4 Snack Items For Your Next Party And Their Ideal Drink Pairings
To create an atmosphere that is welcoming and encouraging for guests for an occasion, food plays an important role in setting the tone of an event. Whether it is bite-sized savoury treats, elaborately designed grazing tables or sharing platters, party snack items are a focal point in enabling social interactions – allowing guests to ease into an ambience seamlessly. When paired with a host of beverages, these delicacies display thoughtfulness and a sense of familiarity while also contributing an air of sophistication.
Mini Sliders + Craft Beer
Having an assortment of veggie, chicken or meat sliders topped with cheddar cheese and caramelised onions make for a great combination when eaten alongside a hoppy IPA or amber ale. The crispness of the beer is ideal for balancing the richness of the fats present in the meats and cheese, while also elevating the savoury profiles of the bite-sized burgers.
Chips & Guacamole + Paloma Cocktail
A surefire sharing snack – creamy, homemade guacamole is an ideal plant-based option that works across the board, irrespective of the dietary preferences of the guests. Aside from tortilla chips which are a classic pairing to the dip, experimenting with plantain or pumpkin chips can contribute texture as well as flavour. To echo the citrus notes of the lemon juice in the guacamole, a grapefruit paloma provides mellow sweetness and bright zest that is evocative of fresh, vibrant notes.
Charcuterie Board + Red Wine
For low effort-high reward hosting, a platter laid out with cold cuts, artisanal cheese, nuts and preserves is a foolproof way to keep guests engaged and grazing as they sip on a glass of red wine. Medium-bodied wines like the Pinot Noir or Merlot form great flavour partnerships with aged cheeses and meats like mortadella or chorizo. To further amplify the wine’s earthy flavours, ensure that you include toasted nuts or dried fruit on the board.
Fiery Chicken Wings + Margarita Cocktail
If the party you’re planning is one that involves sports, then chicken wings are a no-brainer to include on the menu. Baked, fried or air-fried, crispy wings coated in a spicy buffalo sauce or Asian-inspired chilli oil balance the acidity of a well-made margarita. On the flipside, the vibrancy of the cocktail is also great to cut through the richness of the fried delicacy while maintaining salty profiles that make the pairing cohesive.
*All concoctions listed use 30ml liquor measurements. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
