Serve up a festive party in the kitchen
The heart of the household is a favourite go-to spot
Because I have come to accept the things I cannot change, I acknowledged weeks ago that my annual Christmas bash would unfold in the kitchen.
No matter how much I might fluff the living room, and despite the fact it’s small, aging and cluttered, my kitchen is party central.
Rule No. 1: do not schedule renovations beforehand.
Just before Thanksgiving one year, the Man of the House (MOTH) and I decided to knock down a space-gobbling partition. How was I supposed to know that taking a sledgehammer to a pole would bring down a good chunk of the ceiling?
Another year, we installed laminate just before a shindig, leading us to conclude that we valued the state of our union more than we valued the state of our kitchen.
While there has been no more construction, there have been many more celebrations. There have been mishaps — one year, water began gushing from the ceiling above the kitchen sink. Another year, the symptoms of Norwalk virus rapidly set in among the younger guests.
With those memories in mind, I like to start with low expectations for parties. My invitation read: “I’m having a party (in my small, cluttered kitchen). No-one interesting (except me, and possibly you) is coming. The food will all be store-bought. But if you’re not doing anything, drop by after 7 p.m. If you come, bring wine.”
This helps cull the list, which is a good thing. Whoever said “the more, the merrier,” never threw a party in a 9-by-12-foot kitchen.
A kitchen party should always start with a thorough cleaning, because while you can get away with a kitchen that’s out-of-date — or even messy — a grubby one is just unpleasant. Besides, chances are you’ll be indoors more during the next few months, making this a good time for a deep clean.
Cupboards, floorboards and walls (well, most of them) were washed with an environmentally-friendly Borax mixture.
It took MOTH and I just one Sunday afternoon, during which I recounted my hilarious story about how-the-ceiling-cracked-when-Iwhacked-the-partition-with-thebig-demolition-thingy. I thought I detected the merest hint of lingering bitterness.
Over the next week, I cleared out the fridge and cleaned it with ecofriendly, germ-killing hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, which is also good on kitchen counters — especially during flu season. I also emp- tied a main-floor closet for guests’ coats.
Floors were cleaned using a mop with an on-board vessel (Libman) that I filled with water, vinegar and rosemary oil, and which infused a seasonally-appropriate scent. Fifteen minutes before folks arrived, I whipped ’round once more.
Extra glassware and all my serving utensils went into the dishwasher, into which I added an Affresh dishwasher cleaning tablet to dissolve mineral build up. It can go into any model — including while the machine is full — to keep it all shiny and bright. I’ll add another at the end of party season.
Next came a ruthless countertop clearing of appliances and utensils — everything was put into a couple of boxes, shoved under the table and hidden with a pretty cloth.
As we don’t have any under-counter lighting (see reno/marriage above), I added small lamps to illuminate recessed areas. Earlier in the week, MOTH cleaned the ceiling fan/light fixture, and bought new dimmable LEDs, because we agree effective, flexible lighting is a must in any kitchen — even when fixtures are ancient and unbeautiful.
I used one run of countertop for drinks. Instead of a full bar, I always offer a signature drink — this year, rum and Coke — along with some non-alcoholic options. Metal cooking bowls serve as ice buckets.
There’s less fuss if food doesn’t require utensils, so think smoked salmon on toast, a cheese/charcuterie board, one-bite quiches. Have lots of cocktail napkins on hand.
Designate another corner for coffee. I ran out of time to bake, so I bought large chocolate chip cookies and piled small mountains of goldwrapped Ferrero Rocher chocolates in bowls.
The blessedly small-footprint stand mixer (KitchenAid Artisanal) was left out to make whipped fresh cream for coffee drinks, as was cinnamon and Bailey’s. Rumour has it that some partygoers were dipping their chocolates or cookies directly into the cream.
In a small kitchen, I like one decor focal point.
Atop an open wooden cupboard, I placed an affordable wreath where a picture usually hangs, and put a glass bowl with seasonal fruit and scented candles on a wooden tray. These all came from HomeSense, as did the wood and stone serving boards on the kitchen table.
Greenery softens the edges of an awkward kitchen like mine, hides some of its imperfections and adds fragrance. I took cuttings from our evergreens, but live branches are easy to find at big box and grocery stores.
I like sending guests home with a little gift — an ornament, handmade cookies, premium hot chocolate mix — and a basket near the door encourages that.
Of course, you’ll still want to spend a few minutes on the living room, even if it’s just dimming the lights and adding candles. Because, inevitably, a few guests will insist on hanging out there, no matter how much you’ve primped the kitchen.