I remember my first dinner party. Full honesty: I had some self-esteem issues back then, so I invited 20 people hoping that 8 would say yes. I sent my menu out with the invitation and I was a bit stunned when everyone said yes. Eepers!! I was going to have 20 people for dinner.
I rented a table and linens and ran it down the center of my living room. Then I went to the grocery store and began to panic. The menu I chose was for what tasted good and didn’t take into consideration that I would need to use the oven simultaneously at three different temperatures. Oopsy.
By the time my guests arrived, I was a sweaty, frazzled, and slightly drunk mess in the kitchen. I had spent prep time nipping at the white wine from the piccata recipe. Luckily my friends love me and the girls piled into the kitchen to help me cook. Everything came out beautifully and it was actually a fabulous evening. More wine was consumed and we all shouted horrible things at the television while watching the awful flick “Showgirls,” which had just come out on video.
I’ve learned so much since then and wanted to share some Dinner Party basics to get you started.
Do you have a small fridge? Just one oven? When you plan out your menu, think about what you can make ahead of time vs. what you have to make immediately before serving and plan accordingly. Waiting for the roast to be done so you can pop in the dinner rolls could mean cold meat … not good.
I went to a dinner party once where every single dish had cheese in it. Problem is I don’t eat cheese. My hostess kindly made me a tuna fish sandwich so I could eat something and she was a bit embarrassed. I always send a request for any food aversions or allergies with my invitation when I’m hosting. From paleo to vegan, there are a lot of different eating styles out there, so you’ll want to adjust the menu to your guests.
Your guests are there for your company first and culinary skills second. Don’t fret if you buy a dessert or a side. Work to your strengths, and if it’s table decor, then serve an absolutely beautiful catered feast and make sure there’s plenty of wine.
It’s great if everyone knows everyone and you can just pile in and start noshing. But feel free to be adventurous and mix in folks who have never met. Think about common interests and how people can interact with each other. If you’re hesitating about a certain person or couple, then skip them for now. You can always invite them to another event later.
Your dinner guests will smell fear when they arrive, so don’t stress out. Keep the menu simple and manageable so you can spend time with your friends, not freaking out in the kitchen (see sordid story in first paragraph above). A green salad can be just as delicious as a fancy appetizer and just as welcome as a healthy option. I’m a big fan of shrimp cocktail; almost everyone loves it and you can prep it ahead of time and serve it in seconds. Then I can focus on whatever I’m roasting.
Think about the layout of your dining room (or your picnic table or wherever). What is the best way to make your guests comfortable for seating and how else can you set the mood? Think about music, lighting, table scape, serving pieces … there are a lot of small touches you can add to make the meal seem effortless. A little planning will go a long way here. We have a playlist of cool music on our iPod and we’ll plan to have dessert in our living room by the fireplace to give guests a more comfy spot than a dining room chair. You get the idea.
Will you be doing this solo or will you have some help? Your spouse might want to pitch in or might be better off assigned to cleaning the bathroom. Perhaps you’ll want to have a friend come over early to help or you can just menu plan so the evening is not really that taxing. Think about what you’d like to serve and what you’ll need to accomplish that. You can even hire a server/prep cook for the evening if needed so you can focus more on the guests.
That’s just a few ideas to get you started. We’d love to hear your dinner party disasters and successes. Please share ’em!
Cheers,
Lisa
photo credit:
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