you order ice. A lot of people think, 'Oh, I have a freezer that has an ice maker,' but it will never be enough. You always need extra ice."
2. "Clean your bathroom. That is definitely one place your guests are going to see."
3. "Have fun with it. It is entertaining, so you should be entertained as well. Take some chances. If you really love something, know how to make it yourself. You can do a basic recipe and make it your own. If you love spice, layer in the jalapeño. That’s the most gracious thing, sharing yourself with other people you like."
