One of the best parts about warmer weather is taking your party outdoors! When the sun is out and the breeze is warm, celebrations are not meant to be trapped inside.  

So it is pretty obvious that the most popular type of outdoor party in the Spring and Summer is the cookout (or BBQ, depending on where you are from) – because really, who doesn’t love the smell from a grill to spark up nostalgia?

Yet, sometimes we like to switch it up and have a seafood party – it might be only crabs (…legs, for the uninitiated), only shrimp, or a party favorite: the seafood boil (platter if you’re getting it from the seafood store around the corner #judgementfreezone).

 A seafood boil is not rigid with its ingredients, one can have shellfish, crab, and/or mollusks, of course corn and potatoes, and for the meat lovers sausage – this all in a well-seasoned broth of Old Bay perfection  (is your mouth watering yet?)

As you might imagine, the seafood boil is not one of those neat meals, so it’s primed for the outdoors to keep the smells at bay and clean-up easy. Here are a few ways to ensure your seafood party is off the hook:

• Layer newspaper on the table as a quick, disposable and absorbent tablecloth
• Provide lemon wedges so your guests can clean their hands and palate
• Use round tables to encourage conversation and make sure everyone is equidistant from the food (there’s always one eating more than their share because they’re the closest)
• Provide paper towels and wet wipes
• Prepare a couple of pitchers of sangria to keep your guests happy