When friends surprisingly drop by, it's important to offer them something to nibble on and something to quench their thirst. The key to ensure your guests don't leave your place with their stomachs rumbling is by stocking up your pantry and your bar. With the following items you'll be fine when guests arrive, regardless of the time.

BUILD YOUR PANTRY

  • Baguettes. Slice them then freeze them to keep them. When you’re ready to serve them, defrost them, toast them, enjoy!
  • Biscotti
  • Cheeses. Not really a pantry item per se, but with a decent selection of wines, you have an instant party. Get a variety of soft (brie, camembert), hard (cheddar, Manchego), fresh (mozzarella, ricotta), and blue-veined cheeses (gorgonzola).
  • Cheese straws. This southern treat is good for guests and good to nibble on for a quick cheese fix.
  • Chocolate and chocolate-covered… anything. You can’t go wrong with chocolate… ever!
  • Cookies
  • Crackers. Get a variety of butter, herb-flavored to serve with spreads, cheese, and cured meats.
  • Cured Meats and Seafood. Examples include salami, chorizo, pancetta, pepperoni, lomo, lox, anchovy.
  • Dried fruits.
  • Honey. At the very least keep it in the pantry to sweeten your tea.
  • Olives. Green, black, or Kalamata, stuffed or pitted. You really can’t go wrong.
  • Spiced nuts.
  • Mustards. A brown-spiced and a Dijon can be enough.

BUILD YOUR BAR

If you stock your bar with the following items, you will be prepared for a cocktail party for 40-60 people. No matter how small your place is, no in-home bar should be without the following:

(1) Bottle of lime juice
(1) Bottle of Worcestershire sauce
(1) Bottle of Tabasco sauce
(1) 375ml of dry vermouth
(1) 1L rum (get two if you want one light, one dark / spiced)
(1) 1L scotch
(1) 1L bourbon
(1) 1L tequila
(1) 1L triple sec (or other orange liqueur if you prefer)
(1) 1L gin
(2) L of vodka
(2) Gal. of orange juice
(2) Gal. of cranberry juice
(2) Cases of beer (mix it up with varieties of ales and lagers)
(6) 1L tonic water
(6) 1L seltzer
(6) 1L club soda
(6) 1L cola
(6) 1L diet cola
(10) Bottles of white wine (chardonnay, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc)
(10) Bottles of red wine (syrah or shiraz, pinot noir, merlot)

With a few nice platters and a few decent glasses, you have a cocktail party in a flash!