Elevating Appetizers

by Katerina ↪ 6 min

Jump to:
– First, the menu.
– Then, dial your dose.
– The drinks! The drinks!
– Invite friends, and enjoy
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Vintage-inspired dinner gathering with appetizers, olives, and cocktails, representing relaxed hosting and shared moments with friends.

It’s high time you experience low lift hosting

The weekend’s approaching, and you want to see your friends, but going out doesn’t quite strike your fancy, nor do you have the energy or inspiration to truly play host. What’s a person to do?

Somewhere between an all-out dinner party, and a BYOB get together, there’s a wonderful middle ground. Call it happy hour, call it appetizers, call it pre-dinner drinks—the French call it apéro, which we think is très chic. Not quite dinner, not quite drinks, it’s an early evening gathering with something simple and sippable, bites ready in ten minutes or less, and good friends enjoying each other’s presence. The star is the company, not the consumables.

In its simplest, most pared down form, apéro is already delightful. If you want to zhuzh it up a bit, we’ve got a party trick for you to borrow: add Wims not to the drinks you serve, but the food. Because when we said Wims mixes with anything, we meant anything. If you’re intrigued, read on, and savor our best tips for hosting apéro à la Wims.

First, the menu.

Glowing restaurant menu beside a cocktail glass, representing simple entertaining and elevated appetizer planning.

For bites, pick a few low to no effort appetizers that play well with the Pocket Tonic’s signature flavors. Anything with a saucey element makes a good candidate, as it’s the perfect consistency to seamlessly mix in a dash of Wims. Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

Citrusy Green Olives Olives. Oil. Lemon peels. Warm it up. Whisk in Unflavored Wims. Voila!
Lemon Basil Hummus Store-bought hummus becomes suddenly fancy when drizzled with olive oil, Lemon Basil Wims, and a light dusting of za’atar.
Cheese and Fig Jam We love combining sweet and savory flavors. Add Ginger Lime Wims to a bit of fig jam, and pair it with a hard, salty cheese for the perfect complement.
Mini Caprese If you’re lucky, your local grocery store carries those tiny mozzarella balls—the ones the size of a cherry tomato. Grab both the cheese and tomatoes, tear up some basil, and drizzle the mix with olive oil and Lemon Basil Wims.
Veggies and Dip An intentionally vague idea, you can mix unflavored Wims with your favorite dip and serve alongside whatever crunchy veggies are in season. Keep it simple!

Select a few of these to star as your elevated dishes and from there, build a spread with an assortment of flavors and textures: crispy crackers, smokey cured meats, fresh fruits, and crunchy nuts all add nice variety. Whatever you choose, make sure it all feels easy—that’s the point here.

Then, dial your dose.

Minimal silver dial on a warm-toned background, representing finding the right Wims dose for a social gathering.

Finding the right Wims dose for yourself is one thing. Finding the right dose for a group is a little trickier—but not by much. Multiply the number of people you’re entertaining by the number of Pocket Tonics that feels right for each person, and distribute that amount of Wims across your selected elevated recipes. It’s best to start on the low end—probably with one Wims per person—then let anyone craving a bolder buzz add additional Pocket Tonics to their own individual drinks. Which brings us to our next point...

The drinks! The drinks!

Sparkling cocktail glasses with olives and cherries on a glowing table, representing celebratory drinks and elevated hosting rituals.

Since you’ve already got Wims incorporated in your snackables, consider letting your sippables bring another delightful dimension to your gathering. If you want a bigger buzz, that might mean wine or spirits. It could also mean a functional beverage, like an adaptogenic spritz or prebiotic soda. It could even be caffeine, if you’re looking for an energy boost. Have a little fun playing mood mixologist as you consider what will set the right tone for the time you’re sharing with friends.

Invite friends, and enjoy

Vintage-inspired dinner party scene with friends gathered around drinks and conversation, representing relaxed social hosting with Wims.

So the menu’s been set, the dose has been dialed, and the beverages are chilling in the fridge. There’s only one thing left to do: invite your friends! Don’t forget to give them a heads up that you’ll be serving especially elevated bites. Then, enjoy a simplified version of hosting that puts the focus not on fancy foods or complex cocktails, but good old fashioned time enjoyed with people you adore.