I once attended a party where the star of the buffet dinner was a rather unusual one.  

As the first diners approached the buffet table, you could hear sounds of 'Oooh! I shouldn't...' and 'Wow! How fun!'

What could the hostess have possibly put on the menu to get such a reaction?!

SERVE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY AT YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY

I peeked into the dining room and immediately saw what the fuss was about.

Sitting in the center of the table was the largest, fluffiest mountain of mashed potatoes I had ever seen.  Flanking the tubers was a tantalizing array of toppings--bacon, chili, cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, scallions, sour cream, butter...oh my.

Quite simply, it was mashed potato heaven.

It would be reasonable to think the hostess had laid out plates or bowls to serve their mashed potatoes into...but this was no ordinary entertainer. 

Instead, she dialed up the fun exponentially by setting out martini glasses for guests to create their mashed potato sundaes in. Wow.

Using elegant glassware to serve such an old-fashioned comfort food was just plain fun.  As I piled on the decadent toppings (Helloooo bacon!  Please move over and make room for butter!), I felt like a kid who'd been let loose in a candy store with the instructions to help myself.

Picture collage from This Vivacious Life.  Check out @ChandiceProbst, including her helpful Mashed Potato Martini Bar article.

MEMORABLE CELEBRATIONS HAVE SPECIAL OR UNEXPECTED DETAILS

The mashed potato martinis taught me a lot. (A strange sentence to be sure!)

In the 10+ years that have passed since I attended that event, I've probably attended dozens of other parties.

But can I remember what was on the menu at most of those other celebrations?

Nope.

Though the food at the other parties was likely delicious and great thought had been put into the menus, the mashed potato martini party stands out in my mind because it was so unusual.  In particular:

• A favorite childhood side dish was elevated to center stage as the main course.
• The use of martini glasses to serve food (instead of cocktails) was an unexpected surprise.  
• The hostess shared that mashed potatoes were a favorite food of the guest of honor, a small detail that seemed wonderfully intimate at a party with over 30 guests. It also conveyed how thoughtful the hostess was to remember this preference.

IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY MEMORABLE

Hate mashed potatoes?  Don't own martini glasses?  

No problem.

Check out our infographic below for Top 10 Must Dos for an Unforgettable Birthday Party.  Maybe one of the ideas will resonate with you.  

(In search of greater detail? The infographic is a summary of the ideas found in our guide Must Do's for a Memorable Birthday Party which can be found here.)

MAKE YOUR PARTY UNFORGETTABLE

The next time you're planning a birthday party, ask yourself:  
What will my guests remember? 

This simple question can help turn an ordinary party into an extraordinary one. 

The next time you're planning a birthday party, 
ask yourself:  What will my guests remember? 

 This post is a companion piece to Secrets to an Unforgettable Birthday Party.