How to Throw the Perfect Cocktail Party

On one of my recent talent scouting trips around Italy, I met Maurizio Gallo.  When I travel, I am searching for the finest ceramic artisans and boutiques. I met Maurizio in Sciacca, Sicily, which is known for its artistic ceramic production.  Sciacca also boasts Sorelle Perconte, creators of Arcobaleno, an exclusive collection for DishesOnly.

Maurizio is the Chief Barman of the Verdura Resort’s Granita Bar.  While watching the sun set on the Italian sea from an exquisite outdoor terrace, Maurizio opened up about his job. Everyday he meets many people, including tourists from all over the world.  “The Bartender is a psychologist.” Maurizio said.  “Everybody confides in me. I listen carefully and prepare for each customer for the perfect cocktail, resulting in a relaxing and happy evening.”

Verdura Resort

Here are his secrets for a trendy Aperitivo. Ready to impress your guests?

3 simple rules to throwing the perfect cocktail party

1. “To each his own”, to cite the book of the famous Sicilian author, Leonardo Sciascia.  Try to match personalities with the right cocktail. Here are some examples:

  •  007 Types. For very self-confident people serve Cocktail Martini or Negroni
  • City Slickers. Entertaining an urban crowd in vacation mode?  Serve long drinks like fruit cocktails or muddled mojitos.
  • Sex and the City. Joyful and eclectic crowd? Serve up Cosmopolitans. One of Maurizio tricks: to hold up the straw on the glass, put some ice on it!

 

Cosmopolitan

2. Choose the right glass.  Once you have decided who is going to drink what, the next step is to choose the right glassware. The International Bartender Association (IBA) lists over 60 official cocktails with guidelines on how to prepare, and how to serve, so that the drink will appear the same wherever you are in the world.  The amount of alcohol in the drink determines the size of the glass (long = little alcohol; short = 100% alcohol).  Here are some useful tips:

  • Tall Cylinder – use for light (long) cocktails which are fruit based, such as Garibaldi best known as Campari Orange, invented in Italy as a tribute to Giuseppe Garibaldi who unified Italy. And it is not a case that it is made of two ingredients: one representing the North of Italy, bitter Campari of Milan, and the other the South, orange juice a typical product of Sicily where Garibaldi begun the unification process.
  • Martini Glass – use this traditional stemmed glass with a cone bowl for medium sized drinks, such as Martini or Manhattan. Also indicated for champagne infused cocktails.
  • Medium large Glass – serve Negroni, Vermouth, Sanbitter and all other medium cocktails.

Cocktail glasses

3. The Must-Have Snacks.  In contrast with the arrays of appetizers and discounted menus served during Happy Hour, the Aperitivo must be served with olives, almonds and pistachios. Never miss to set the table with these three essentials.

 

Snacks

If you serve a Negroni the Italian way, add some cold cuts (i.e. salami, prosciutto). If you serve the most in vogue and jetsetter Spritz (Campari, Prosecco and Soda, or Aperol, Prosecco and Soda) don’t forget anchovies, better marinated, best if in the Sicilian style topped with little cubes of orange, pink and yellow grapefruit. Spritz is rigorously served in wine goblets.

DishesOnly Picks to Set a Unique Scene

Now that you know all the secrets of a professional Bartender you have the most important job to do: set the mood with fancy “aperitifware” and delight your guests. Depending on your home style, whether you have bar stools, or couches, or an outdoor patio or terrace, we have selected a special list of items that we think you will love.

For a fresh and romantic look, play with the pastel colors of Giovelab and Tina Frey mixing different materials such as porcelain and resin.

Pink set

 

Resin Porcelain

For a rustic chic setting, use Hans Fischer gorgeous handmade bowls or the Loto collection combined with Eco palm leaves bowls.

Terra Bowl

 

Loto JIA

For wood lovers we suggest the Bambum collection with 100% bio-plates and many different shape of bowls.

Bio Plates

To add passion and colors to your table don’t miss Cocina enamel mini pots and Fantasie patè dishes, all hand painted in vivid and joyful colors.

Cocina enamel pots

 

Fantasia colored bowls

Don’t forget to light some votives and candles for a relaxing atmosphere….!

mini light box

That’s lifestyle. Enjoy.

Thank you Maurizio 🙂

2 Comments

  1. Sorry for the delay in replYing .
    Thank you !

  2. Thanks for the good critique. Me & my friend were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a book from our area library but I think I’ve learned better from this post. I’m very glad to see such wonderful information being shared freely out there..

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