Drinks

Not everyone is a wine expert. In fact, most people can feel a little intimidated when it comes to serving the ‘right’ wine with their meals. The easiest way to get around the stress of what to serve is to go to a good wine merchant and ask them to suggest not only what to serve with your meal, but how much to serve per person-which is, of course, entirely subjective, but the experts will take this into account! If you’re planning a large party, wine merchants also often offer discounts on multiple bottles, so don’t be afraid to ask what deals they have going for bulk purchases. For bigger parties, they may also supply returnable wine or champagne glasses free of charge. Just ask!

If you choose to serve cocktails, try to limit these to one or two, unless you really enjoy acting as bartender and/or have a big budget.

Be sure to have soft options for those who don’t drink alcohol. Even if you just posh-up a big jug of ice water by adding lemon or lime, or mint-or even coriander.