Canapés

Fran Hales

You’re at an event, sipping at a glass of battery acid and trying to muster the courage to try one of the shrivelled, depressed-looking prawns. A caterer (who probably moonlights as a David Hasselhoff impersonator) saunters past, nimbly dodging your attempts to snag a napkin with a surly grace that belies the stocky frame and protruding tufts of chest hair. It is at this point that you start thinking you should have stayed home to colour-coordinate your socks or help Aunt Agnes apply lotion to her bunions.

It is amazing that so many people overlook the importance of good catering when organising events. The success of any event lies in the details and providing the right quantity and quality of food and drink is truly one of the easiest ways to keep your guests happy.

We could all learn a thing or two from Knoll which hosted a successful and understated launch party for the new, local lifestyle paper, The Clerkenwell Post. The Knoll showroom is a beautiful, modern space and an ideal setting for elegant events. The catering on the night was perfectly matched to the tone of the evening and included: elderflower cocktails and crisp prosecco, warm duck spring rolls, tender meat pies, fresh prawns with dill, vegetarian rolls and tomato hummus pods with edible flowers. The word ‘divine’ springs to mind.

So when you organise your next function, remember that the crucial ingredient in any event is the simple concept of good hospitality. Whether you are organising a lavish party or a simple meeting, whether you are serving champagne or water, canapés or digestive biscuits, it is important to be a good host and make sure your guests’ needs are met.