Dinner Party- favorite nibbles while guests gather

[onefineleo]

I entertain often and am always looking for a good way to get the dinner party started. I always greet guests with a flute of champagne, even if we're just doing a Sunday Supper. What do you like to serve as guests are gathering and getting themselves relaxed and comfy?

[luswei]

fra'mani salami
assortment of pate -- one veggie, one truffle
cheeses
bruschetta toppings and toasted bread
cucumber rounds with a dollop of egg salad
smoked/roasted almonds
slices of avocado and sweet onion in balsamic vinegar w/baguette
different kinds of salsas -- tomatillo, corn, fruit -- with chips
shrimp on rosemary skewers
rosemary skewer with cherry tomato, boccacino, basil
rosemary skewer with red and yellow pepper, italian sausage
mini roasted eggplants with a dollop of goat cheese or farmer cheese
roasted figs wrapped in proscuitto or serrano ham or...
roasted figs topped with dollop of farmer/goat cheese and bacon bits

[wyf4lyf]

Depending on the occasion...though sometimes it's really fun to serve fancy food at a casual gathering and vice-versa:

Gougeres
Bacon-wrapped stuffed dates (stuff with Parmigiano-Reggiano)
Pate
Salmon mousse
Baked brie with baguette
Tapenades with baguette
Guacamole with *warm* chips
Prosciutto-wrapped melon
Shrimp with cocktail sauce
Salami crisps (meat lovers and no/low carb folks go wild for these...get paper-thin slices of genoa salami and bake on parchment for 10-12 minutes at 325 until the edges curl)
Hummus and pita chips