Food and entertainment are must-haves for every party; but what if the food was the entertainment? Earn yourself some solid host or hostess points with these fun, interactive and customisable party ideas.

1. The home burger grill
Who doesn’t love a juicy burger? Whether a barbecue in the garden or by the pool, or even an indoor gathering, customising options are aplenty and sure to keep your guests busy and filled.

• Grill station
  Raw, medium, medium well? Have your pre-heated grilling station ready so everyone can cook their own patties to their personal preference.
  Extra host points for inclusivity if you can get the different kinds of meat patties: red (beef/lamb), chicken, pork, and for our vegetarian or vegan friends, meatless patties!
• Sauce station
  Go mainstream with ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and chilli. And for the more adventurous, add on some blue cheese dressing, or even dashes of Asian flavours like soya sauce!  
• Cheese bar
  While you can never go wrong with cheddar, other melty cheeses like gouda or raclette are sure to make for yummy oozy burgers!
• Veggie toppings
  Besides the classic lettuce and tomato slices, you can easily prep some other favourite toppings like mushroom slices, gherkins and onion rings.

2. Pancake brunch
Pancakes are super versatile, and nothing is more mouth-watering than the sight of a fluffy stack dripping with syrup!

• Hot pan
  Flat pan or appliance, have your big bowl of batter ready to go with the help of a non-stick agent like cooking spray, and a handy spatula for flipping.
• Fruit
  Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries always make berry good accompaniments for pancakes! And don’t forget bananas (which are technically a berry too!).
• Spreads and syrups
  Maple syrup, the ol’ faithful. But why not spread out the selection with a few kinds of jams, maybe even some peanut butter and chocolate spread, or even whipped cream!

3. Ice-cream dessert bar
There’s a reason people love the ice-cream bar at a buffet; there’s a joy that comes with scooping out your own ball of frosty sweetness! Fun for the kids, and fun for the young at heart!

• Flavours
  Have a few flavours at the ready, but be sure to select flavours that don’t already have too many toppings in the mixture, so that you can blank-canvas your ice cream bowl and build your masterpiece yourself! Prep your scooper by having it dipped into warm water for easy scooping.
• Toppings
  Level up your beginner-level toppings; instead of just chocolate sprinkles, crush up whole chocolate chip cookies. Instead of simple fruit toppings, blend some berries into a rich coulis. Or mix some sweet and salty flavours and sprinkle over some pretzels! You get the idea!

4. Wine & cheese board
While it may not be substantial enough to be considered a meal, a wine and cheese board is the perfect appetiser for an adults-only gathering.

• Wine
  Depending on how many guests you’re expecting, have your bottles of red, white, rosé or sparkling ready by chilling them beforehand. And remember that sparkly spot-free glasses also make the best first impression!
• Cheese
  Expand your palate with an impressive selection of cheese, but try to stick to firmer cheeses that will last longer on your board in room temperature. Consider cheddar, gruyere, manchego and parmesan as an easy starter pack. And don’t forget some handy cheese knives,
• Extras
  Include some crackers or hors d’oeuvres-sized bread as vessels for your cheese, or even some fruit like apple slices. And if you’re feeling generous, why not some charcuterie too!

Planning the perfect dinner party? Check out the Gemspot app for our list of food vendors including meat and wine delivery.