Put more than one person in a room, leave them there long enough, and the talk will ALWAYS turn to, what else? Food! And do you think baby showers are any different? No way! Food is always a reason to get excited (and even plan!) a party. Yes, baby showers are supposed to be about the upcoming baby's arrival, but, let's face it, they're also meant to satisfy the palate!
Depending on the size and preferences of the party, the food served at a baby shower can range from the simple to the elaborate. A major consideration is the type of baby shower - is it at someone's home or is it for a co-worker in the office?
Baby Shower at The Office
The simplest and most popular way to hold a baby shower at the office is to make it potluck. That way, the costs on any one person are minimized. Just make sure that you have a Food Coordinator! That's the person who assigns who brings what to the party to prevent duplicate dishes from being brought. Now, since the shower is held during the workday, these showers are usually limited to an hour during lunch time. This will probably limit your menu selection to items such as casseroles and salads... nothing too elaborate.
If you have the option of holding the shower after regular office hours, then I say do it! This makes things a lot more convenient logistically. Guests can order their own meal and come and go on their schedule. As for the cake, see if the restaurant can prepare and serve it. Otherwise, ask one of the guests to be in charge of bringing one for the event.
Home Baby Showers
Are you lucky enough to be able to hold the shower at a home instead of at the office? Great! Showers held at someone's house allow a far greater degree of control over food choices. And if you're a host who wants to put her style and creativity on display, at-home baby showers are the perfect opportunity to indulge yourself.
Showers held at a home allow a wider range of dishes to be put on the menu for the big event. Have you thought of having dishes from each parent's homeland to reflect the baby's ethnic diversity? And guest are sure to stay far longer at the get-together when their stomachs are kept full. This allows for extra time to play games and take snaps!
Home showers are ideal for cost-cutting without lowering the "fun" of the event. The easiest department to do some cost-trimming is the appetizer and beverage section of your menu. At restaurants, you often have to pay a premium (almost as much as an entree!) for these items, but at home, you can delight you guests with amazing beverages and finger foods without breaking the bank.
For appetizers, triangle-cut chicken sandwiches, small cheese squares, stuffed mushrooms, sweet and sour meatballs, chips, mini cupcakes, and in-season fruits are easy-to-prepare ideas that are always a big hit. In fact, if you're short on time, many of these items can be purchased from your local grocery.
Depending on the size and preferences of the party, the food served at a baby shower can range from the simple to the elaborate. A major consideration is the type of baby shower - is it at someone's home or is it for a co-worker in the office?
Baby Shower at The Office
The simplest and most popular way to hold a baby shower at the office is to make it potluck. That way, the costs on any one person are minimized. Just make sure that you have a Food Coordinator! That's the person who assigns who brings what to the party to prevent duplicate dishes from being brought. Now, since the shower is held during the workday, these showers are usually limited to an hour during lunch time. This will probably limit your menu selection to items such as casseroles and salads... nothing too elaborate.
If you have the option of holding the shower after regular office hours, then I say do it! This makes things a lot more convenient logistically. Guests can order their own meal and come and go on their schedule. As for the cake, see if the restaurant can prepare and serve it. Otherwise, ask one of the guests to be in charge of bringing one for the event.
Home Baby Showers
Are you lucky enough to be able to hold the shower at a home instead of at the office? Great! Showers held at someone's house allow a far greater degree of control over food choices. And if you're a host who wants to put her style and creativity on display, at-home baby showers are the perfect opportunity to indulge yourself.
Showers held at a home allow a wider range of dishes to be put on the menu for the big event. Have you thought of having dishes from each parent's homeland to reflect the baby's ethnic diversity? And guest are sure to stay far longer at the get-together when their stomachs are kept full. This allows for extra time to play games and take snaps!
Home showers are ideal for cost-cutting without lowering the "fun" of the event. The easiest department to do some cost-trimming is the appetizer and beverage section of your menu. At restaurants, you often have to pay a premium (almost as much as an entree!) for these items, but at home, you can delight you guests with amazing beverages and finger foods without breaking the bank.
For appetizers, triangle-cut chicken sandwiches, small cheese squares, stuffed mushrooms, sweet and sour meatballs, chips, mini cupcakes, and in-season fruits are easy-to-prepare ideas that are always a big hit. In fact, if you're short on time, many of these items can be purchased from your local grocery.
About the Author:
What do the guests at a shower have to bring to make it a success? Baby gifts, of course! Charmaine L. Smoot has an enviable selection of some of the cutest gifts for the shower, including personalized baby gifts you won't find anywhere else!
No comments:
Post a Comment