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Party guide

An Elegant Evening: A Holiday Cocktail Party

A grown-up holiday party: everyone dressed up, the lights low, a jazz Christmas record playing and trays of bites instead of a sit-down dinner. Plan on two to three hours and about 10 to 12 bites per person.

Host tip: Pass the first round of bites yourself so you greet everyone, then set the rest out on a table and enjoy your own party.

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The menu

Bite
Shrimp cocktail with homemade sauceRecipe from Natasha's Kitchen ↗
Small crab cakesRecipe from Natasha's Kitchen ↗
Beef tenderloin crostini with horseradish creamRecipe from Pizzazzerie ↗
A cheese and charcuterie boardRecipe from A Couple Cooks ↗
Dessert
Homemade chocolate trufflesRecipe from Sally's Baking Addiction ↗

Drinks and ice

  • French 75: recipe
  • An alcohol-free version: lemon and simple syrup topped with sparkling NA wine
  • Red and white wine, and sparkling water with citrus

Clear cubes with a rosemary sprig

Freeze filtered, boiled water in a small cooler for clear ice, cut it into big cubes, and freeze a short rosemary sprig in a few. One cube per glass looks like a hotel bar. How to make clear ice

Make ahead

  1. 1 week before: Make the truffles and refrigerate them. Make the clear ice.
  2. 2 days before: Roast the tenderloin for the crostini; slice once cold. Make the horseradish cream and cocktail sauce.
  3. 1 day before: Form the crab cakes and refrigerate. Toast the crostini. Set up the bar.
  4. Day of, 1 hour out: Cook the shrimp and chill. Build the cheese board.
  5. As guests arrive: Crab cakes in the oven in batches; assemble crostini on trays.

The music

The 25 songs
  1. Christmas Time Is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio
  2. Linus and Lucy, Vince Guaraldi Trio
  3. Sleigh Ride, Ella Fitzgerald
  4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?, Ella Fitzgerald
  5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra
  6. The Christmas Waltz, Frank Sinatra
  7. Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt
  8. (It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus, Harry Connick Jr.
  9. Merry Christmas Darling, Carpenters
  10. My Favorite Things, John Coltrane
  11. Snowfall, Claude Thornhill
  12. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Dean Martin
  13. Winter Wonderland, Diana Krall
  14. Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep), Rosemary Clooney
  15. Cool Yule, Louis Armstrong
  16. Zat You, Santa Claus?, Louis Armstrong
  17. Moonlight in Vermont, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
  18. Winter Weather, Peggy Lee
  19. Merry Christmas Baby, Charles Brown
  20. Please Come Home for Christmas, Charles Brown
  21. This Christmas, Donny Hathaway
  22. Mistletoe and Holly, Frank Sinatra
  23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Vince Guaraldi Trio
  24. Skating, Vince Guaraldi Trio
  25. I'll Be Home for Christmas, Michael Bublé

Little touches

  • A gift for the host

    What guests can bring.

    A nice bottle of champagne, or pretty cocktail napkins

  • To take home

    A little something at the door.

    A small box of the truffles

  • Something to do

    A dress code ("festive cocktail") does most of the work; add a photo spot with good lighting

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