Ina Garten’s Watch Party Tips Will Land You a ‘Best Host’ Nomination This Awards Season

In honor of awards season and the Oscars coming up, Ina Garten took to Instagram to share her most-winning tips for throwing a fun and delicious watch party, no matter what’s on the TV. Inspired by the menu from her own Grammys-viewing soiree, the celebrity home chef is making sure these events go smoothly for designated hosts everywhere. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Garten’s Go-to Watch Party Menu

Especially for a viewing party, which centers around gathering in front of the TV, Garten suggests making appetizers that don’t require silverware. Whether your guests want to eat while standing or enjoy snacks on the couch without spilling, the easier your food is to consume, the better. 

With this in mind, Garten created a menu that features her more glamorous finger food recipes. For her Grammys watch party, she made oysters Rockefeller, caviar dip with chipotle cheddar crackers, and fig and goat cheese toasts. These rich, comforting, and easy-to-eat dishes are just a few examples of what you can serve to help your guests keep the focus on the show.

A few more ideas that make for simple serving include:

Garten’s Top Cocktail Tips

Of course, it isn’t a watch party without a few celebratory drinks to toast to the wins and pop culture moments. Garten loves a good cocktail party, which means she made her famous Raspberry Royale (a champagne-based beverage) for her Grammys guests. 

Serving everyone the same drink means you won’t have to be mixing up cocktails in the kitchen the whole night. Concoct them before everyone arrives and place them on a tray or bar cart for stress-free hosting—just make sure you know how many drinks you’ll need.

You can also batch make cocktails and mocktails if you want to provide options or let your guests pour their own drinks. Set out glasses ahead of time, then store the cocktail jug(s) on the counter or in the fridge. This also provides you with an easy way to quickly throw together a new batch if you run out.

Who to Invite to Your Party, According to Garten

The guest list is the most important aspect of any party: After all, Garten knows that a party is only as fun as the people you have over. “It may seem obvious but invite people you really want to see—it makes a better party!” she wrote on her Instagram. Garten also advises hosts to “invite a mix of people from different worlds who will like each other.”

There’s no need to limit a viewing party to coworkers or just invite people from the same friend group. They don’t even have to know each other: The best part about watch parties is that they give you and your guests something to focus on and talk about—from the Super Bowl to the Oscars, these shows are automatic conversation-starters. Focus on inviting people you want to introduce to each other and are a joy to host.