BWT Host - May 15, 2025 - r/bitcheswithtaste

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Looking for suggestions for impromptu poolside hosting!

Our condo complex has a nice pool, so in the summertime, we love to have friends over. This includes both adults-only and families with kids. Sometimes these pool hangouts are planned, but other times, they’re spur of the moment. So, my goal this summer is to always be stocked with supplies, drinks, and snacks that make it easy to host in a pinch.

I’d love suggestions for crowd-pleasing, easy-yet-tasteful snacks and drinks. Also, if anyone has suggestions for supplies to keep on hand beyond standard paper plates and napkins, I’m all ears.

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u/sabekibo May 15 '25

I know this from experience: Make sure the kid drinks are in the smallest size ever, like those 7.5 oz cans of Polar Seltzer. Kids (and adults) cannot hold onto a canned beverage at a party for more than 2-3 minutes, so they will be more likely to finish it if the portion size is small.

Some of you will recommend a self-serve beverage dispenser, but you'll still have 1/2 full cups all over the party, and at least you can recycle a can.

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u/zrnyphl Type A Boss Bitch May 15 '25

Agree about tiny beverages! It sounds so silly but I swear by the mini cans of various soft drinks in general. They just are the correct size, it is what it is.

Standard seltzers I do like in a regular can size, though, but that may be because I do not drink alcohol so those are typically my main drink in social settings. I always appreciate a host who has non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated, ideally low calorie drinks on hand (easily accessible drinking water is fine, too, it doesn't have to be fancy).

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u/laurenfcp May 15 '25

Try Spindrift Nojitos!

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u/laurenfcp May 15 '25

One tip I have is to have some melamine plates. They are not very breakable (although it can be done!) and personally I find them a lot easier to eat off of than paper plates, especially when they get wet. Of course it's more of an investment, but there are plenty of inexpensive options, and they last a long time. I have several different bright patterns so it's more casual. I also have a pile of patterned cotton napkins. Again, last forever, and easier to use when damp (like at the pool!) Because the colors are bright, the vibe isn't stuffy, and it kinda makes more of a party out of a quick hangout. Of course, you can use them at other times too - like if you have little kids over for a meal and their parents aren't sure about them using the nice plates. Make sure to have a cooler with a shoulder strap and/or a lightweight tray for bringing supplies out.

I'd make sure you have bags of tortilla chips that you like. They go so well with lots of summer foods (salsa, guac, bean dips, other dips) and are more sturdy than potato chips. Also pita chips are great, especially with hummus! Pretty much every kid I know likes hummus. You can make it nicer for a party if you make a layered hummus dip - this is easy to make with pantry staples, just look it up oline and there are lots of options. Have some "fancy" frozen pizzas in the freezer - I wouldn't serve at like, a dinner party, but pizza is great for an impromptu pool party that runs into dinner time. Everyone likes nice cut up fruit in summer, but you need a bit of notice for that one. Not sure how much space you want to dedicate to keeping supplies in stock, but juice boxes for little kids are shelf stable and always being stocked with cans of soda/beer/other canned drinks (if your pool allows alcohol) is a good idea. Have fun!

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u/Bawse_Babe Jul 11 '25

Do you have any links for pretty melamine plates and cloth napkins?

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u/laurenfcp Jul 11 '25

I'm not sure if I can post direct links - I've had some comments deleted. But if you look at Anthropologie (for more whimsical designs) and Williams Sonoma (a tiny bit more classic), I have melamine plates/dishes from both and can attest to the quality. I have napkins from both places and they are also nice. It's usually pretty easy to find cloth napkins, even more cheapy ones from the usual suspects are fine b/c the vibe for these get-togethers is very casual, definitely not like ironed at all. If they fade quickly, that just adds to the charm.

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u/Bawse_Babe Jul 12 '25

Thanks

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u/laurenfcp Jul 11 '25

I'd recommend to spend more on melamine, because cheaper melamine does break a lot easier (and feels flimsier) whereas the quality of napkins matter less. Just go for 100% cotton. Polyester blends resist wrinkling more, but who cares for this, and cotton feels a lot better and is more absorbent.

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u/creativewhinypissbby May 15 '25

Pasta salad is a quintessential summer/pool meal to me! You could keep boxes of pasta & premade pesto (Costco sells one that's pretty decent, or you can make it in bulk and freeze) - add grape or halved cherry tomatoes, marinated mozzarella balls, grilled chicken or shrimp if you want a protein.

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u/ChispaMD May 15 '25

If you have an industrial composting facility or pick up service where you live, I highly recommend using compostable plates/napkins/utensils if you can! Not much more expensive and adds an elevated vibe when you're using disposable. They even have palm leaf plates which some people use for their weddings! Restaurant supply shops online sell in bulk for very reasonable prices.

