6 ideas for a cocktail hour get-together

Whether you’re entertaining one person or ten, any reason is a good one to have guests over for cocktail hour! Widespread in Europe and increasingly common here, cocktail hour generally refers to drinks and appetizers to whet the appetite before the main meal. It’s also a great excuse to get together a bit before the dinner hour to savour every minute of summer. Here are six ideas for snacks your guests will love to enjoy as they sip their drinks.

Finger food

There’s no need to spend all day in the kitchen preparing your appetizers: Salty bites: Mini pizzas, deviled eggs, homemade or frozen canapés, mini-brochettes and mini-quiches are classic. Feel free to offer a few vegetarian options, too. Snacks: Chips, mixed nuts, olives and small pickled foods are all easy to eat with your fingers or served on toothpicks.

The local touch

You’ll find big and small local brands offering great snack and appetizer ideas in every aisle of your Les Marchés Tradition store.

Deli and cheese platters

A time-honoured happy hour tradition, a properly prepared platter can serve as your entire cocktail hour snack: Cheese: Offer cheese with a variety of rinds (soft, hard, semi-hard, blue, fresh) and made from different types of milk (cow, goat, sheep). If you’re looking for a touch of originality, try vegan cheese. Plan on 75 g of cheese per person as an appetizer. Deli meats: Variety is key here too (hams, pâtés, terrines, dry-cured sausage, etc.) and plan for around 80 to 100 g of deli meat per person. You may need less if your platter also includes a selection of cheeses. Extras: Croutons, fresh bread, fresh or dried fruit, a few pickled condiments, mustards and jellies are excellent complements for your platters.

The local touch

You don’t have to look far to find plenty of local products! Your neighbourhood Les Marchés Tradition store’s deli counter is full of local cheese, pâtés and deli meats, and they’re easy to find.

Produce

Refreshing snacks are always welcome during cocktail hour, especially when it’s hot out! Vegetables: If you want something that everyone will enjoy, a beautiful, generous veggie platter with a variety of dips (or a large multilayer dip) and pickled or grilled veggies on mini skewers is sure to please. Fruits: Melon is a popular choice in the summer, but if you’re feeling bold, set out a selection of berries, figs, or thin slices of apple or pear with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar reduction.

The local touch

Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, pears, melons and more grow right here in local fields and greenhouses.

Seafood

Seafood is an easy way to add a touch of sophistication to your cocktail hour. Menu options: A shrimp ring with cocktail sauce, fresh oysters with a selection of sauces, tartare bites, sushi, and smoked salmon and other smoked fish are just a few ideas.

The local touch

While some fresh and frozen seafood products are available year-round, others vary depending on the season. Take a look at the local fishing calendar and ask your fishmonger for advice on the best fish and seafood to serve for maximum freshness.

Drink essentials

To make sure your guests stay fresh, it’s a good idea to have a few essential beverages on hand: Wine: A refreshing white or rosé is often a popular choice during happy hour, and a bottle of sparkling wine is just the thing for a celebration! Beer: Have a few different kinds of beers available—lagers, ales and wheat beers, plus a few microbrews for good measure. Spirits: Gin, rum and vodka are the spirits of choice for cocktail hour. You can serve them with a variety of juices and flavoured sparkling water.

The local touch

It’s easy to fill your bar with wine from local vineyards, craft beers and even locally produced spirits.

Mocktails

Because of pregnancy, taste or personal choice, some people don’t drink alcohol, but that doesn’t mean they have to settle for sparkling water. Enter the mocktail—100% alcohol-free and 100% fun! Master the basics: You don’t need to take a mixology course to create a classic mocktail that blends sparkling water, fruit juice, a hint of syrup and fresh fruit! Try your hand with this grapefruit-raspberry mocktail, then try substituting the ingredients. Keep it simple: Bloody Caesars, cosmos and mojitos are just a few examples of simple cocktails you can make sans alcohol. Dare to be cool: Herbs, natural extracts, syrups and freshly pressed juice will brighten up your mocktails, whether they’re of your own creation or not.

The local touch

Locally pressed juices, herbs, berries and syrups are just a few local products you can add to your favourite mocktails.

Now that you’ve decided on some starters and drinks for the evening, all you have to do is set the table, make some ice and welcome your guests out in the yard!