Elevate your entertaining

Here at Selector magazine HQ, we’re all keen entertainers. As a team, we love getting together on a Friday afternoon to taste some of the Tasting Panel’s favourite wines from the week. These sips are usually matched with a simple cheese and dip platter – a delicious start to the weekend!

When it comes to entertaining at home, it’s a rare weekend when one of us isn’t hosting a dinner party or just drinks with friends and family.

We love chatting in the office about different ideas for whatever occasion is coming up – from internationally themed evenings celebrating how different cultures from around the world like to eat, drink and be merry, to tropical summer parties and fireside fun in winter.

Our most memorable themed occasions have included: an around-the-world diversity dinner party where every guest brought a dish from a different country; a picnic dinner party in a backyard filled with fairy lights; and a wine and cheese pot luck party where every guest brought their favourite wine and cheese match.

We’re lucky to have delicious and iconic Australian wines at our fingertips as well as a line-up of foodie experts to turn to for food and wine matching advice. This got us thinking – wouldn’t it be great to share that knowledge with our readers to help give your entertaining occasions the wow factor!

So, we’ve teamed up with some of our favourite chefs, sommeliers and winemakers to present an entertaining series that’s guaranteed to take your Saturday soiree or Sunday afternoon drinks to the next level. We’ll ask them what their personal secrets are to entertaining success and reveal some of their favourite food and wine matches.

And we’re not just talking about show-stopping main meals, you’ll discover how to create cheese boards with a difference, dip and cracker plates to impress and fruit platters with pizazz, plus learn how to choose the perfect drops to match.

Of course, we’re not all accomplished chefs and we don’t always have days to dedicate to preparation. So at the heart of this series will be the idea that the best entertaining occasions are fuss-free.

 

We’ll reveal tips and tricks to make your menu look effortless, yet still ensure it’s a showcase of your favourite seasonal produce.

 

As well as the perfect menu, you’ll discover ideas to make your table setting dazzle and the right tunes to create a playlist to suit. All that’s left for you to do is write the guest list and set the date!

 

Keep an eye out over the next five issues for an education in entertaining with a difference.

So, get set to stock your fridge and top up your wine collection, then fill your calendar with an enviable array of parties, picnics, barbeques, brunch and afternoon drinks. You’ll be the host with the most in no time!