Market menu: how to put a fresh spin on a buy-and-serve holiday party - Food

Sunset, Dec, 2002 by Linda Lau Anusasananan

Throwing a holiday party always sounds like fun--until you're whipping up the last batch of homemade mini-quiches and you realize that it's a labor of love, with the emphasis on labor. But putting together an impressive spread can be simpler than it looks. The diversity of the West means that delicious ethnic foods are widely available--often ready-made--and can be combined to make an easy and delicious menu.

Ethnic markets are a great place to start; if you live near the San Gabriel Valley's Little Beijing, Seattle's International District, or San Francisco's Mission District, you can find an array of delicacies just by heading out to the corner store. But even if such resources aren't available to you, you may be surprised by the choices at any supermarket. We shopped at a large Asian grocery store for a lavish Chinese buffet, and we found great Italian options at our local supermarket. Whatever you choose, you'll spend more time at the store than at the stove--which means that the party truly can be fun for all.

Chinese sandwich buffet

For an Asian spread, offer barbecued pork and roast duck as the main meats, with buns or pancakes to hold the sandwich fillings. (If you're shopping at a supermarket, buy roast chicken or pork tenderloin and serve the meats sliced, with hoisin sauce and green onions.) Set out a selection of snack foods, dim sum items (purchase them frozen or buy them from a local restaurant), and fresh vegetables. Accompany the menu with imported Asian beer, rice wine or sake, and tea, and finish with cookies or candy. Here are some choices to seek out--and where in the store to find them.

SNACK ITEMS

* On the shelf: Wasabi peas, seaweed rice crackers, roasted watermelon seeds, roasted mixed nuts, and fried peanuts

VEGETABLES

* In the refrigerator case: Fresh soybeans (edamame), kim chee, pickled ginger, and pickled daikon

* At the deli counter: Cantonese: pickled vegetables, seaweed salad, and soybean-mustard green salad

* On the shelf: Canned assorted pickled vegetables, such as onions or mustard greens; baby corn

BREADS

* At the deli counter or in the freezer: Sesame buns (shao bing), steamed rolls, green onion cakes, steamed green onion knots, and Mandarin pancakes (sometimes sold as spring roll wrappers; choose those with a crepelike texture)

MEATS AND TOFU

* In the refrigerator case: Fried tofu puffs (drizzle with Thai sweet hot chili sauce or peanut sauce)

* At the deli counter: Barbecued pork (cha ski), roast pork, ribs, roast duck, soy sauce chicken, and barbecued chicken wings

* On the shelf: Sweet dried beef and pork (jerky) and Chinese sausages (may be found in the refrigerator case)

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS

* On the shelf: Hoisin, satay, ponzu, teriyaki, barbecue, plum, and peanut sauces; chili sauces and pastes; and miso and sesame dressings

DUMPLINGS

* At the deli counter or in the freezer: Potstickers or gyoza, wontons, spring rolls, steamed meat- or vegetable-filled buns, and steamed seafood and meat dumplings

SWEETS

* In the freezer: Mochi ice cream balls; coconut, green tea, or mango ice cream

* On the shelf or at the bakery counter: Almond cookies, sponge cakes, sesame or peanut crunch candy, fortune cookies, and candied ginger and coconut

Italian antipasto party

Assemble a selection of meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and purchased salads for an Italian appetizer party. Dress up a platter of fresh vegetables with a shallow dish of extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar seasoned with salt and pepper. Accompany the whole menu with wine and Italian sodas--flavored syrups poured into club soda over ice. To end the evening, serve affogato, a simple but sophisticated Italian dessert in which hot espresso is poured over vanilla gelato just before serving, or offer unadorned gelato with cookies or cake. Italian foods are readily available in most supermarkets; you can also seek out Italian markets for an even greater selection. Here's what to look for.

SNACK ITEMS

* At the deli counter or in the freezer: Bruschetta, mini-pizzas, and large pizzas (cut into bite-size pieces)

* At the deli counter or on the shelf: Marinated or canned olives and anchovies

VEGETABLES

* In the produce department: Fresh fennel, artichokes, red bell peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini; fresh rosemary or other herbs

* On the shelf or at the deli counter: Pickled vegetables (giardiniera), marinated mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, caponata, roasted red bell peppers, grilled or roasted vegetables, and white bean salad (or buy canned white beans, drain, and gently mix with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped tomatoes, and chopped fresh herbs)

BREADS

* At the bakery or on the shelf: Crusty loaves, breadsticks, and focaccia

MEATS AND CHEESES

* In the refrigerator case: Pesto-mascarpone torta, mozzarella-prosciutto roll, and cheeses such as asiago, bel paese, gorgonzola, taleggio, provolone, and Parmigiano-Reggiano

* In the freezer: Meatballs and frozen cooked, shelled shrimp

* At the deli counter or in the refrigerator case: Cured meats such as prosciutto, coppa, mortadella, salami, and Italian sausage