Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you do a grill cheese bar for a party? Use a panini press or have guests grill it themselves? Or you sit at the stove and make them to order?

Maybe have an electric grill right at the table? I was once served a brunch where the host had the waffle iron and batter right at the table and served them right off the iron.

I wouldn’t because it’s like an omelet bar : host has to stand there individually making each one. Terrible idea. Maybe a baked potato bar with fully wrapped baked potatoes and people just grab one and go down the line adding toppings - cheese, broccoli, ham , chili, green onions, butter, sour cream, etc.

It might not be the right thing for every party, but it can be a fun thing for the right party. You can have it set up at the stove with 4 frying pans, and/or there can be an electric griddle, and/or there can be panini presses. People assemble their own sandwiches, then the host grills, or guest can grill. The fun part about it is that there is an activity and chatting -- the host can introduce people who don't know each other, encourage mingling whether people do or don't know each other. If the host grills during the busy time, he/she can trade off with a co-host, or it can go to serve-yourself after a while. The party I attended was open-house style, but people stayed a while, went back for different combos later, etc. I didn't know anyone there except my friend who brought me, but it was fun.

Soup in crock pots, salads, etc. are serve-yourself.

Anonymous wrote:^^^ oh and I just wanted to add, it’s not a “lazy” thing when I make the veggie tray. It’s bc everyone is always chewing my ear off about what diet or health kick they are on, so I do those plain cut or or blanched veggies so someone could go through the appetizer line and eat low carb or keto or low calorie or whatever else diet they are on. But then they come over and eat all the high carb and high fat stuff 🤣

I would appreciate your veggie tray, sounds like you tried, so I take it back. I was just assuming you did like many people and grabbed the premade vegetable tray at the grocery store on the way to the check out with the dried out carrots and limp celery which nobody wants to eat.

We will have a small group of teens over. We are planning fondue! My daughter's friends were very excited about it.

^^^ oh and I just wanted to add, it’s not a “lazy” thing when I make the veggie tray. It’s bc everyone is always chewing my ear off about what diet or health kick they are on, so I do those plain cut or or blanched veggies so someone could go through the appetizer line and eat low carb or keto or low calorie or whatever else diet they are on. But then they come over and eat all the high carb and high fat stuff 🤣

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the best winter parties I ever attended was a n open house with a grilled cheese bar with lots of combo options. It was warm, homey, and delicious.

I don't know if I'm hoping the grilled cheese snob and the insistent salad/veggie poster is one person, or two. Do I feel better thinking there are two very miserable people in the world, or one extremely miserable person?

LOL. I always have a fresh option when I host. Usually a vegetable tray. Guess who ends up eating an entire ziploc bag of cut veggies throughout the week after the party because nobody touched my healthy option? Me. Maybe my New Years resolution will be to stop trying to make a vegetable tray happen. OTH at least I eat significantly more vegetables after my parties 🤣

Maybe try harder than a fresh vegetable tray? Healthy doesn’t just mean raw vegetables with ranch dip.

Please share what you make that people eat- I would love ideas! I do the vegetable tray as an easy finger food and I think the fresh crunch is a nice contrast to the heavier apps. I usually do all colors of peppers, carrots, cucumber, radish, and blanched green beans. Tell us what you make that’s so awesome!

My husband is vegan who might loosen the reins and go vegetarian for the holidays and eat cheese and dairy, so I have to get creative to keep everyone happy. We do a roasted cauliflower with crispy chickpeas and a tahini sauce, vegetarian sushi rolls, flat breads, hummus, buffalo cauliflower (with blue cheese dip for non vegans), bruschetta, cowboy caviar, tabbouleh, corn black bean salad, spanakopita, and a cheese board with fresh and dried fruits, nuts, pickled vegetables, etc. There are so many things that can taste good and not be as indulgent as other things. They don't even have to be billed as "healthy" they just taste good and can hold their own in any appetizer or dinner spread.

I never thought of spanakopita as healthy. Huh.

I debated putting that in the list but can be better if made with olive oil, but many people like it. PP asked for alternatives to a veggie tray which usually includes a high fat dip so its at least on par.

I’m PP who asked for ideas- thanks! I usually put my veggie tray next to the other cold appetizer, which is always cheese board with nuts or fruit and crackers/bread. For the veggie tray, I do cut veggies with some lightly blanched (like if I do green beans or baby courgettes) with hummus or baba ghanouj. I even separate all the veggies like a rainbow and make it “pretty.” People aren’t that into it. Maybe I’ll try some of these other ideas.