Birthday Parties
Celebrate the special day with great food, fun drinks and easy entertaining

Throwing a birthday party for friends or family is the most thoughtful gift you can give. Your recipe for success is: Take a basic party; throw in some extra fun and good wishes; finish with a celebration cake topped with candles.

Party Tips:

Keep it finger-friendly. Unless it's a sit-down dinner, finger food is the best way to go. Look for simple, elegant ways to present food, whether it's making crispy cups out of parmesan cheese or using endive leaves as spoons.

Make it interactive. Assemble-your-own foods - such as tacos or summer rolls - give your guests a built-in conversation starter.

Keep the crowd moving. If you're not doing all finger food, be sure to arrange a buffet table with an eye to traffic flow. Make it easy for your guests to serve themselves: pre-slice larger cuts of meat; wrap utensils in napkins and place them at the end of the table; keep condiments all in one place with spoons. Clearly label foods to help alleviate any confusion.

Plan ahead. No one wants a frazzled host. Do all of your prep work in advance (cutting crudités, assembling sandwiches, etc.) and keep whatever extra food you have on hand in marked containers in the fridge. When you have to refill the buffet and your kitchen is crowded (which it will be), it'll be much easier if you're prepared. Also, consider asking your guests to bring something, like beverages, desserts or appetizers.

Anticipate ice needs. If your fridge doesn't have an icemaker, buy ice. You'll almost always need more than you think.

Serve a festive dessert. Birthday cakes are always appropriate and appreciated. Just don't forget the candles.

Menus:

Milestone
Old Cuban
Dry Aged Standing Rib Roast with Sage Jus
Good Old Country Stuffing
Sliced Tomatoes with Fresh Basil and Aged Balsamic
Old Time Chocolate Fudge
Torta della Nonna (Grandma's Cake)
The Ultimate Cheese Course

Spring Menu
Roast Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze
Sugar Snap Peas with Ginger and Garlic
Parsley-Dill Potatoes
Old Fashioned Root Beer Float Cake

Summer Menu
Grilled Lobster Tails with Green Curry-Mango Dipping Sauce
Grilled Antipasto Platter
Wild Rice Salad
Very Strawberry Shortcake

Fall Menu
Roasted Pork Shoulder (Pernil Al Horno)
Charlotte's Pan-Roasted Latin Style Garlic Soup
Cuban Black Beans and Cumin Scented Rice
Tres Leches (Three Milks Cake), Latin America

Winter Menu
Rib-Eye Steak au Poivre with Balsamic Reduction
Winter Vegetable Curry
Basmati Rice Salad
Gingerbread with Spiced Creme Anglaise

Top 10 Party Drinks:

Spring:
Mint Julep
Fresh Whiskey Sours

Summer:
Sparkling Sangria
Fruit Smoothies
Gelato Cooler

Fall:
Spiced Hard Cider Punch
Apple Martini with Sour Apple Hard Candy

Winter:
Rum-Lime Punch
Emeril's Eggnog
Prosecco Gold Rush