ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kowalski's Markets is doing its part to make entertaining easy and economical this holiday season, with such suggestions as creating "appetizer buffets."
In its December newsletter to customers, the 9-unit, upscale independent is suggesting serving a variety of small bites, but super tasty ones. Those can make the evening exciting without the expense of a formal meal, officials point out.
"Rather than preparing a big dinner when entertaining, the trend this holiday season is to create an appetizer buffet that allows guests to 'graze' throughout the evening. It is also an easy way for your guests to come and go, especially during this time of year, when people are often invited to more than one gathering on a given evening," Linda Day Anderson, the chain's culinary expert, writes in the newsletter.
Anderson added that the number of expected guests should guide how many bite size treats to offer.
"Just remember that the average person would eat 8 to 10 pieces every 60 to 90 minutes," she stated.
Naturally, Kowalski's touts some of its ready-to-pick-up hors d'oeuvres: Stuffed mushrooms, Italian won-tons, baked Bries, flights of cheese, and others are mentioned.