Tip #1: Phone in some help
Don't feel the need to do everything yourself for a party. It's
easier to focus on an intricate main course or finish up tidying
the home if someone else works out the starters for you. Call
in a small business for a quick dish that will take the pressure
off your shoulders but still feel like a personal touch. We like
this custom charcuterie board offered by Oh Honey Baking Co.
Lots of color and variety make it easy for different palates to dig
into a substantive snack. Plus, there's no need for extra plating
when guests can just grab a bite and go — you don't need more
dishes to wash at the end of the night, anyway.
Tip #2: Create a signature
When you develop a go-to drink or dish, it gives your home
a distinct taste, creates party nostalgia, and becomes easier
to be ready for company at a moment's notice. Macon native
Stephen Reichert makes a great martini that feels like him: He
uses Beefeater Gin, Martini & Rossi Vermouth, anchovy-stuffed
olives, and four ounces of water for every two ounces of gin. "The
purists will be horrified," he stated. But, for him, sipping thanks to
the addition of water allows him to "happily sip" his way through
the evening. His advice is to prepare one before guests arrive and
come to the door with a cocktail in hand; this gives the guests the
freedom to choose a beverage (or not!) right away.
[Offering a beverage right away] sets the tone. Opens the door.
It is the job of the host to open the door. – Stephen Reichert
I typically bring desserts when I head to a party, either my
homemade brownies or pound cake. Neither are fancy, but they
are both so good. – Sarah MacConnell Schanck
REICHERT'S MARTINI SETUP
98 maconmagazine.com | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
