Diwali may be a festival of light but a party is not a party without a few drinks. Of course it’s best to stock up on the diyas, lanterns and candles so that your home looks fabulous and festive. But it’s the food and drink, which ultimately helps with the flow of the gathering. A good menu with traditional delicacies is a good way to go for Diwali, along with plenty of sweet treats. Here, again traditional sweets are the way to go. The main attraction, though, are the drinks.
One drink that goes with a lot of food items is the mojito. It’s really fun experimenting with the cocktail too. Add some boondi to it and a bit of aam panna for an Aam Panna Mojito. This one would be a hit amongst the women. Vodka and soda with a hint of tamarind and chilli black salt is another delicious option one could opt for.
You could experiment with drinks using ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, green chilli, cilantro, chaat masala and other spices to add that desi twist to your drinks. We’re all looking for refreshing drinks. A no- fuss, easy and absolutely delicious drink that you can whip up together is the English Garden. The flavours of apple, cucumber and elderflower are refreshing and will keep your guest asking for more.
While it’s always handy to have a varied selection of alcohol at your disposal to cater to different tastes, keeping a stock of non-alcoholic mocktails is also a must, since some guests may prefer a to keep it dry this Diwali. Another thing to ensure is that you have plenty of ice stocked up, so that it’s easy to fix up a chilled drink for everyone.
Of course, it’s best to have a couple of appetisers floating around. With the traditional spices giving your cocktails that extra zip, it’s best to go desi with the chakna as well. You don’t want to keep the appetisers very heavy, as the main course should be highlighted. Appetisers that are easy to pop in a bite and are not too messy are advisable. Pakoras with mint chutney, dhokla, sauteed vegetables on skewers, hummus and dips served with lavash, vegetable and fruit platters, cocktail samosas and cutlets are some of the appetisers that would really go with drinks.
And it’s always best to stock up on just a bit more food than you need. After all, there’s no harm in indulging on leftovers after Diwali, but running out of food is a strict no-no. The same goes for alcohol — it’s best to have a couple of extra bottles handy, so you don’t find yourself doing a midnight run. Keep tissue paper available in plenty, in all parts of the house. Just as long as you have these nitty-gritties taken care of, you’re sure to have a Diwali to remember.
The writer is the owner of Summer House Cafe
