Cocktail Reception Tasty Bites
Instead of a cocktail on arrival, how about a cocktail and some arancini? Whether you opt for duck fat popcorn, elegant tartlets or a grand charcuterie display, our advice is to always make sure there’s something for guests to nibble on the moment they arrive. Scroll for inspiration from some of our most experienced Partners on how to impress, (and feed,) the most discerning guests upon arrival + pro tips on how to execute the most memorable and successful cocktail event.
The Lambs Club (NYC)
As some guests arrive hungry, The Lambs Club recommends starting with snacks like spiced nuts or duck fat popcorn. These “lite bites” are the perfect way to give early birds something to eat right away since hors d’oeuvres generally start once more guests have arrived.
Scroll to the bottom of The Lambs Club profile for a list of Banquet Snacks, Platters & Stations.
Frances (SF)
Frances is an ode to refined yet comfortable sensibilities in both food and decor. Their featured créme fraîche soubise tartlets with caviar share in this philosophy and are elegant and rich with layered textures. They’re impressive & most important, they’re easy to eat so guests won’t have trouble enjoying them with a glass of wine in hand.
Photos by Anna Mae Bafia
Bobo (NYC)
The team at Bobo recently revamped their cocktail reception menus with enhanced passed canapés & platters. Start off a with a grand display of platters (charcuterie, fromage, crudite, and shrimp cocktail and oysters,) to impress any discerning guest.
Scroll to “Beverages & Hors d’Oeuvres” for a full list of passed canapés and platters
Hilda and Jesse (SF)
The “Shrimp Toastie” (chili mayo, sesame, cilantro) is a crowd favorite because it pairs nicely with everything. It’s delicious and deceptively simple but each bite explodes with flavor. The toastie touches on all the senses — from the base crunch, to the softness of the mousse, matched with the freshness of the herbs.
Pro-Tip: How to execute a memorable cocktail reception: Place an equal emphasis on caring hospitality, a love for food, inspiring cocktails and meaningful conversation.
Tarallucci e Vino (NYC)
Arancini are gently fried Italian rice balls. Tarallucci e Vino offers seasonal variations, including Fontina e Parmigiano, Wild Mushroom and Spring Pea.
Pro-Tip: Select menu items that are crowd pleasers: Pick something that is classic and approachable. Arancini are crowd-pleasers among guests of all ages and have become a mainstay of Tarallucci’s events menu and their Happy Hour menu.
Swingers — Dupont Circle (DC)
Swingers partners with local, beloved restaurant groups in each venue. In DC, KNEAD restaurants & bakery provide a variety of nibbles, bites and platters to offer guests during or after you enjoy a round or two of crazy golf. Ordering platters for your event means that your guests are treated to cuisine from 4 of the top restaurants in the city, all in one place! Pictured above are DC Half-Smokes, fried ravioli, loaded tater tot nachos and churros for a sweet finish.
Scroll to the “Menus” section for a full list of event platters
Hawksmoor (NYC)
Send your guests off into the night with a gift to remember you by! At Hawksmoor in NYC and London, they sell TRIBUTES.
‘Our tribute to a childhood favorite that for trademark reasons we can only tell you are not “Polos” but might rhyme with them.’
Add-on to your event: 1 box of 8 chocolates for $25/guest
