Party Food

If you’re thinking about starting a little catering business and kicking it off at the Democratic convention in Denver next month, get ready to start jumping through culinary hoops. The organizers of the event have come out with a long list of rules that make the Democrats sound like the party of fussy eaters.

In addition to outlawing fried foods, the party’s food police have said that everything has to be organic or locally grown. If that’s not enough to put a crimp in your style, there’s the issue of color. Instead of focusing on flavors and textures, you’d better start thinking about the colors of the foods you’re planning to put together on the plate. According to the instructions, at least three of five colors (red, yellow, green, blue/purple and white) must be represented on every plate. If you think for a moment you can get around the color chart with garnishes  — parsley sprigs, lemon wedges — forget it. They don’t count. And while you’re getting the plate pictured in your head, be sure fruits and vegetables take up at least half the space. That’s the rule.

If you still have your heart set on the convention, you might do better with something entirely different. Apparently, instead of accepting his party’s nomination in the convention center, Senator Barack Obama plans to move the venue to the Denver Broncos football stadium, which seats more than 75,000. You could set up a burrito stand outside the place, fill your burritos with whatever you like, and probably make a killing.