Whether you're planning an intimate soiree for 20 or a conference for 200, it's essential to know what's hot and what's not in order to make your function a memorable one.

Eat, drink and be merry

The days of platters of reheated sausage rolls and cocktail sausages are thankfully over (unless, of course, you’re hosting a '70s theme party).

Food trends have moved away from complicated, over-conceptualised plates of food towards fresh, seasonal produce with a strong focus on food with an undeniable local edge, albeit with fusion twists.

Ostrich kebabs come dressed with a coriander-infused soya dipping sauce; single spoons of locally harvested oysters are presented on platters, ready to be chased with a shot of flavoured vodka.

Pushing the boundaries of the taste experience is big business in the catering world, and chefs and caterers are constantly looking for new ways to entertain guests with their creations.

That said, the concept of less is more is as strong as ever — overpowering flavours that shock instead of entice the palate are best put aside. Buffets, says Urban Tonic owner Ross Wilson, are a definite no-no.

"It’s just not acceptable to make your guests queue for food," he says.

However, the popularity of food stations where chefs roll sushi, grilled prawns or seared steaks on demand is an interesting way to enhance an en masse dining experience.

Many party hostesses are calling in the help of restaurant chefs, too — whether it's the chef at the local Italian restaurant putting together a Mediterranean feast in the comfort of the host's own home, or a celebrity chef whose restaurant is the name on everyone's lips. Of course, a celeb chef in the kitchen is a major draw card.

On the drinks side of things, cocktail bars are big business on the party scene. According to the experts, trestle table bars are so last year. The latest trend when it comes to keeping guests well watered is to bring a cocktail bar or night-club feel to the party — they're an instant ice breaker!

Some companies like Wilson's Urban Tonic provide sexy mobile bars that come complete with fancy lighting and gravity defying mixologists, who conjure up cocktails before your eyes. Of course, more elegant options are also available, complete with tuxedoed barmen and classic dark wood lines — great for after-dinner whiskies or pre-party champagne cocktails at sophisticated soirees.

Party movers and shakers

Live entertainment is increasingly becoming an integral part of any party. If it's a paid-for do or a charity ball, guests want to see what they've spent their money on — entertainment is also an excellent way to keep guests well occupied for the five or six hours they may be there.

DJ's are an ever-popular feature of many a party. From advertising awards parties (like the annual Loeries bash) to weddings, a good DJ will undoubtedly get people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor.

Laura Thorns, an entertainment PR and cellist with CODA, a band that combines electric strings with African vocals and a DJ, says: "The best evenings are those where the musical taste of the audience and the concept of the event combine with a perfect musical solution."

"Marimba bands are a popular choice at pre-wedding reception drinks, while contemporary electronic groups like Cape Town-based Goldfish are favoured for trendy fashion events or product launches," says Thorns.

Other exciting options for out there parties include wedding singers and comedians (a popular corporate choice nowadays), while Idols finalists are passé.

Harmony style groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well as swing bands are very much up there in the top ranks of the party popularity stakes.

Party style

There was a time when décor meant floral arrangements, but growing demand for creative visual entertainment has upped the stakes considerably. Word is that zebra and leopard print are so not hot — unless of course the theme is Out of Africa — but drama is very definitely in.

Bling-bedecked venues feature everything from Swarovski crystal chandeliers to hi-tech up lighters that change colour throughout the night, while plush Persian carpet lounging areas, late-night fireworks, velvet drapes and very sexy tableware are all part and parcel of today's poshest parties.

Where Moroccan and Moulin Rouge were the themes du jour two or three years ago, themes that call for a touch of glamour, glitz or madness are very popular, offering easier dress-up options.

Monte Carlo black tie parties are also popping up, complete with blackjack chips as cocktail vouchers, cigar lounges, stylish casino-style décor and a glamorous black tie code.

Six essential ingredients for a party

  • Guests: "If you have the right mix of guests, just putting them in the same space will set the party on the right course," says Andrea Foulkes of Dish Food caterers and event organisers.

  • Slick service: Enough well-trained service staff are essential to the smooth running of any event, whether a dinner party or a seriously big bash!

  • Appropriate ambience: The right mix of music, décor and lighting (an often overlooked factor) is what creates a great party atmosphere. A band that is too loud, harsh overhead lighting or décor that is out of synch with the guests are recipes for disaster.

  • Food: Whether you're catering at home yourself, have hired a celebrity chef to create a killer menu, or are relying on a catering company to pull out all the stops for you — the food is integral to the experience. If in doubt, keep things simple and go for flavour over fuss.

  • Drink: Sickly sweet cocktails are a strict no-no. Instead, opt for cocktails made to order, the best wine you can afford and quality bubbly. Providing the best wines and bubbly often prevent guests from feeling the need to hit the (expensive) hard tack.

  • Location: The venue dictates everything. Choosing the right location to suit the theme and overall objective of your function is essential. Think long and hard about the right fit for your guests.

    • Contacts

    Ross Wilson, Urban Tonic, +27 21 706 0133
    Laura Thorns, CODA — www.codamusic.co.za
    Andrea Foulkes, Dishfood & social — www.dishfood.co.za

    This article appears courtesy of the new Party SA magazine


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