THE BETWEEN BOOKS COCKTAIL PARTY
We love doing it all, from setting out dishes
of our legendary cocktail nuts to leaving your kitchen shiny clean. That
way, you can actually talk with your guests…and we have the fun
of presenting our work. But sometimes clients want just food, and we
are very happy to provide that. We can drop off an orderly array of boxes
with intelligent instructions on final prep and presentation; we include
garnishes--even a nicely cut orange to capture used picks. Because some
of our clients have their own wine cellars while others would like us
to supply absolutely everything, we offer drink options separately as
well.
cocktail food for 30-100 people
stationary nibbles
Nancy's fancy sweet and salty cocktail nuts, such as pecans w/ bourbon
and cinnamon, hazelnuts in cocoa meringue, maple rum walnuts, cashews
w/ Scotch and ginger, blanched almonds roasted in almond oil, and
pistachios w/ rose and vanilla
SnipSnaps (our almost patented oven-dried crisp strips of just parsnip)
spiral-cut mixed radishes w/ mixed salts
oven-dried tomatoes (7 hours at 200 degrees creates an amazing sweet succulence),
bite-size fresh mozzarella, pitted olives, handmade breadsticks to spear
the above, and basil salt to be applied ad hoc
passed savories (or put them on a buffet table)
tiny triangles of intense sweet red pepper jam and black olive paste,
w/ fresh oregano, on soft wheat bread
(vegetarian/vegan/room-temp)
truffled gougeres, the ultimate cheese puff
(vegetarian, must be served hot)
medallions of lamb w/ poached organic apricots on cinnamon skewers
(made with the eye of the rib chop from Australian or New Zealand lamb,
room-temp)
Irish cold-smoked or hot-smoked salmon on Irish brown bread, w/ garnish
of dill, lime, and caperberry
(we get our salmon directly from Ireland, and buy or make Irish brown
brown bread with its distinctive nuttiness)
thumb-size baked potatoes, Peruvian blue if market permits, w/ sour cream,
butter, chive
(vegetarian and can be made vegan, served hot)
chicken a la palette
(forgive a coy name, but we just love the look of this hors d'oeuvre:
bits of chicken thigh variously crusted in yellow, blue, and red corn
chip dust, served on a white plastic painter's palette with a rainbow
of dunks made from intensely reduced fruit juices to resemble daubs of
paint, for instance coconut, pineapple, tangerine, blueberry, kiwi, carrot,
and cranberry)
Green Market vegetable of the moment
grillled new-crop asparagus and blanches sugars nap peas on minted ice
are typical favorites reflecting the best available local crop
cost: 30-65 people, $55 per guest; 65-100, $50 per guest
(We will determine with you how much of which
hors d’oeuvre to make, depending on the inclination of you and
your guests. We can variously propose an all-vegetarian menu or head in
the opposite direction and add slow-roasted organic or naturally raised
filet of beef with home steakhouse sauce, our own ketchup, and mustard
fruits for an additional $5 per person)
Sweet endings: We love making tiny desserts. If the timing and mood
of your party calls for a round of desserts, we will pass (or give you
to present), chocolate dipped strawberries, brownie buttons, mixed meringues,
tiny ice cream cones w/ fruited ricotta, and our new favorite, apple
salsa in a cider reduction, scooped up with crisped slices of apple. We
can also provide coffee and tea service.
(Price to be determined.)
Crew: If we are to staff your party, we suggest a server for every 10-15
guests. Servers will wear non-uniform stylish black-on-black or, if you
prefer, blue jeans with formal pleated white shirts. Fee: $30 an hour
per crew member for set-up (1-2 hours), service, and clean-up (1/2 hour).
Bar: We enjoy choosing the wine to go with our food and your wishes,
and we do not mark up the prices, whether we are dealing with a winery
or retail store. We are happy to design a special cocktail for your event
and supply the best linen-like beverage napkins, commercial ice, and
organic limes and lemons, all at a pass-along price. We enjoy giving
special thought to people who don't drink alcohol and are happy to provide
you with sparkling and flat water at the wholesale price (we favor Saratoga
in the pretty blue bottle), exquisite gewurtztraminer grape juice, and
non-alcoholic beer.