want a taste?

What’s easier than a dinner party, cheaper than a cocktail party and provides tons of conversation topics? A tasting party.

What you taste is up to you — chocolate, honey, beer, cheese, whatever your weakness. Dina Cheney, tasting party hostess extraordinaire and author of the book Tasting Club, tells us how to host our own.

How does a tasting party work?
For a tasting party, the host gathers several products in one food or drink category (such as chocolate or cheese), and then everyone sits down and "deep-tastes" the samples, or slows down and savors them in a structured fashion, to get in touch with their palates. Deep-tasting involves assessing the samples' appearance, aromas, flavors, texture, and finish or aftertaste, and asking the most important question of all: Did I like it? In between trying samples, participants cleanse their palates — usually with water and mild-flavored bread or crackers — and share their observations. Before getting to the actual tasting portion, I love to serve guests a welcome drink and some food and then mingle a bit.

What does a tasting party offer that a traditional dinner party doesn't?
First of all, tasting parties are easier to pull off — you can have people over, but without cooking. And there's barely any clean-up! Plus, tasting parties are frequently less expensive to host — you can put together an apple tasting, for example, for little more than $15. Other than their ease and cost-effectiveness, tasting parties are really fresh and new — not the same old, same old dinner party. Plus, they're sensual, fun, educational and great ice-breakers. Everyone instantly has something to talk about! There's no better entertaining strategy when you're hosting a get-together with people who don't know each other well.

Read on for more about tasting parties...

Do you have to be a big foodie to enjoy yourself?
Absolutely not! Who doesn't love consuming delicious food and drink?! As far as the tasting portion goes, you'll be surprised at how involved everyone gets. I've had people come over for tastings who are the opposite of foodies — they rarely, if ever, go out to eat. And if they do, they return to the same places and order the same things. They scoff at gourmets. Yet, they'll expound on the subtle piney aromas of chocolate or the notes of orange blossom in a honey! Once they feel comfortable (which they usually will by the second or third sample), they'll often steal the show. That's another fun thing about the tasting — what you learn about people! I can guarantee that you'll often be pleasantly surprised.

What if you can’t find interesting varieties of food or drink in your area?
I often order online, especially chocolate. One of my favorite websites for chocolate, for example, is Chocosphere. In each chapter of Tasting Club, I include several Web sources. What I love about ordering online — other than the convenience and selection — is the wealth of information. You can learn a ton about all of the food and drink products, information that you can then share with your guests.

What are good food or drink subjects for tasting parties? Which ones have you found are most popular?
In Tasting Club, I offer tips for hosting tastings centering around chocolate, honey, cheese, wine, beer, tea, apples, cured meats, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. However, don't just host one tasting in each category — feel free to host hundreds! If you love cheese, for instance, start a tasting club devoted exclusively to cheese! Also, don't stop with these categories — I know people who've had a great time hosting tastings devoted to root beer, potato chips, butter, salt, spirits, pizza and ice cream! The most popular tastings are definitely chocolate, wine, beer and tea.

Do you have seasonal recommendations for tasting parties?
Absolutely! Apples for fall, chocolate for February, red wines for fall and winter, crisp white wines and rosés for summer, sparkling wines for the holiday season, extra virgin olive oil for summer, tea for fall or winter...

Can you offer some final tips for people who want to give this a whirl?
Here are a few essential rules for hosting your own tasting:
1. Pick a theme (such as French dark chocolates or Belgian beers)
2. Invite your guests — 8-10 is the perfect-size group
3. Splurge on quality products you've never before experienced — 6 works best
4. Serve a couple of simple hors d'oeuvres (purchased or prepared) before the tasting
5. Provide bland bread or crackers and cool water for cleansing the palate
6. Have everyone slow down, taste, and enjoy, then discuss the samples.

Comments

I love this idea. We once cooked dinner for 18 people about 9 years ago, and the preparation and clean-up was such hell, we vowed to never do it again.

But a tasting party, on the other hand, is perfect. A little bit of preparation and presentation, some clean-up but what are we talking about, maybe 12 plates?

This is definitely going on the to-do list!

I held a cheese tasting party two years ago and provided all the staples along with a few varieties of cheese. I also invited my guests to bring a cheese of their choice, which not only cut down on my costs, but allowed them show off their tastes to the group and to introduce cheeses I wouldn't have thought of.

I love this idea! I love that you can go wild with the "sides" or the staples, while still making the show the items you are tasting. Cheese seems like the easiest one to start with, but chocolate sounds good too.

This is a very fun idea. I am wondering can this tasting party be done to promote Gourmet Products that one may be selling, if so what do you think the appropiate wording for an invitation should be.