Kelis gives tips for the perfect party

Kelis's new album is titled Food, but aside from a song titled "Jerk Ribs," its themes lean more adult film than epicurean.

All the same, food is clearly on her brain: The Cordon Bleu grad has a new line of signature sauces and is known in the music biz for her dinner parties.

Some pro tips from Kelis from the April GQ:

On booze:
"I love Belgian beer. I am also a big wine drinker. I like to be well stocked."

On serveware:
"Never do paper plates. Never. Unless it's a barbecue. I am not one of those people with frickin' dust collecting on my crystal."

On music:
"You want to create an atmosphere but still have it be something people can talk over—it's not a frickin' rave, it's my living room. Massive Attack's Mezzanine is nice to start; then maybe you go to Roberta Flack's Chapter Two."