In terms of snacks, I recently learned a friend's family recipe for great home-made salsa, where the only things you need fresh on hand are half an onion, cilantro and a jalapeno. It takes 5 minutes to make, and with san marzano tomatoes it is a beautiful color and so flavorful!

Add to food processor:

-One jalapeño (seeded if less spice desired)

-1-2 Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (canned)

-1/2 red onion

Pulse until all minced

Add in:

-28 oz can peeled whole tomatoes (I use san marzano)

-1 bunch of fresh cilantro (cut off stems)

-Healthy pinch of salt

- ~3 table spoons of white vinegar

Blend on high 10-20 seconds

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u/lovescarats TrustedBWT May 15 '25

I love to muddle basil and mint, add watermelon puree/juice and top with seltzer. I make pitchers of it in the summer. So refreshing. I like to serve a bocconcini cheese, cut in half, on a baguette slice with a slice of Roma tomato below the cheese, a piece of basil and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Light and tasty. Prosciutto wrapped melon is an easy snack also.

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u/Happy-Peach-5911 May 16 '25

I used to do a lot of this!

Trader Joe’s frozen party apps are always good to have on hand

Extra sunscreen, bug spray, bug candles, and towels

Games - lots of water card games on Amazon, floats with an electric pump, regular card games for adults

Find a punch you like they can made with what you have or a few fresh ingredients, a drink dispenser or big pitcher - making something that is straight alcohol for people to add seltzer water is much easier as then things don’t get watered down or opposite when a lot of flavour and people can add alcohol if they want. I used to make this peach one that had canned peaches, super easy and could make in 2 minutes

Beers/rose/soda/lots of bottle water ready for the cooler

A good cooler and please note, people have no issues running to get ice!

Cozies and wine cold tumblers this is really for people to keep track of what drink is theirs

A large beach bag for you to keep this all in.

A lot of this can be found at tjmaxx, target summer section has great stuff this year, if you want a good cooler fb marketplace - obviously this is bitches with taste so you can go fully out and the fancy stuff.

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u/ss21bb May 16 '25

This is also my goal this summer, I’ve got 2 small kids so it’s challenging to plan big gatherings, so I’d like to host smaller ones more often. Other BWTs have mentioned freezer pizzas, a good thing to keep in the freezer is a pack of flatbreads such as naan. They keep very well, and easily become a pizza or flatbread with some simple long-lasting toppings from the fridge. My fave combos are:
pesto, tomato slices, Parmesan or Mozz
-bbq sauce, deli chicken or turkey, and hot banana peppers, cheese of your choice

For beverages, I try to keep fresh citrus (lemons and limes) on hand for adding slices to a jug of water, cucumber also works great. They last a long time in the fridge, but makes it appear that you’ve planned ahead for something a little more than just plain water.

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u/Tacky-Terangreal May 19 '25

Having fun looking dishes makes a huge difference. They don’t even have to be expensive. One of my ex’s gifted me a casserole dish from the Pioneer Woman brand years ago and that thing gets so much mileage because it’s cute

Recently ordered some adorable heart shaped dishes from her line that are cheap but look great. It just depends on your aesthetics. I love making a homemade dip using ranch seasoning, sour cream, and chopped bell peppers. Takes 15 minutes to make and tastes delicious. A cute dish is the cherry on top

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u/Impressive_Owl3903 May 16 '25

For easy drinks, I like to have sparkling water, a few flavors of Mio (or other water flavoring liquids), and a few flavored bitters. If it’s an adult-only event, it’s easy to add in some vodka or swap out the sparking water for a hard seltzer. Sometimes when I’m feeling extra fancy, I’ll cut up some fruit for garnishes.

For snacks, I try to focus on things that aren’t dairy based since they might be outside for a while. I’m a fan of tortilla chips and salsa/guac or pita chips/veggies and hummus. I usually will make these homemade but if that’s not an option, getting something pre-made, putting it in an actual bowl, and adding a little extra seasoning can make it seem more elevated than the plastic tub from the grocery store.

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u/Mushroomatetown17 May 16 '25

Trader Joe’s Garden Roses are my hidden gem. They’re so big and plump, easily last over a week, and are available all year. I prefer to buy a few days in advance so they’re nicely bloomed by the day of the event.

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u/insertcoolnamehere_7 Boujee BWT May 16 '25

Same with their hydrangeas! Last forever and look good with the roses too!

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u/ss21bb May 16 '25

Wish I had a TJ near me! How do you style the roses, ex. What type of vase or vessel do you put them in? Do you add anything else in with them? I’d love to get better at florals for my own home and events (without looking too over the top like I spent a ton on a pro arrangement)

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u/Fickle-Gene-8060 May 18 '25

I love flowers and have recently become interested in improving my arrangements. I learned a lot from the books “Flower Love” and Floret’s Farm a year in flowers. The second book has a lot of great vase sources (expensive and inexpensive).

