How to House a Kick-Ass Housewarming Brunch
Since Sean and I haven’t really been home much since we moved in April, we couldn’t find the time to host the housewarming party our house truly deserved. Once we furnished and made sure it had that “lived in” coziness, we devised the perfect party and sent out the invites.
Our “Wafflowe” housewarming party seemed like the most appropriate theme for our lifestyle and to showcase the warmth of our charming home. Plan for the food to be the star because with awesome guests, the experience you want will inevitably follow. Here are my tips on how to throw a great waffle party:
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Set up stations. There should be a place for staging (the kitchen), drinks (near where everyone will hang out), and the topping buffet (probably where everyone will hang out). That way, it won’t get too cramped and your guests can mingle with the different crowds.
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Recruit helpers. The demand for fresh scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles were real. Assign someone who is willing to man the eggs and bacon throughout the party and someone different to make the waffles. Your guests will also want a tour—it is a housewarming party after all—so make sure one of the actual residents is available for that and for greeting. The toppings shouldn’t need to be refilled all that often, if you display a healthy portion in the beginning of the party.
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Add thoughtful details. Give people plenty of reasons to gush after the party is over. Instead of little signs on cards, I used chalkboard paper to let guests know what each platter contained. I also made maple blueberry butter from scratch to zhush up the offerings. (Butter had a place at the buffet, but this was its much fancier cousin. I found the recipe at food52.com if you want to give it a spin.)
Now, don’t think this party will cost you a fortune. Here’s what to spend your hard-earned cash on, and which items to save on:
Skimp:
—Plates, cups, and flatware. To make it less formal, I went with the most standard paper plates and plastic cutlery. It highlights the food and makes everything seem somewhat cooler.
—Waffle irons. They pretty much all do the trick so don’t go out and buy the most expensive one you can find. You can also borrow from your in-laws and ask your guests to bring if they have one.
—Champagne. A mimosa is a mimosa. People will be grateful! No one ever scoffed at Cook’s when it was paired with ice-cold orange juice.
Splurge:
—Quality toppings.This separates the hosts from the hosts with the most. There might be some food snobs at your party and you want to deliver on a good spread from Jif peanut butter to Somebody’s Mother’s Island Sauce. (Look it up, it has white chocolate and coconut rum in it!) They’ll be talking about the food for months to come.
—That good bacon. Make sure you have enough, and get the good stuff!
—Coffee. Even though I’m not a coffee connoisseur, I can almost guarantee people will notice the difference in quality.
What do you think of the party, guys?!
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