In the sticky days of late summer, the pool is a hot place to cool down. Heat up your social scene with a Latin-inspired poolside fiesta that’s anything but humdrum.
[the scene]
>>Take your imagination to Cuba for decoration inspiration. Haul out any rattan or wood furniture you have and embellish the scene with fedoras, cigar boxes and bright pops of color. Fill the pool with a dozen brightly colored beach balls.
>> Use burlap as a tablecloth and rattan place mats. To get the authentic Havana look, mix and match bright, vivid hues for napkins, flowers and other colorful details.
>> Scatter banana leaves, available at Global Foods Market, down the center of the table and fill vases with hibiscus blooms or whichever tropical flowers are available at local florist shops.
[the menu]
>> Keep it casual with a variety of Latin-inspired appetizers and tapas: tropical fruit salad, mini Cubano sliders, shrimp ceviche served in avocado halves, fried plantain chips, empanadas and tasting bowls with black beans and rice.
>> If the heat’s too oppressive to spend time in the kitchen, let someone else do the work! Both Tango Argentina Food and Fritanga offer catering.
>> Finish with a tres leches cake from El Chico Bakery, or caramel flan from Diana’s Bakery, both on Cherokee Street.
[the entertainment]
>> Host a pre-dinner salsa-tasting competition. Ask each guest to bring homemade or jarred salsa and see which is the crowd favorite.
>> After your guests loosen up with a drink or two but before they jump in the pool, treat them to a salsa-dancing session with an instructor.
>> Set up a small cart with a selection of fine cigars, available at a number of local shops, as well as cutters, ashtrays and lighters.
>> Crank up the spicy tunes! Stream a salsa or tango station on Pandora or Songza. To splurge on an extra-memorable evening, hire a salsa band.
[the drinks]
>> No Latin-themed party would be complete without margaritas. To keep the frosty drinks flowing with little fuss, rent a margarita machine from stlmargaritas.com.
>> Fill glass beverage dispensers with water and lemon and lime slices.
>> Stock the bar with sangria and ingredients to make Cuba libres (cola, lime, white rum) and mojitos (white rum, sugar, lime juice, club soda, mint). To keep beer-lovers happy, peruse Global Foods Market’s selection of Latin American-made beers.
By Stephanie Zeilenga & Isabelle Gustafson
