First & Famous Event – Tips

First & Famous Wine Pairing Party Blog Post

After each event, I do a review to check on well and what didn’t. Essentially adding to my growing list of wine pairing party tips, little knowledge nuggets based on what the heck I’d do differently next time.

Foot Fails

This is a painful lesson you will want to avoid.  Our host has a large, lovely kitchen. Italian themed with marble countertops, two ovens, and giant island in the middle.  And a hard-as-brick tiled floors.

My god, I was not prepared for being on my feet for that long on that floor. My feet hurt so much by the end of the night I was almost in tears. I could barely walk the next day. 

Wine Pairing Party Tip: care for your feet that you will be on all day. I now wear super cushy shoes and bring over my super cushy kitchen mats. I also take sit-down breaks throughout the night.

kitchen mat

Cushioned Kitchen Mats: Sky Solutions Anti Fatigue Mat – Cushioned 3/4 Inch Comfort Floor Mats for Kitchen, Office & Garage – Padded Pad for Office – Non Slip Foam Cushion for Standing Desk (20″ x 32″, Black)

Dishing Up Alternatives

Found out our co-host had a gluten intolerance. I put together some alternatives with what I had on hand for her at the time, but it wasn’t great.

Also, one guest didn’t eat pork, another was vegetarian.  I didn’t really have alternatives for several dishes for them. Wine Pairing Party Tip: ask about common food concerns and consider if you will have alternatives (gluten, dairy, nuts, etc).

Knowing my hostess has a gluten issue, I now focus on gluten free dishes. Knowing there are some with specific meat avoidances, I work in vegetarian versions of any meat dish. It still won’t care for everything, but it will care for a lot of possibilities.

gluten-free ingredients
Photo by khloe arledge on Unsplash

Caring for Criticism

It’s a wine pairing party, so people are pretty much judging what they are consuming. You can hear bits of conversation  “oh, that’s nice” or “it’s okay, but I like the tart” or even “ugh, no. Just, no.” 

It is a bit hard when you’ve put in hours of your life so far and are continuing to cook for everyone, to hear something unflattering about your dishes. But that is how most people approach food. I do it too. Even if I don’t say it out loud, on the inside I’m judging. Oh, yes I definitely am. 

If guests have mostly enjoyed it, mostly ate it, and had a good time, that is what matters.  So my meatballs were a bit on the salty side, there are worse things. (BTW, I’ve since adjusted the recipe.) Wine Pairing Party Tip: Take criticisms with a grain of salt, or reduction thereof, learn from it and move on.  

Mini Chicken Meatballs with BBQ sauce Recipe


Next Event: Paddy Party