It is certainly not time to declare the elegant cocktail party of the mid-twentieth century is a thing of the past, but there is a clear trend in entertaining toward more casual events. Think of Clark Gable or Fred Astaire, dressed in their tuxedos; or picture Ginger Rogers in her swirling gown. They gathered in an opulent estate, sipped martinis and danced throughout the night. Can you honestly dream of your family, friends or neighbors relaxing in that kind of atmosphere and actually being thrilled about it?
Most of us don’t have friends with opulent mansions; neither do we have the budgets that allow us to stock up on many bottles of imported gin and tin after tin of beluga caviar. Furthermore, we not as happy (or romantic) in tuxedos as in open shirts. Specialty coffee and a luscious dessert may be more appropriate ingredients for the relaxed social evenings of our times.
The bakery around the corner has perfectly acceptable cheesecake, perhaps purchased from a local distributor, but you might want to opt for something a bit more interesting for the taste buds of your guests. You can have unique cheesecake delivered to your door the day before your party from as far away as across the country.
Consider a selection of cheesecakes to meet the varied tastes of your guests. You might want to include a turtle cheesecake for the people who enjoy a bit of chocolate in any dessert. You can decorate with just a few shavings of dark chocolate, and all the people can pretend that they are eating a health food.
A nice alternative would be a strawberry or blueberry cheesecake for your friends who enjoy a fruitier taste. You might want to venture to one of the more unusual berries such as Marionberry, unique to the Pacific Northwest. If you opt for the tarter flavors, you can decorate with a mint sprig.
Some of your guests might have some dietary restrictions (or have more self discipline than many of us). For those friends, include a gourmet low carb, sugar free cheesecake alternative. While that might not be considered a health food, it allows splurging within acceptable limits. An orange wedge makes a healthy addition to this plate.
Create some labels for each of your alternatives, so your guests can make informed decisions.
Of course, you’ll want to include a robust decaf option. In addition choose to present just one interestingly flavored coffee. Add to that a bold roast from Jamaica or Columbia.
Keep the cream, non-fat milk and non-dairy creamer in an ice bath in a shallow, decorative bowl. Throw in some cubed sugar with sterling silver tongs, for a decorative touch.
A casual and delicious evening such as this can be the twenty-first century equivalent of the cocktail party. Cheesecake and coffee do not require a tux, and the absence of alcohol allows for safe travel for all of your departing guests.