Function

• Party food is intended to be eaten at celebrations, and as such it tends to be relatively easy to make in large proportions to feed a number of people. Party food needs to be easy to eat with either the fingers or a fork and is sometimes called finger food. Most items of party food are intended to be eaten cold, such as potato salad or sandwiches, to make it easier to prepare in advance.

Types

• There are many types of party food and the kind you use will be dependent on the kind of gathering you are hosting. For a children's party, sausage rolls, jelly and cakes are popular choices as they can be colourful to look at and fun to eat. For a summer party, a barbecue is a good idea, as the food can be cooked and served outside to make the most of the good weather. A winter party might suit a menu of melted cheese fondue and bread or jacket potatoes with bowls of filling such as grated cheese and chilli con carne.

Time frame

• Preparing the food so that it is ready in time for the party is key. Some food items can be made the night before the celebration and some the morning of the party. Any food made in advance should be covered and refrigerated to prevent it becoming stale. Hot food will need to be either cooked from scratch so that it is ready to eat in good time before your guests to arrive or reheated from earlier preparation. Some foods such as rice cannot be reheated due to health reasons.

Pre-packaging

• As party food is so popular, many items are sold pre-made so the only preparation required is to put the food onto plates. Such food includes pasta salad, sushi, chips and dips, and cheese boards.

Presentation

• Party food can be presented in a number of ways. It can be served in matching dishes, in disposable containers to save on washing up or on plates appropriate to the celebration. Examples include matching serving dishes to a wedding colour scheme or using orange and black for a Halloween theme or red and green for Christmas-related items. A salad garnish can also be added to each plate.