Mark Weimer loves to entertain. The Sarasota and St. Petersburg resident has made a name for himself in the Tampa Bay area as one of the best party hosts around. Weimer and his partner hold celebrations for everything from the Fourth of July and birthdays to a huge holiday extravaganza. Last year, Weimer hosted nearly 50 people in his home for the holidays when he and his partner decided to combine a company party with a party for friends.
Every year the gathering seems to grow so we decided to ask Weimer for some tips on how to throw an amazing party this holiday season.
Was it difficult combining two different crowds for one party last year?
It is always a challenge to blend work and friends. We were a little apprehensive at first, but it turned out to be one of the best get-togethers we’ve ever done. Everyone blended wonderfully. Lesson learned: Mix up your guest list. Most people love to meet new people, and it keeps everything fresh.
How do you decide what to serve at these parties?
Cooks Illustrated has been my bible for basic cooking for the last several years. It really has taught me to be a better cook more than any other source. But for the h olidays, Food and Wine has great suggestions for special dishes that go beyond the basics into more “advanced, chef-oriented” dishes. I also tend to use the Martha Stewart and Epicureans web sites. I try to incorporate winter and holiday ingredients into my menu—root vegetables, nuts, turkey, ham, savory and warm spices like cinnamon, clove or Chinese 5 spice, and of course, decadent desserts.
That sounds like a lot of food.
For most of the year, when there’s a party, people tend to stand around and just look at the food, but at the holidays, people tend to indulge more than usual. I’ve found that the most important determining factor in deciding how much food to serve is how good the food is. Quantity and quality go hand-in-hand. Mediocre food means you’ll probably have a lot of leftovers. Last year, I spent three days cooking a holiday feast and I had practically no leftovers.
Do you ever not organize a party?
For my birthday this year, my partner decided he didn’t want me to have to do all the work, and he had it catered by a well-respected local company. I had just one wish: I wanted to do the cupcakes. I went a little overboard and made nine different flavor combinations of cupcakes stuffed with mousses and custards and artfully decorated. They were a bigger hit than the catered food. Once again, good homemade food trumps catered fare, hands down.
It sounds like you have food covered. What about drinks?
I’ve found that wine tends to be more popular at the holidays than at other times. I also like to do either a spiced apple cider with a couple of bottles (brandy, rum or Calvados) next to it, for people to mix their own, or a mulled red wine (Glühwein), reminiscent of my German heritage. Both tend to add to the festive holiday atmosphere.
We are a healthy-conscious community. Do you try to incorporate health-conscious fare at your parties?
Absolutely not! Tofu and Christmas do not go together. I’ve found that at the holidays, rules for being politically correct and serving “health-fare” go out the window. This is a time to celebrate good friends, good food and good drink. If you like to stand around and complain that you’re stuffed after eating an olive, then don’t come to my party. Besides, that’s what New Year’s resolutions are for.
In your opinion, what distinguishes a good party from a fabulous one?
A fabulous party is one that has all the elements done well: decor, food, drink, music, and people. You can tell when someone has put that little extra effort into each of the elements. First and foremost, though, are the people. I have been blessed with an abundance of wonderful friends who are always interesting, and welcoming to others. An abundance of delicious food, flowing drinks, and nice decorations all work together to create that special atmosphere.
What mistakes have you made in the party planning process?
I have been guilty (many years ago) of throwing together a party at the last minute and having nothing but chips and dip, and maybe some beer and a raid of the liquor cabinet. But the friends were still good, which made up for the lack of planning. Then there was that one bad Halloween party, with a theme of bad drag—but that’s another story.
What is it about hosting a party that gets you excited?
I love spreading a little special joy among friends that have brought me joy through the years. It’s my way of saying thank you to all my friends. It’s a great chance to get caught up in people’s ever-changing lives. Besides, there’s something in it just for me too—it lets me exercise my cooking abilities and expand my culinary horizons, which I love, and maybe explore a possible career change. Anyone need a caterer or some fantastic cupcakes?
