Vegan Mashed Potato Martini Bar

name Hi VIP's! Ready for a clever idea for your next party? The idea of a Mashed Potato Martini Bar was first told to me by an old friend of mine, Chef Bill Waring from Thyme 'n Wine Personal Chef Service in San Antonio, Texas. I thought it sounded like fabulous fun -- providing a variety of condiments for your guests to put on mashed potatoes.

I absolutely love the idea and have simply "veganized" it, and would like to share it with you now.

The Mashed Potato Martini Bar hails from California, where it's become a very hot trend at special functions such as weddings.

But you certainly don't have to wait until a wedding to bring this fabulous hands-on experience to your guests.

Here's how it works:

Make a big ol' batch of mashed potatoes (which you'll keep warm in a chafing dish or on a warming tray), providing a small "ice cream" or "cookie dough" scoop for the potatoes.

Then, use LARGE martini glasses for the condiments, and smaller martini glasses for each guest to use. Provide small spoons and forks for the condiments. Encourage guests to have small servings and return often to create a new masterpiece.

This concept goes well with a wine tasting -- guests can experiment with different foods to match with the wines. But it works equally well, and is the perfect hands-on experience for your guests, at any party or buffet.

First step:

Make the Mashed Potatoes. You can count on using one medium-large golden potato per guest, so be sure to size the recipe according to the number of guests in attendance. Keep in mind some will eat more than others, so they should balance each other out.

You can make the mashed potatoes ahead of time and simply reheat just before the function.

The 2nd step:

Prepare the condiments. The condiments are only limited to your imagination.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Dairy-Free Sour Cream
Chopped Scallions
Sauteed Wild Mushrooms
Green Olives (pitted, with or without pimentos)
Black Olives (pitted)
Kalamata Olives (pitted)
Olive Tapenade
Crumbled Tempeh Bacon or Vegan Bacon Bits
Finely Shredded Vegan Cheese
Steamed Broccoli
Earth Balance (or other non-dairy butter)
Basil Pesto
Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash
Caramelized Onions
Artichoke Hearts
Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Tomato Salsa
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Caramelized Jewel-Colored Bell Peppers
Crisp Fried Potato Ribbons
Roasted Japanese Eggplant Slivers
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Jalapenos
Hearts of Palm
Horseradish
Onion Crisps
Gravy
Salt
Pepper
Roasted Bell Peppers
Marinara Sauce

Many of these condiment ideas can be made from scratch or purchased ready-made -- it IS a party after all, so go with the option that means the least amount of stress for you. ;O)

A Mashed Potato Martini Bar is an interactive experience your guests will enjoy and remember for years to come.

Enjoy!

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