Moving into a new place with existing housemates felt like the start of an exciting new chapter, and I knew the best way to kick things off was with a housewarming party. Our goal was simple: to bring our friends together and create an unforgettable night. We wanted the vibe to be cool and relaxed, and the key, we quickly realised, was to nail a few core essentials.
The first thing we sorted was the drinks, and we wanted something that would please everyone without being too heavy. We settled on Heineken Silver, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. As soon as people arrived, they were grabbing a bottle from the esky and commenting on how crisp and refreshing it was. It has this wonderfully light and subtle citrusy finish that made it feel a bit more sophisticated than your average beer, a great way to welcome people into a new home. It’s the kind of easy-to-drink lager that meant we didn’t have to worry about catering to a dozen different tastes.
As guests were arriving, we had a large charcuterie board laid out on the kitchen island. It looks so impressive but is incredibly simple to do and always feels so welcoming. We started with a big wooden board and arranged a few different kinds of cheese: a soft brie, a hard aged cheddar, and some creamy goat’s cheese. Alongside those, we added some draped prosciutto and slices of spicy salami. Then, we filled in all the empty spaces with handfuls of grapes, crunchy almonds, olives, and a small dish of quince paste. The variety of textures and flavours meant there was something for everyone to nibble on while we got ready for the main event.
As the night went on, the main event kicked in, and that was pizza. My flatmate had this amazing Matty Matheson Limited Edition Gozney Tread, and it became the undisputed star of the party. The beauty of this thing is how versatile and portable it is; we set it up on the balcony, and suddenly, everyone was gathered around the fire, laughing and sharing stories while we cooked.
This isn’t just any oven, it cooks at insanely high temperatures, giving everything that perfect, authentic wood-fired taste in under two minutes. The recipe that became the talk of the night was our Spicy Salami and Hot Honey Pizza. To make it, we simply took our pizza dough, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over it, and topped it with mozzarella, spicy salami slices, and a sprinkle of chilli flakes for an extra kick.
Once the Gozney Tread was preheated, we slid the pizza inside and watched as it cooked in under two minutes, its crust bubbling beautifully. After it came out, we drizzled it generously with hot honey and scattered some fresh basil on top. The combination of salty, spicy salami and the sweet, fiery honey was out of this world.
Of course, a party isn’t just about food and drinks; you need the right atmosphere. The soundtrack was crucial, and we had our JBL Charge 5 speaker pumping out tunes all night. It’s a great little speaker that you can pick up anywhere in Australia, and its incredible durability gave us total peace of mind. We didn’t have to worry about someone accidentally knocking it over or spilling a drink on it, thanks to its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. The battery life is a game-changer, lasting for up to 20 hours, so we never had to worry about the music cutting out. The sound was surprisingly powerful for its size, with a great bass that kept the energy up without being overwhelming.
Finally, we rounded off the night with a simple dessert platter of brownies and cookies that required no fuss at all. Looking back, the party was a huge success because we focused on a few high-quality, memorable elements. From the crisp Heineken Silver and the interactive pizza-making with the Gozney Tread to the perfect soundtrack from the JBL and the impressive charcuterie board, every detail came together to create a night of great company and even better memories.
