main table, right view
My husband and I enjoy entertaining: dinner, desserts and coffee, Sunday dinner or birthday celebrations, and at least one annual holiday party during Advent. While I have a few recipes that I’ve come to be known for (cheesecake) and could serve at every party and no one would complain, I do like to mix things up a little.
Question: How can I remember what was served and who attended?
Answer: Party/Event cards – index cards or notes that debrief the event.
Often times after a party I’ll write down the final menu on a recipe card and file it for future reference. This helps me know what worked, what people enjoyed most, what to avoid next time, what to add and so on.
These cards are a big help, especially for planning for next year.
Here’s an e-version of my party card (minus the guest list). Photos are helpful, but not always necessary.
The cards are also a great memory keeper and when I flip through the stack the cards bring to mind some wonderful meals and gatherings.
Advent Party 2010
Date: 12/10/10
Guests: 16
We had a wonderful evening gathering – These are the goodies we prepared for the dessert table.
New York Style Cheesecake with cherries
Guinness Bailey’s Cupcakes (no one knew at first what to expect of simple cupcakes. Word quickly spread though after the first bite was taken)
Candy Bar Tarts (okay. next time, make my own phyllo cups)
Peanut Butter Fudge (guests who protested that they had sufficient to eat, kept nibbling at the edge of the fudge tray)
Assorted Christmas cookies (Molasses, shortbread, peanut butter kiss)
frosted Croissants (a bit dry, don’t do these next time)
Snow Ball Cream Puff (a new hit; ended up coming out of the freezer a little later than expected, but that turned out to be a bonus and actually made it easier to cut)
cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts
beverages: wine, coffee, soda, water
Next time for dessert party: Add another cheese to cheese plate
Candy Bar Tarts were overlooked
Cheesecake always a hit
Next time for Advent party - “After 2 years of desserts, perhaps it’s time to go back to simple supper with a single dessert or even back to appetizers with a small assortment of individual desserts.” Without this notation, I’m likely to plan next year’s Advent gathering and wonder ‘how many years have we had desserts and coffee?’ ‘Was there enough cheese? wine?’ and so on. The debriefing notes are a great help and insure a new spark or a new taste even for revelers who have attended the festivities 5 years in a row.
Hope these are a helpful tool.
~Enjoy!
main table, left view
main table, far left view
host and hostess
