Valentine’s Day may seem like it’s all about a romantic dinner and red roses. But what about the best friends-the women who love and support you all year long? They deserve a treat for cheering you up when you’re low and celebrating with you when you’re victorious. This year, honor your meaningful friendships with a fun “Gal”-entine’s Day fete.
To pull off a fabulous party your gal pals will remember all year, Watson’s Catering and Events (www.watsonscatering.com) in Greenwich offers their top three essentials:
Get creative with your tablescape and decorations. A color scheme of red, pink, and white makes for a sweet, feminine, and festive fete. Help your guests get into the holiday spirit of the event; for example, arrange blank Valentine’s cards for your friends to fill out and exchange with one another.
Choose thoughtful little treats. Party favors, for example, will delight your guests and let the good feelings linger long after your bash. Your favors don’t have to be expensive. Consider a bottle of Inflora Botanica’s Rosewater Mist or Cacao Prieto, artisan chocolate made and sold in Red Hook, Brooklyn. If you are attending a party, bring a hostess gift, such as Kathie Lee Gifford’s latest book, Good Gifts.
Think about your menu. Go with food choices that are delicious yet light, so you and your guests can sample a variety of dishes and treats without filling up. Also, create your own signature cocktail just for fun, and include a non-alcoholic option.
Here’s a sample menu Watson’s Catering and Events has put together for a Gal-entine’s Day party:
Hors d’oeuvres
- Buffalo chicken meatballs with celery skewer
- Shrimp and avocado rolls
- Tuna tartare cucumber cups
Demi dinners
- Seared tuna | cellophane noodles | edamame
- Deconstructed mushroom ravioli | brown butter sauce
- Lamb tenderloin | root vegetable mash | minted carrots
Dessert
- Apple hand pies
- Caramel brownies
- Cookie dough truffle pops
- Assortment of candy & cookies
“An unforgettable party is about serving delicious food, fun drinks and making it abundant and thoughtful,” says Annie Horn, a representative of Watsons’s Catering and Events. “You want your party to be an expression of your unique taste. Choose what you love, be creative, be yourself and it will be fantastic.”
Shopping list: TÖST: non-alcoholic beverage, www.tostbeverages.com; Cacao Prieto Chocolate: artisan chocolates, www.cacaoprieto.com; Inflora Botantica: rose hip oil and rose water toner, www.inflorabotantica.com; What I Love About You By Me: I love you book, www.uncommongoods.com; Good Gifts: Kathie Lee Gifford’s latest book, www.kathieleegifford.com; Drinkwel: hangover remedy, www.drinkwel.com; Wrapped in Love: pashmina shawl: www.twoscompany.com