Party food
It’s time for some entertaining. Try these recipes by Matty Cremona along with wines recommended by Bernard Muscat.
Party food should be attractive and fresh, as well as tasty – and, unless there is someone happy to stay in the kitchen while every one else is out there partying, the food must be the sort that can be prepared beforehand. It takes some imagination, a bit of planning, and some work – but it’s worth it.
The food table
Besides the food being passed round the room, prepare a table with a variety of cheeses, cured meats, pates and good bread. It is more effective to lay out two or three whole cheeses, for a large party, rather than wedges of this and that. Try a wheel of Brie (chill it until the last moment) or a great big piece of Parmesan. Don’t serve whole salamis, though, as they are difficult for guests to cut. Some good suggestions for the table are sashimi, carpaccio, salmon terrine and liver pâté.
Bernard Muscat’s suggested wines for a summer party
Bernard has chosen a variety of good wines – red, white and rosé – at the kind of reasonable price that makes it affordable to buy large quantities for a party. Calculate one bottle per head – not everybody drinks that much, but some people drink more over the course of an evening, and running out isn’t good. In hot weather, buy more white and rosé and less red. Stick to one label of each kind of wine. Unlike with food, a variety of different wine labels at a stand-up party isn’t desirable. It looks messy and creates confusion if people want to stick to the same wine.
White wines
Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Chile) – from Paolo Bonnici
Carmen Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Chile) – from M Demajo (Wines & Spirits)
Bodega Norton Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Argentina) – from Wands
Coli Orvieto 2006 (Orvieto) – from P Cutajar & Co
Palatino Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Malta) – from Camilleri Wines
Red wines
Montresor Valpolicella Classico 2005 – from Paolo Bonnici
Carmen Syrah 2006 (Chile) – from M Demajo (Wines & Spirits)
Fontanafredda Barbera d’Alba 2005 (Piemonte) – from Wands
Victoria Heights Merlot 2006 (Malta) – from Delicata
Rosé wines
Gato Negro Cabernet/Merlot 2006 (Chile) – from Attard & Co
JP Chenet Sparkling Rosé (Languedoc Roussillon) – from P Cutajar & Co
Zigland Grenache/Carignan Rosé 2005 (Gozo) – from Camilleri Wines
Mateus Tempranillo Rosé 2006 – from Charles Grech & Co
Sparkling wines
President Brut Riccadonna (Italy) – from Attard & Co
Zarina Gellewza Rosé Frizzante (Malta) – from Delicata
Primo Amore Frizzantino (Italy) – from Charles Grech & Co