Food & Wine Classic in Aspen: Great Ways to Serve This Summer

I'm the luckiest duck. I just got back from the 2011 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen as a guest of the nice folks from Plastics Make it Possible. Every major chef, food star, foodie, winery, and liquor brand was there. The weekend was all food all the time! I sampled, tasted, photographed, and talked food for 48 hours straight. Serving all of that food and drinks on location is not unlike serving for a party that isn't in your kitchen. You really have to be creative with both food and the drinks to keep the hot food hot and the cold food and drinks cold. You also need to deal with interesting and unique serving and of course, the clean up. Here are a few of the better ideas I saw:

PLASTIC DISPENSERS ARE PARTY PERFECTFrontgate Plastic Beverage Dispenser $99.50

I saw lots and lots of signature drinks being served. It is simply easier when hosting a large crowd to offer a signature drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and make it self-serve so you do not have to play bartender during the party. I've been using dispensers for quite a while and have long preferred the plastic ones to the glass dispensers.... mainly because the plastic is lighter and I don't have to worry about breakage! I store them in a plastic storage bin wrapped in plastic wrap to keep them clean. That way, I don't have to wash them before I use them next. I liked this particular plastic beverage dispenser from Frontgate because of the looks- but also because it has an ice chamber on the top and bottom to help keep drinks chilled. Less ice = nice. Less work for me!

WHO SAYS PLASTIC ISN'T ELEGANT?

DuraClear Glasses for Outdoor Entertaining from Willians-SonomaI am a big fan of serving drinks in a glass but there is always going to be breakage- which not only is dangerous, it is very inconvenient. I don't know about you, but I don't really like sweeping up glass in my party frock. These days, you can get the look of crystal without the fragility with plastic wine or cocktail glasses. I saw these glasses at the show and thought they were glass until I picked one up. Better yet, with these, you can put all of your dirty glasses in a plastic garbage bag and wash them the next day after the party. Whew.

My new friends at Plastic Make it Possible would like to make it possible for you to have some of these gorgeous items valued at $500 to make your summer entertaining more beautiful and more fun! Just follow the link and enter to win... The contest ends July 8, 2011.

ENTER THE PLASTICS MAKE IT POSSIBLE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING SUMMER SWEEPSTAKES