Advice for house party food/drinks

[Floam6]

Hi all, I'm hosting a house party in a few weeks for my husbands 40th. It will be in the evening with approx 25 friends/family. But I haven't a clue about what alcohol/nibbles to provide. Would anyone have an idea of what drinks I should get and how quantity-wise please? I plan on doing a bit of a grazing table but it needs to be a things people can eat easily whilst standing chatting. Does anyone have any recommendations or recipes? Slightly stressing as I'm not a natural host but really want to pull it off and for people to enjoy themselves. Thanks!

I recommend the approach of, assemble don't cook. So cold meats and salamis, cubes and slices of cheese, lots of crackers, lots of bread, dips, slices of pork pie, maybe some oven cook party food like mozzarella sticks. If you have time, maybe some canapés, like brie and cranberry on mini toasts, smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis (do some with cucumber and cream cheese for those who don't like fish). Then get lots of those mini flapjack and brownie tubs for something sweet.
That way you won't be stressed hosting, and can concentrate on the party.

What time are they arriving? The later the start time the less you need.

If earlier pulled pork (or jackfruit) rolls are good as you can do ahead and people serve themselves.

If later a cheeseboard plus antipasti is always a good option

Oh gosh I missed the drinks quantities question, maybe the equivalent of half a bottle plus 2 beers per person? I'm assuming many people will bring wine as a gift so don't worry too much, but if you want prosecco or similar for a toast, work on 6 to 8 small glasses from a bottle.
I always over cater on drink as it doesn't go off, so I'd probably end up with far more!

Go to M&S - sausage rolls, mini pork pies, cocktail sausages, quiches you can slice up, etc etc etc. Either serve it all cold, or heat in the oven as appropriate.

Get paper plates and napkins so you can just chuck everything into a binbag at the end.

Don't forget fruit juice/soft drinks for non drinkers/drivers. If I was a guest, two glasses of wine would be enough for me, and I'd move on to soft drinks if I wanted something more.

And maybe tea/coffee served as the party is winding down.

For drinks I would keep it simple - red wine, white wine, beer and soft drinks. Maybe some fizz but don't start doing cocktails/spirits. You'll know your friends/family better than us - for DH's side of the family I'd be working on the equivalent of a bottle of wine each over an evening; for mine we'd be running out of tea bags.

I think Majestic Wine do free glass hire and sale or return which might be useful.

Put everything out on a table/worktop and encourage people to help themselves so you don't have to be waitressing.

For food I would generally go for bigger quantities of fewer things rather than trying to give lots of options. Sandwich platters are easy to order, you could add some big pork pies, quiches, lots of crusty bread, maybe boiled new potatoes and a couple of big salads (coleslaw, couscous, potato salad).

If you are more adventurous you cook cook a couple of big hams or a couple of sides of salmon to go with salads/bread/potatoes.

Plenty of big bowls of crisps/nuts/snacks if people are drinking.

If you're having a birthday cake that could be dessert. Or maybe some big cakes, cheesecakes, brownies etc.

Final advice would be not to overthink it. Do as much as you can beforehand and try to enjoy the party with your DH rather than rushing around cooking sausage rolls and topping up drinks.

On a practical note - buy plenty of napkins, black bags, kitchen roll, wipes, toilet roll and disposable plates/cutlery.

Are people likely to be driving or do you live somewhere, where majority will be using public transport and will be drinking more? Personally, I'd buy more than I think I need- and any extra can be used at Christmas time.
Sainsburys currently have their 25% off 6 bottles of wine.
I'd prep/make as many things a day or so ahead. I agree with doing crackers, cheese, charcuterie, grapes, chutney etc.
Pork pies or sausage rolls
M&S and other supermarkets do some lovely platters of sandwiches if you wanted everything pre-made

If you want some filling type foods, which can be cooked a day ahead, covered in cling film in the fridge overnight and eaten standing and chatting:
-Chicken drumsticks. You can get shake-in-the bag type coating like BBQ or make your own. Wrap foil around the handle part so people can hold and eat
-Stuffed curried or devilled eggs. I prefer them with just mayonnaise, curry powder, salt/pepper but like the piped looked of these Nigella ones.
https://www.nigella.com/recipes/devilled-eggs
https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/simple-curried-eggs-recipe/cqsjdl43
-Mini quiche or fritatta. I put a doubled over square of filo in each metal muffin pans hole. This recipe is asparagus, but I've used anything I have in the fridge. Ham, bacon, onion, spring onions, fresh or semi dried tomatoes etc.
https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/asparagus-filo-frittatas/nb08o3es
-Devils on horseback. I've also made them with blue cheese inside. https://maxmakesmunch.com/recipe/devils-on-horseback
-Melon/proscuitto sticks www.regainyoursparkle.com/easy-mozzarella-melon-prosciutto-skewers/

Amazing, thanks so much all. This has been really helpful. Feel much more motivated/inspired now 😊.

For drinks I'd make sure have non alcoholic wine and beer plus posh soft drinks too - the pendulum is really shifting and most people who attended a recent party of mine brought these rather than booze - it wasn't bring a bottle, but I guess they worried there might not be nice non alcoholic options.

I never think sandwiches quite fit with evening drinks, cheese and charcuterie are a much better option.
Just buy 5 or 6 good cheese and meats to make a large platter. Serve with selection of different crackers, grapes, celery, a few chutneys, nuts, olives, maybe some pickled onions or cocktail gherkins, nice crisps.
If you want to have a warm element do a load of cocktail sausages in honey and mustard.

A lot of the supermarkets are just launching their Christmas ranges which has loads of the above as well as other canapés/party foods.

If this is an evening thing, I think you need to do a filling hot meal. I think I’d be a bit disappointed if I went to someone’s house for the evening and all I got was cheese and charcuterie and cold sausage rolls. Unless it really is not at a meal time, so 9pm or 4pm (ending before dinner), I think nibbles are okay, but if it’s 7/8pm, people will expect dinner.

I would do something like pulled pork or beef in rolls, or chilli bowls, or chicken/halloumi skewers in flatbreads, or curry and rice with naan. These are all things people can eat standing with their hands or a spoon and can be customised with different toppings.

I assume you’ll have birthday cake, but I’d offer a selection of sweet treats, like big cookies, brownie bites, the sort of things you can buy at the shop and pour into big bowls.

I'd probably borrow a couple of slow cookers and do jacket potatoes with a choice of veg chilli, chicken curry and maybe beef bourgignon (made in advance to just heat up on the night) Serve in bowls with maybe some baguettes or garlic bread. Been to plenty of parties where we've managed that sort of food standing up.