Some years before, throwing a party for your friends was quite simple. You ordered pizzas or put together things that people can eat with their hands, set out paper plates and napkins, chilled bottles of beer in the rerigerator and stock the freezer with ice, and picked up a favourite cake or tray of brownies from the neighbourhood bakery for dessert. And people started arriving, you all lounged around on the couches to talk, until the food and drinks were gone and everyone headed home.

Such casual gatherings are perfectly fine for ordinary weekends when you just need to catch up with your pals, watch a movie, or engage in conversation about things that are going on in your lives — it’s such a relief to be able to comfortably spend an evening with your friends without having to get all dressed up and head to a club with a crowds and loud music.

Taking things up a notch

Of course, there will come times when you want to celebrate special occasions by throwing little parties at home, and pizzas and beer just won’t cut it. To highlight your recent engagement, your son’s graduation from high school or college, your husband’s promotion at work, or your close friend’s new apartment, it wuld be more fitting to prepare more substantial party fare and provide more sophisticated beverages that suit the occasion.

Such events would be the perfect opportunity to take out your mother’s much-thumbed-through recipe book and prepare heirloom recipes that can showcase your cooking skills. Friends and family can bring wine and help put together the dishes, too, already making the pre-party period a little reunion of sorts. But while you may be totally in control of the mains for the party, you don’t have to fuss over the appetizers as well — you can leave that part up to renowned catering companies in Dubai, like 1762, known for pretty and delicious canapés that your guests are sure to enjoy.

Treat your guests to sweet and savoury bites

Canapés, Dubai caterers will tell you, can give your guests a little feast for the senses before you sit down to the main meal. Canapés are a type of decorative food typically served as an appetizer and made to be held with your fingers and eaten in one or two bites. These are often served during cocktail hours and are meant to encourage guests to enjoy more drinks, as the canapés complement the beverages well.

Usually, canapés are made by cutting small bread slices, crackers or puff pastry and topping them with a butter or paste and other savoury food items such as cheese, meat or seafood, and various kinds of relish or fruits and vegetables. Finger-food versions of wraps and tarts are also often served.

You can wow your guests with trays filled with assorted canapés. Why not offer up Greek lamb tartlets with feta cheese and herbs, or chicken satay from Indonesia paired with a spicy peanut dipping sauce? Smoked salmon with dill and cream cheese with lemon and chives are always party winners. Mushrooms stuffed with sausages and creamy sauces are also favourites, along with vibrant vegetarian versions like mini chickpea samosas or Asian vegetable spring rolls with a sweet and sour dip.

Don’t shy away from letting your guests try sweeter canapés, too — from lemon curd tartlets to mini apple cinnamon crumbles, from petit cheesecakes and panna cotta pots, you’ll be sure to get your party started on the right note with such unique and exciting dainty treats.

Thanks to experienced caterers who come up with innovative gourmet canapés like these, your house party can be as elegant and sophisticated as you want it to be, and the celebration becomes all the more special.