Poker Party Food Ideas

Poker has always been a popular card game among men. These days, however, women are having a seat at the game table, too, and loving poker as much as men. This means more guests showing up to enjoy a friendly yet competitive game. Simply serving beer and peanuts will no longer do. A wide variety of simple foods and drinks can be offered and served in a decorated atmosphere that will add fun to the festivities. Keeping it simple and festive is easier than most hosts believe.

Planning Ahead

Know how many guests you're having, and ask those guests about any food and drink allergies they may have. Many hosts forget about this, but you certainly don't want to serve peanut dishes only to find out one your guests has a deadly allergy to them!

Make a "mental map" of seating arrangements. You want everyone to be gathered around the same table comfortably, yet still have room in front of each guest for a small plate of food, their drink and their cards. If you're inviting couples, mix things up a bit by seating couples across from each other.

Make the trip to the grocery store for food and drink supplies two days prior to the party, so the day before, you need only focus on getting everything set up. Make lists of what you need and where you need to go to expedite things and to ensure you won't forget anything.

Décor and Atmosphere

There's no need to spend a lot of money or time on décor. While it will certainly enhance the atmosphere and guests will appreciate it, they'll be more focused on the game than the decorating. A nice plastic table cloth will serve nicely, especially when there may be spills. After the party, it's nice to able to simply roll it up and throw it away. Plastic table clothes can be found at your local dollar store or discount department store in a variety of colors. A plain, solid color will allow you to work with many different colors when it comes to choosing plates, napkins and cups.