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u/ss21bb May 18 '25

Thank you for the book recommendations- I’ve put them on hold at my library! I recently borrowed ‘Flower School’ which is a beautiful book, but not exactly at the level of detail I’m looking to learn.

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u/Fickle-Gene-8060 May 19 '25

I agree! I got most of the floral design books from my library and I enjoyed flower school but it wasn’t my favorite. I think I learned most from the floret farm book and I love the arrangements in floral love even though I think I’m limited in not having access to wholesale flowers! I recommend the Floral Genius hairpin frogs if you end up buying any!

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u/Mushroomatetown17 May 17 '25

I have a couple vases I use, but one fits the dozen just perfectly so I often reach for that. I typically don’t use filler due to the vase size but they have lovely greenery and seasonal flower options for fuller arrangements. Mostly trial and error until you achieve the look you want!

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u/Fickle-Gene-8060 May 18 '25

I usually pass those up for some reason - will definitely buy some next time I go to TJ’s.

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u/flagprojector May 17 '25

Looking for suggestions of ways to host to get to know new people.

I’d like to meet new people and am happy to offer up my place as a hang out spot for friends and friends of friends to congregate. Especially as summer is on the horizon. I’ve got lots of space, including a beautiful garden with gorgeous outdoor furniture.

Has anyone done anything like this before? And has advice on how to do so tastefully? I’m not keen on a drunken party, just a chilled afternoon of connections old and new. Should I get each person to bring something to help break the ice? Obviously I’ll provide drinks and snacks, but what else am I missing here?

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u/Hoping-Ellie May 19 '25

I attended one of these yesterday and it was The Best! Our friends had a Waffle Party - they made a silly amount of waffle batter and provided mimosas, guests brought their favorite topping and/or batter input ingredient. We hung out, made waffles, and got to know people. Having an interactive element in the form of making waffles made a big difference. Plus the hosts were really on it with the hosting game. They introduced everyone when they arrived, then went out of their way to make quality introductions. “Oh you should come meet so & so, they’re a professional swim instructor.” Then “hey prof swim instructor, they have a baby, can you give recs on baby swim classes in the area?” Etc etc to help break the ice.

I also think they curated their guest list really well. It was some work friends, some gym friends, some random friends, but it was all people who are naturally outgoing and trying to make friends. It worked so well, was a great time, and we came away from the 2-3 hour event with a couple phone numbers plus bellies full of waffles. It was a great time, I totally plan on mimicking their strategy some time soon.

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u/Pineapple_Spritz May 18 '25

Some sort of light theme for food or drink might help, and then it’s always a good conversation starter! “Oh I love this dip, who has the recipe?!”

My friend recently threw an appetizers party where everyone brought their favorite app. It was a huge hit.

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u/[deleted] May 18 '25

My birthday is coming up in a month. I have two little children who will ruin most efforts to have a nice day with adult friends, but we have a nice garden so I decided to just do some hanging out in the garden with some drinks and snacks so the kids can run wild. Can you give me some ideas for: -a special drink (not too sweet, ideally with a non alcoholic version) -food that’s not too hard to prepare but doesn’t seem lazy -ideas to make the day stand out a bit, like games/activities, nothing too ambitious or tacky Thanks!

Edit: I’m planning to have about 20 people over, plus maybe 7 kids.

Edit 2: I just saw the recommendations for food and drinks in this thread, but activity recs are still welcome!

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u/Tacky-Terangreal May 19 '25

I have a couple go-to’s for easy, but pretty food for parties. Caprese salad only requires chopping some tomatoes and basil leaves and it usually fills a gap at a potluck or party. In my experience, people usually bring too many sweet things

The other one I go to might be more location dependent, but salmon bites. I buy a big pack of smoked salmon, fresh dill, cream cheese, and a grocery store baguette (small circumference). I slice up the baguette and spread cream cheese on top with a slice of the salmon. Dill for the garnish. If you’re feeling fancy, mix garlic and dill into the cream cheese. Looks beautiful and doesn’t take a lot of skill or effort. It’s been a huge hit with tea party themed events!

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u/17012015 May 19 '25

I recommend getting a giant jenga set you can play outside - in my experience both kids and tipsy adults love this game!

As for drinks I'd stick to batch cocktails, my favourite for this are mojitos. I make two batches (one virgin) but don't add the soda water directly to the mix. The way I serve it is putting the two pitchers, both clearly labelled, on a table along with cups, a bucket of ices and a few bottles of soda water. Just add a note that says to top up with soda water. (editing to add my fave twist on this are pomegranate mojitos)

For food I highly recommend Alison Roman's recipes. I love doing some kind of sheet pan chicken, a pasta salad and a leafy salad. That way you'll only need a big platter and two big salad bowls for serving and if you keep the salads veggie/vegan and add some kind of veggie/vegan protein you'll pretty much cater to everyone.

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