Being the host of a dinner party is a whole lot of fun. You get to spend time with your favorite people, eating delicious food, and catching up. A dinner party doesn’t have to be stressful either, it can be a relaxing experience with a few essential tips.
Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash
Preparation
The preparation makes a big difference in how the whole evening runs, making sure the dishwasher is empty before the party starts so you can load things nice and quickly. Dishes piled on the side will stress you out, and look messy. It’s a good idea to empty the recycling and empty the main bin too. Doing a big clean during the day will set your mind at ease too.
Eat The Frog
Whatever the most significant cooking task is, if you can prepare it the day before, then do so. It will help get it out of the way, and if it goes wrong, you can have another go. Anything that might not be fun, or slightly unpleasant should be done ahead of time.
Menu
Consider the people who will be around the table. If you have known them for years, you can probably prepare a gorgeous menu that they will adore. If you are hosting for new work friends or people you know less well, then you will have to hedge your bets and have a vegan option available – just in case. It pays to ask in advance, to be sure. This easy dish is a brilliant option and will suit most tastes too.
Don’t be afraid to ask people to bring a dish along, some wide or some nibbles. If there are fewer than six people, then you probably won’t need to do this. More than 6, and it helps to have some of the menu tackled by others.
Table
Here is where you can show your flair and creativity. You can have a themed table, which is a lot of fun, or you can opt to have something traditional. The choice is yours. Play around with different serving dishes and styles. Try to take into account what wine you are serving and the colors of the food too.
A centerpiece always looks lovely, and typically flowers work well. You can dress the table with runners, named seating arrangements and seasonal treats too.
Timing
Having the wine chilled and some cheese ready to start on arrival will set the tone. You can then work through your entire menu, up until the coffee and dessert at your own steady pace. You can make it more interactive by having a card game like Uno or scrabble available for after coffee if people are in the middle of connecting and chatting.
Enjoy
Try to soak up the atmosphere, and while you are cooking, you should still have time to take part in those conversations. While you are likely more concerned with other people enjoying the evening, they will want to know you had a lovely time too.
Leave a Reply