The art of choosing simple, timeless treats for mindful entertaining
The art of serving good entertainments doesn’t need to extend as far as overfilling the buffet table. As more guests are staying in more often and considering what food and drink they bring, a handful of classic, thoughtfully chosen sweet treats can be infinitely more welcoming than a mountain of nibbles. Even the most modest of bakes can get the mood just right.
1. Choose Treats That Feel Familiar, Comforting And Easy To Share
Classic bakes are most successful when they’re just what your guests need; relaxed not over-elaborate. Simple tea-time biscuits, sweet bites and shortbread somehow create a slightly homespun, welcoming feeling about them because they require only a cup of tea or coffee to sit with. According to Speciality Food Magazine consumers are far more likely to reach for nostalgic, more recognisable and easier-on-the-eyes biscuits, rather than ‘innovative’ offerings. A simple plate of chocolate chunk biscuits is all you need when hosting an afternoon catch-up or a family tea, offering that same sense of comfort without any last-minute effort.
2. Keep The Spread Simple Yet Thoughtful
Sure, we’d like to put the entire contents of the biscuit jar on the table – but a more restrained, good-quality selection is much more welcome than a mountain of food and a mountain of stress. Selecting a few items – something buttery, something chocolatey, something fruity – feels less wasteful and less stressful and gives a real feeling of choice, studies from the University of Stirling discovered that thoughtfulness is the key factor when it comes to sharing food, rather than solely abundance – something which can work just as well on the hosting table, or the gift list.
3. Think About Presentation As Part Of The Gift
Sometimes how treats are served can be just as impactful as what the treat actually is. A sheet of paper in a glass jar, a tray, a covered cake stand or even a cloth napkin can elevate something like a simple biscuit into something a bit more special. It’s this kind of focus on serving, that is replacing the more formal and elaborate forms of entertaining.
4. Match Treats To The Mood Of The Gathering
The most successful hosts select food to match the tone of the event and don’t rely on the same menu each time. An informal throw-together over a cuppa in the afternoon will seem very different from a seasonal gathering or a soiree around the coffee table in the evening. And there is an appetite among guests for more traditional treats, with something that speaks of origin, and well-known regional specialities, rather than anything too stylised or new-fangled.
It’s not about more, it’s about better. Whether it’s drinks to start (or finish) the night or a handful of homemade nibbles with some inspired accompaniments, you’re better off with a few crowd-pleasers that you’ve served well, than a table full of options that no one really wanted in the first place. It’s just a different way of thinking about those things, and a way of thinking that ends up less work and less stressful for everyone sitting around your table.
