You know my motto when it comes to kids’ parties?
Feed the parents!
We hosted a kids’ birthday party with a purr-fect cat theme, and well, cat food was not so appetizing. I did set out some Goldfish crackers, but aside from that strayed from the theme…
How do I plan a menu for a kids’ party? I do much the same as I do for a party with a mixed-age crowd. I believe strongly in preparing something special for the parents to enjoy. At parties, kids tend to play and not “sit to eat,” while parents deserve a moment’s rest and a good meal. That’s why my motto is “feed the parents.”
Designing a Party Menu – Three Tips:
- Consider the time
The event was from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. That means dinner!
- Consider the crowd
The guests were equally split between kids (6- to 10-years old) and adults. We went with a home-made pizza party and prepared some hearty salads. For drinks, we made freshly-squeezed lemonade. The parents ate well. As predicted, the kids ate popcorn and fruit. And, of course, Goldfish crackers!
- Consider the season
While pizza is a year-round favorite, the party was in early summer. The menu featured summery produce and lighter fare that works well on a hot day. Since we set the food table indoors, there was no need to be concerned about bugs or sun exposure.
A Summer Pizza Party Plus Menu
- Three types of “Pizza al Taglio”
- Pizza al Pomodoro (Just tomato)
- Pizza alla Cipolla (Sauteed scallions)
- Schiacchiata all’Uva (Grape & sugar)
- Mozzarella & Tomato
- Pasta Salad with Feta, Tomatoes, Spinach & Balsamic Reduction
- Fruit
- Pink Popcorn, which is stovetop-popped popcorn with salt and melted candy disks (pink, in this case)
- World’s Best Chocolate Cake, with ganache and an espresso/cinnamon/mascarpone filling, recipe by Helen Goh & Yottam Ottolenghi
- Lemon Yogurt Cake
For drinks, we served freshly-squeezed lemonade and various bubbly waters.
Which would you grab first?
