Party Planning Made Easy: The Finger Food Combination Chart

If you are one of those people who has to sometimes throw together an appetizer or finger foods fast when you find out guests are on their way for an unexpected visit, you are probably going to bookmark this post. This chart, published in The New York Times, is completely brilliant. It breaks down the art of creating finger foods into 3 simple steps, and from this chart alone; you can create 504 different combinations.

The idea is that first you choose your base, which are the crackers you use to scoop up the dip or the vegetables you stuff (or anything that can be a container to hold step 2). Step 2 is choosing your spread, which is pretty much self-explanatory. There are tons of options for step 2. Step 3, the final step, is simply choosing what goes on top, like the garnish. Step 3 is my favorite step, and I could put banana peppers and smoked salmon on top of everything to make it taste good!

There are tons of delicious options for each one of these steps, and this chart just lists a few of them. As a matter of fact, I can think of ways to double this chart with even more ideas. What are some of the things you’ve combined to create snack foods in a pinch? If you just simply keep a few staples in your home and then consult this chart when you are in a hurry, in no time at all, you’ll be serving the perfect party platter! I could even eat a few of these combinations as an actual meal. nom nom!