Re: Apero night
 

@JVC:- My comment was very tongue-in-cheek - as witnessed by my smiley. Shudder the thought that I even vaguely insinuated that you might be involved in something as shocking as on-line dating.
I sincerely hope your get-together is a success. I think we'd all like to know how it goes. PDOTS

Re: Apero night
 

How was your apero night ???

Re: Apero night
 

It's Sat night but thanks for asking. We are fine about it. Just hard as we have limited how many houses we invite, but is tricky as some have RSVPd, some haven't, so a vicious circle really! Invite too many and they will all show up, invite a limited few then risk not having a good show! The mayor cannot come which we are a little disappointed with, but he has good reason and sounds a little annoyed as he has another engagement and wanted to pop along.

Re: Apero night
 

Only just seen this thread - hope it goes off well!
I would agree about personally handing each of your guests a drink when they arrive rather than sending them straight off to get their own, I think that might be a little too informal and casual for people you haven't met before. If you don't 'connect' and show each of them a bit of personal attention as they arrive, you risk finding them all chatting together over the drinks and serving each other and you feeling left out. Also it's a chance to find out who drinks what and make sure they'll all find something they can drink, you might have the odd one that just wants a glass of tap water (unlikely, but they might be on medication).
My nightmare would be remembering who is who. I'm just hopeless at names - introduce me to three new people in a row and two minutes later I will have mixed two of them up. It's a real problem, I've learned to turn it into a joke but it still embarrasses me.
Since you're not sure on numbers I wouldn't put too many nibbles out until you see how many people have turned up, but have more plates hidden away in the kitchen on standby that you can bring out as and when required. As some said, an empty table is the best way to hint to people that the evening is over and it's time to start leaving - but if you put too much out to start with, it won't work, however much you are wishing they'd all beggar off you can hardly whisk the food away again once it's there.
Yec'hed mat, as the Bretons say.

Re: Apero night
 

I find that raw vegetables go down a treat - carrot sticks, cauliflower, radish, celery, cherry tomatoes etc. served with dips like tapenade, houmous to name just a couple. Makes a change from the golden oldies like olives, saucisson and crisps. If your feeling adventurous you can easily make some mini bite sized smoked salmon croissants by rolling up some puff pastry triangles (+/- 8cm sides) with a little smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives. Bit of egg wash on top and stick them in the oven a few minutes until golden brown. Don't put too much sauce in though as when you put them in the oven it goes all over the place :lol:;)

Like Babyposer I also like to do a kind of punch. Saves people downing your favorite 15year Glenmoranangie mixed with coke :blink:
I did a Great Sangria the other day which went down a treat and cost peanuts to make:thumbup:

Re: Apero night
 

All great tips thanks. The sangria sounds a good option thanks. I am also savvy to the drinks and food drying up stage to signify the end of the evening ;) Although I know of one neighbour that will be a couple of hours late due to a family wedding. We have said that if itis still in full swing pop in. As we don't have a firm idea on numbers she understand that if it is still going she will pop in for a drink. Unless you set some ground rules we could be going all night!

Re: Apero night
 

We were at a barbecue dînatoire last night.
We were invited to a barbecue where there were melon chunks and raw vegetable sticks with dips and toasts with guacamole and yoghurt spreads.
That was accompanied with champagne or rosé.
We then moved to the table and were served with a seafood and veg dish in individual cocottes accompanied with white wine.
Then we had the barbecued duck breasts and ratatouille along with a beefy Cahors red.
Then came the cheese with another south-west red.
Thereafter appeared the cherry tart served with a sweet white and finally coffee offered with a digestif.
This was no simple barbecue - it lasted nearly six hours and we knew it was time to leave when one of the guests fell asleep at the table.;)
@jvc
Good luck for sat night.

Re: Apero night
 

Thanks. My spread will not be any where near as glam I'm afraid! I am aiming at the 1.5 hr limit on my apero evening :sarcasm: Mind you we do have some boules (spelling:confused:) so not sure how that will go down after a few glasses of vino! I may do some english sweet food too! After all we are still english, and our mince pies went down well with our neighbour at christmas!

Re: Apero night
 

Love the melon chunks, they are so refreshing ! But watermelon chunks are even better when it's hot (cut it before the guests come and put in the fridge for a few hours) !

Re: Apero night
 

Or a watermelon filled with vodka:thumbsup:

Re: Apero night
 

Awesome :lol:

Re: Apero night
 

We passed on the watermelon and vodka, but needless to say last night went better than we could of asked for! Only 2 houses failed to reply to the RSVP and failed to show at all. We had a huge number turn up, wouldn't of wanted any more, and we even had people show up when it had all finished, but unfortunately wasn't able to offer them much as all the neighours had destroyed the food, which means we don't have to live on nibbles for the next month!
Thanks for all you advice, although we did over do the alcohol supply. What with some taking medication and mums with new born babies not much was consumed, and to my surprise not a drop of pastis was consumed :confused: After 6 hours of french we were trully exhausted :yawn:

Re: Apero night
 

:thumbsup:

Re: Apero night
 

Good news and well done.

Your neighbours are clearly more abstemious than our.

Re: Apero night
 

Congratulations; lots of work but worth it. :thumbup: