Here are some of the latest trends:

Think small. There’s an emphasis on bite-sized treats that are easy for guests to enjoy and move around with during the cocktail hour. Baldino suggests sweet-potato fries with ranch dressing or lobster bisque in shot glasses. “You get a burst of flavor, and no one needs to carry around a plate,” he says.

Choose comfort food. Take guests back to their childhoods by serving up grilled-cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and Kobe beef sliders. “We serve grilled cheese made with a variety of international cheeses, and have also set up a macaroni-and-cheese martini station, where guests can choose their own ingredients,” explains Baldino. Guests also go crazy for mini Philly cheesesteak torpedoes, Maryland crabcake sliders, and veggie burger sliders.

Get creative. Presentation is key when it comes to setting your cocktail hour apart, says Baldino. Taste has taken it to a new level, offering everything from salmon lollipops, dancing coconut Brazilian shrimp, and petite crabcake and avocado towers. “They taste great and also add a lot of color to the room,” raves Baldino.