You guys have heard me talk a lot about girls night, but I’ve got some tips up my sleeve for the fellas reading too. Not that you can’t enjoy my pink themed DIY’s as well! 😉 My boyfriend, Gary, is king of guys night. He’s a big sports fan, and now that we have an entertainment space, he’s all about hosting. I’ve picked his brain for what makes our house the go-to guys night hangout.

01 The one hour rule

Gary calls inviting guests over an hour before the game or movie the “one hour rule”. Inviting guests over too close to the time that you’re going to be engaged in another activity means either not enough time for conversation, or it means that people are talking throughout the move – a big no no. Make sure your guests have lots of time to catch up before turning on the big game.

02 A signature cocktail

Every time you have an activity, make a special drink to coincide with the activity. Don’t worry, there’s always going to be beer in the beer fridge for the the guys who aren’t ‘cocktail drinkers’. We made these awesome Winter Olympics inspired drinks that seriously look like snow. It’s called The Slopes, a taste of the games. Thanks Paste Magazine for the recipe.

It’s all in the name. That plus a crisp apple taste with cinnamon and other spices? There is no better way to get cozy and watch the upcoming games.

Ingredients:

2 oz. Crown Royal Apple

1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice

3/4 oz. Cinnamon syrup and other holiday spices

Directions: Shake and pour over fresh ice.

Garnish: Top with whipped cream, rosemary and flamed cinnamon stick.

03  Get comfortable

We’re all adults, so we hope the boys bring their own comfortable clothes. But just in case, we’ve got a ton of super soft throw blankets, pillows, and even slippers to make sure everyone feels extra relaxed. Plus, we invested in an insanely comfortable recliner sectional from Lay-z Boy.

04 Nail the grubs

This one took some time for us to nail down, because….I’m not THE BEST cook. I’m so thankful for our friends at White Table Catering, who have supplied us with some tips for how to one-up last week’s guys night menu.  

WHITE TABLE CATERING CO. SUPERBOWL MENU also great for guys night…

White Table Catering’s Signature Hot Wings

served with Roquefort yogurt dip

Tip: Try this same sauce on Roasted Cauliflower Bits to give vegetarian lovers the flavour of chicken wings – without the meat!

Pulled Pork Sliders

Beer braised pork with pickled cabbage and carrots with chipotle aioli

Tip: Add a splash of your favourite local beer to your braising skillet.

**Serve with mini shots of beer for a fun addition.

Mini Baked Potato Bites

Mini new potatoes roasted with sea salt and olive oil, cut open and garnished with a dollop of sour cream, cheddar, chives and fresh bacon.

Just like your dad always ordered…only half the calories 😉

“Gridiron” Nachos

Kettle chips topped with pickled jalapenos, pickled red onion, shredded parmesan, cheese curds, garlic, cilantro lime aioli, fresh cilantro to garnish

Tip: Make things easy! Bake and serve in a cast iron skillet. Not only does it make your clean up easy, it gives a homey, rustic feel to your presentation.

Sweet and Salty Popcorn Cups

Tip: add fresh sea salt, caramel, chopped walnuts and melted chocolate to fresh popped popcorn to create an easy dessert guests can take straight to your seats to enjoy during the game.

Farmer’s Garden Vegetable board

A Selection of raw seasonal vegetables served with fresh hummus and yogurt dill spread.

Tip: Instead of lining those baby carrots all up in a row, find something interesting at your local, organic produce market. Surprise your guests- use whole vegetables and leave the stems on!

05 The after laugh.. I mean aftermath

Once the game is done and everyone has had a few wobbly pops, it’s time for some fun. Gary insisted on having a ping pong table in the entertainment space, and it gets SO much use! They monopolize it so much that I haven’t even had a chance to get in there. The guys love to play a game of beer pong after they’re all riled up from the win (or lose). The ping pong almost always turns into beer pong, which often turns into poker. Having some fun activities set up is always a party pleaser.

So, is everyone ready to host? If all else fails, and you can’t swing steps one through three, reach out to White Table Catering  and they’ll make sure that you get an A+ on your menu, bringing your guests back time and time again for the Gridiron Nachos.

What makes your guy’s night a hit?

Xx n

 

Thank you to White Table Catering for sponsoring this post, all comments and opinions are my own.

Photography by Brooklyn D Photography