Hosting a Tapas Dinner Party

If you haven't caught on by now, my absolute favorite way to entertain is with small plates. It gives everyone a little bit of everything and makes it really easy to make sure you're providing for allergies/dietary restrictions, which is something that means a lot to me. Plus, it's delicious, and that's really reason enough.

Here's how I do it:

Start with olives, bread, cheese, and some other charcuterie stuff. I love salami and prosciutto but this time I went with chorizo and some Iberico ham.
Get fancy with it. Regular almonds would be just fine, but I seasoned some and roasted them instead, which made for a more thoughtful touch. Plus, who doesn't want a spicy roasted almond?
Pick a few "main" dishes--these are bigger than the snacks. I went with mussels and goat cheese dip with artichokes, which I served with crusty bread and tortilla chips.
Pour the wine! It's not a tapas dinner party without some delicious wine. I served La Crema's Willamette and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs as well as a few chilly glasses of their Monterey Pinot Gris. Mmm.