A Vintage Christmas Party

Since the early 1990's Mike and I have opened our home and hosted Christmas parties for family, friends, board members, council members, my staff and his staff in various iterations. Through the years the size of group determined if it would be an open house, a party with heavy appetizers and desserts, an everybody bring something event, or a sit-down meal.

Many years I've been inspired by a new food trend or new recipe that sets the tone for the event. This year I just wasn't coming up with anything new, so I decided to go back to the old days. Our early parties featured appetizers that our mom's had served back in the 70's. I remember helping my mom prepare various dips, artistically arranging meat, cheese, and crackers. Every occasion was worthy of a punch bowl, and the really cool parties had chafing dishes and fondue pots.

On Friday evening we hosted Mike's staff and their spouses. We worked down to the last second just like a Food Network competition to execute the vintage theme.

Let me tell you, a mid-20th century hostess knocked herself out to perfectly execute a molded Jell-o creation, poke hundreds of food-filled frilly toothpicks into Styrofoam cones to look like Christmas trees and perfectly monitor the Sterno flames under copper chafing dishes and fondue pots.

I went to a local thrift store to buy a punch bowl, since I'd purged mine when we moved. While there I found a lovely copper chafing dish. A neighbor loaned me her avocado green fondue pot that she received as a wedding gift in 1969. My tablescape included my vintage ornament collection and spiral taper candles in crystal candleholders that my parents received as a wedding gift. It was really fun to bring all these things together!

The party served as a history lesson for staff who were born in the 80's and 90's, but we had a great time. Lots of laughs about Jell-o creations and a common love for pizza rolls and pigs in a blanket.

I think I'll go easier on myself next year and pull out the craft paper and throw food on it with Sharpie written descriptions. In 2025 our approach to entertaining in much less labor intensive and still serves the purpose of gathering friends and family to celebrate with food and drink. Cheers!