[1 & 2] Serve appetizer or dessert bites in a paella pan (photos © Empellón Restaurant | NYC.

Here’s an idea from Empellón Restaurant in New York City, which specializes in modern Mexican cuisine.

Grab that paella pan, serving tray or oversize dish from its hiding place, fill it with crushed ice get ready to present an appetizer or dessert “buffet.”

Top the ice with a variety of small bites and shot glasses of apéritifs or dessert drinks.

It’s an idea you can use indoors or outdoors.

We recently used the concept to serve desserts at an al fresco dinner, topping the ice with:

 
To drink:

 
Check out these three-ounce shooter glasses-dessert cups-tumblers that can be used for desserts and drinks. (You can see them in photo #2, filled with lavender mousse.)

You can use them for almost anything you want to keep chilled in the ice, but not on the ice.

For example, with appetizers:

 
Happy entertaining!