Hosting Ideas
- Costa Calida Chronicle
- Dec 31, 2025
- 2 min read
1. The Fire-Pit Soup Night (Casual, Social & Interactive)
This is the most relaxed way to host outdoors in winter, built around one shared pot of slowly cooked soup over the fire.
At the centre of the space, place a large cast-iron pot over the fire pit. Guests arrive with one prepared ingredient each and add to the pot as the evening unfolds. It becomes both the activity and the meal.
Ideal soup ingredients:
Beef shin, lamb shoulder or chicken thighs, onions, garlic, leeks, carrots, celery, potatoes, pearl barley, thyme, bay leaves and rich vegetable or meat stock.
Serve with:
Warm sourdough, salted butter, olive oil, flatbreads and simple winter salads.
This setup works because guests stay warm by moving around the fire — stirring, serving and topping up bowls. It’s informal, comforting and perfect for cold evenings.
2. The Winter Drinks & Canapés Evening (Elegant & Grown-Up)
An outdoor gathering focused on hot drinks, mulled wine and refined small plates, seated under heaters with candlelight and soft music.
Drinks to serve:
Mulled wine, spiced apple juice, hot chocolate with dark chocolate shavings, flavoured syrups and optional amaretto or spiced rum.
Key ingredients:
Red wine, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, oranges, brown sugar, apple juice, dark chocolate, cream and nutmeg.
Canapés that suit cold weather:
Baked camembert with honey, smoked salmon blinis, mushroom tarts, spinach and feta parcels, parmesan crisps and rosemary focaccia.
This format suits smaller groups and feels calm, indulgent and well-considered.
3. The Family Fire & Toasted Food Night (Cosy & All-Ages)
This evening is built around simple fire food, games and comforting hot drinks, making it ideal for families and mixed-age gatherings.
Fire food ideas:
Toasted marshmallows, grilled cheese flatbreads, foil-wrapped jacket potatoes, roasted sweetcorn, halloumi skewers and roasted chestnuts.
Hot drinks:
Hot chocolate, warm milk with honey, herbal teas, spiced apple cider and chai.
Games that work outdoors:
Oversized Jenga, card games, storytelling cards and short quizzes played under blankets.
Comments