Eliminating the "drinks and appetizers" juggle
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 10:12AM | Jen @ SecondCitySoiree 
Since the dawn of time, one problem has continuously plagued man - what do to when faced with both food and drink, but not a table. From goblets of wine and a slab of mutton in ancient Rome, to dry martinis and canapés in mod 1960s apartments, this conundrum has vexed those with even the finest of motor skills.
But! No longer! Feast your eyes upon the inventions which will free us of sloshed drinks, dropped appetizers, and the inability to shake a new acquaintance's hand...
Pictured above, Finger Food Plates by CB2 ($9.95 set of 10). I will admit, this solution is cute but doesn't seem to be terribly practical. One grand gesture, and there goes your cocktail shrimp, hurtling across the room.
Vino Plate Clip Wine Glass Holder ($6.76 each) from Beverage Factory. Much more practical than the little plates above, although I do wonder if it will scratch your dishes?
Here's my favorite option! 
Appetizer Wine Plates ($4.95 each) on Amazon. So ergonomic and ingeniously designed. Simply slide your glass into the notch on the side of the plate, et viola! you are free to eat, shake, or gesticulate wildly with the other hand.
I first encountered these a few years ago at a wine and food festival. The wine lanyard (as we called them) was perfect for that application, but is a bit silly for a cocktail party at home. You do have to wipe the glass after each sip, lest your wine get transferred onto your shirt.
Wine Glass Holder Necklace ($24.95 for set of 2) at Wine Enthusiast.
What do you use for solving this epic problem? Something else? Nothing at all? Your mad balancing skills?
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Reader Comments (3)
That plate with a hole for a wine glass is brilliant! Usually I end up holding the glass between a few fingers and balancing a plate on that palm. Very precarious. Most of my parties aren't classy enough to have real glasses out yet. One day...
These are some of the greatest things around when at any event or party. The drink around your neck makes everything easy. You barely know it's there. Well other than the fact that you probably will want to continue drinking.
These are some of the greatest things around when at any event or party. The drink around your neck makes everything easy. You barely know it's there. Well other than the fact that you probably will want to continue drinking.