Celebrate the summer season with drinks, music and sumptuous snacks. Cocktail parties are a breezy, festive way to gather with neighbors and friends to enjoy delicious drinks and warm evenings. We’ve got five amazing accoutrements to take your hosting game up a notch and to make your next soiree extra special.
1. Brilliant Bruschetta.
Capture the flavors of summer in one savory, crunchy bite. This bruschetta is made from juicy, chopped tomatoes tossed with extra virgin olive oil, salt, oregano and fresh basil. Serve on toasted bread brushed with the Russo family’s Casa Ligaro olive oil and pair with olives for snacking. Bruschetta, $5/lb., Casa Ligaro Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $12.99 (500ml), $17.99 (1 liter), $19.99 (first press unfiltered 1 liter), Russo’s Gourmet Foods Market, 1150 Bern Rd., Wyomissing, 610.898.1918. russofoodmarket.com
2. Cool Combination.
Serve your drinks with style. Fun and functional, these vibrant stemmed glasses will help keep your wine the perfect temperature. Four different hues add a touch of colorful elegance to your party. Pair them with the four matching water glasses and offer your guests a variety of refreshing libations. 14-ounce Stemmed Wine Glasses, $13 each, 6-ounce Water Glasses, $12 each, Saylor House, 605 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.816.7161. saylorhouse.com
3. Epic Appetizer.
Create a custom spread of meats, cheeses, olives, crackers, fruit and veggies. Crafted by Salvo Salvage, this charcuterie board offers a beautiful base for you to artfully arrange your guests’ favorite nibbles. Choose from maple, walnut or oak and display a colorful variety of treats for tasty, bite-sized fun. Charcuterie Board by Salvo Salvage, $69, Anita Trinket, 101 S. Richmond St., Fleetwood, 484.332.7682. anitatrinket.com
4. Superb Sampler.
Delicious with wine, these three distinctive cheeses will delight your guests. Creamy with a hint of sweetness, Pecorino Toscano finishes with a mild peppery flavor, while Alta Badia has an intense, complex taste that’s sharp, tangy and toasted. For a sweet, tropical fruit flavor and nutty finish, savor Piave Vecchio. Pecorino Toscano, $19.50/lb., Alta Badia, $20.95/lb., Piave Vecchio, $17.95/lb. Monte Lauro European Gourmet, Boscov's Fairgrounds Farmers Market, 2930 N. 5th St. Highway, Reading, 610.939.0446. montelauro.com
5. Pearls of Wisdom.
Keep your beverages cool and classy. Eliminate the mess of melting ice and put some frosty flair into your glass. Stash these rose quartz wine gems in your freezer and add them to your favorite wine or cocktail. Leisurely sip while these pink orbs keep your beverage chilled and undiluted. Twine Rose Quartz Wine Gems, $24.95, Folino Estate, 340 Old Route 22, Kutztown, 484.452.3633. folinoestate.com
