Miss Ann, Entertaining 101
Ann Evans is Kentucky's Queen of Hospitality. Photo by Theresa Stanley
As the days get colder, cocktail parties are a great way to warm both the house and the soul, and as a hostess of many socials, Ann Evans – also known as "Miss Ann," or the "Queen of Kentucky Hospitality" has suggestions for a successful gathering at home.
Have the House Ready
• Clean and straighten – put stray items in closets or under beds and shut doors to rooms you don’t want guests in. “The home should be comfortable for the hosts and guests,” Evans said.
• Light candles. Per Evans, “Candles hide a multitude of sins.” Place candles throughout the house, including the bathroom.
• Stock the bathroom with nice hand towels.
• If allowing for one splurge at the gathering, hire someone to help with the event. High school students are perfect for this job. They can help serve food and tidy up afterward.
Guest List
• Broaden horizons with an eclectic guest list.
• An interesting party will have a combination of friends you normally see and others who don’t know them. “Meeting people with different interests and points of view is a gift to your friends,” Evans said. “For example, if you have an accountant on the list, balance with someone working in the arts.”
Plan the Menu
• A big piece to this step is realistically assessing how much time you have to prepare the menu.
“If you have a lot of free time, then prepare several small bites,” said Evans. “They are time consuming, but some hosts enjoy the attention to detail they require.”
If you do not have much time on your hands, then prepare two to three plates, including cheeses and dips. Don’t be afraid to do semi-homemade. Depending on the time of party, guests may rely on the food for their main meal, so don’t be skimpy in feeding people. Serve enough food so people do not have to eat afterward.
• Use linen napkins on the table, or high quality if using paper; funny ones for bar only.
• Regarding drinks: A full bar is not necessary. Have a white and red wine on hand, and beer (maximum two types). Always have a specialty drink and non-alcoholic option – Evans suggests a raspberry lemonade, sparkling water or a fruit tea as the non-alcoholic option.
Music Selection
As Evans points out, music is a necessary layer to a party. When choosing your playlist, consider which guests are invited.
“Start with a soft background, pump it up a notch to something like the Gypsy Kings and Motown at the end,” Evans suggests. “I love to end the night dancing.”
Consider Hosting Two Consecutive Parties
If you feel like the guest list will be split in a way that doesn’t allow you to see most of your friends, then have two consecutive parties.
“The house is clean, you have fresh flowers, double the menu,” Evans said. “There was a fabulous first run, then the second night will be easy. Consider a third event to include a relaxed Sunday supper with chili and cornbread.”
Other tips for hosting a successful gathering:
• Include a start time for the event; ending time is not necessary. “When the bar closes down, people are usually ready to leave,” Evans said.
• Accept the help of friends. “Let others bring something. People love to help.”
• Have the attendant come one hour before the party starts to take care of last-minute preparations. Use that time to get dressed and be ready to have a great time with friends when they arrive.
• Teach children how to host a gathering.
When attending a party:
• Let the host know ahead of time if you have a seafood allergy. It’s polite to say, “Please forgive me if I do not eat at the event. I have a serious food allergy and will eat before arriving.” Do not let food allergies keep you from attending a party.
• Bring a hostess gift. It doesn’t have to be a bottle of wine. “Make it a gift for the host to enjoy at another time. For example, if the host enjoys gardening bring a nice pair of garden gloves with a vintage seed packet.”
• Put phones away. “It’s the polite thing to do.” cc