How to Make a Killer Party Platter

Don’t just have a party, make it awesome!

• Start with a centerpiece
• Don’t forget the dips
• Add some crunch
• Add some bite
• Other nibbles
• Finish with something fresh

_____

PHOTO BY CHELSEA KYLE, FOOD STYLING BY KATHERINE SACKS

For the best cocktail party, skip the tiny bowls and passed plates and just break out the platters.

Pssst, here’s a secret: fancy dinner parties are overrated. Sure, it can be fun to throw one of those elaborate, multi-course affairs that include thimble-sized hors d’oeuvres and a 6-hour pork roast followed by a difficult-to-assemble-and-therefore-extremely-impressive dessert. But often these nights just end up being a ton of work: with all the plating and clearing and washing and serving, it can be impossible to steal more a few minutes just hanging out and enjoying your guests.

Here’s a new way to approach your next party: ditch the plates, ditch the pretense, and get cozy—and I mean real cozy—with your friends by throwing a platter party. Grab the largest platters or cutting boards you’ve got, and just put all the food directly on them (the more food, the better). Then your friends can simply dig right in. It’s easy to set up ahead of time, which means you can carry on with more important tasks (like, ahem, pouring yourself a glass of rosé). And when it come to clean up, it’s just a matter of wiping down a couple of platters.

To get your party platter right—and looking spectacular—follow these simple rules:

START WITH A CENTERPIECE

Start with something beautiful in the center of your platter and work around it. A giant ball of creamy burrata or a wheel of rich, triple-cream cheese works perfectly. Pro tip: If you’re preparing your platter ahead of time, leave space for chilled cheeses like burrata and add it last; cheeses that are best served at room temperature, such as creamy labnehs or harder Goudas, can be placed on the platter ahead of time.

Read the full article here.