Finger Food for a Party
- There is nothing easier than popping a sushi roll into your mouth. And not many foods are presented so beautifully. Order trays of sushi from your supermarket or your favorite local sushi spot. The most popular varieties are California rolls, salmon and cucumber, and tuna with avocado. Be sure to include some veggie rolls for those less adventurous guests. Leave out bowls of regular and low-sodium soy sauce, along with wasabi mustard and ginger. Edamame, a popular green soybean appetizer, is a great finger food coupled with sushi. It is even perfectly acceptable to serve cold. Just boil several bags before the party and refrigerate until ready to put them out. As for chopsticks? In Japan, the country that popularized traditional sushi, it's acceptable to use your fingers.
- Most cities have a recognized dish or food style. In Boston, it is baked beans, clam chowder and cream pie. New Orleans has its Cajun cuisine like gumbo and po' boys, while Philadelphia has the cheese steak and soft pretzel. For your next party, try representing your city or region by serving mini portions of popular foods. In Los Angeles, where taco and burrito stands dot nearly every corner, serve soft and hard taco shells and let guests spoon on their own toppings like salsa, guacamole, cheese and shredded chicken. Put out tortilla chips for those who would rather have nachos. Serve po' boy sliders in Louisiana and in San Francisco, dig out holes in mini sourdough rolls. Ladle in some crab or lobster stuffing, Fisherman's Wharf-style.
- Desserts make great finger foods. Think of any dessert you like in regular-sized portions--just shrink it down for a party. Buy tiny cupcake molds and make a variety of chocolate and vanilla finger cakes. For cookies, just spoon out a third or half the size dough you would normally use. Truffles are a snap to pop into your mouth. You can prepare teensy S'mores and little pie pockets using frozen dough and pie filling. Of course, nothing is more finger-friendly than some sliced watermelon.
