Dinner Party Ideas
Top 10 Dinner Party Ideas Part One: The Overview, Tactics And Tricks For Good Hosting
Though the classic age of the dinner party as decisive social event seemed to be long gone, recalling something of the 1970s model housewife, recent popularity, especially in the media, for these events has been something of a phenomenon. But far from reinforcing past stereotypes, the renewed interest in Dinner Parties and hosting seems to suggest that culturally, we’re enjoying making each other happy, enjoying the challenge of doing so, admittedly in a competitive sense but that’s to be expected. In this article we’ll look at some of the ways to create dinner parties to be resonating in the phone lines of your suburbs for weeks to come:
Tip #10, Avoiding Catastrophe – The Serious Bit: In looking after your proposed guests, you want to be sure to first of all have the complete picture of their dietary needs and musts. A list is essential, with underlined absolutes: vegetarian cheese, gluten free options and nut allergies. Once you have these down, you can think about how to wow these guests with your attention to their specialized needs. Turning the disadvantage around will win the day, letting your guests know you really go the extra mile, and don’t just give them a bare-bones plate of edibles.
Tip #9, Dishes: Go with what you know, but don’t be afraid to give something a twist. As you’re cooking for friends, they aren’t likely to be scandalized if your creations aren’t perfect. Stay away from make-or-break dishes, the ones which either come off or fail and have to be cooked from scratch (eggs Benedict, for example). If you really want to pull something fancy off, try cooking for two first – scaling up is the biggest problem in dinner party hosting, so a practice round is beneficial.
Tip #8, Tackling Shyness – The Musical Route: People are generally more interesting than they can either give themselves credit for, or begin to speak about. When it comes to your guests, naturally you want them to be both relaxed and to contribute to the atmosphere. Some people require absolutely no stimulus to talk about themselves. If you’re worried about the participation of others, have everyone informed that they’re to bring one piece of music on a unified theme (you decide in advance – the best theme is ‘taste’). You now have an immediate, personal point of discussion and question, and the guests can unfold their personalities naturally.
Tip #7, Drinks Preparation: Try not to put absolute faith in the ‘bring your own’ maxim, or else you’re sure to be compromised if things run a little later than planned. An interesting punch or cocktail alternative is de rigueur – mojitos, daiquiris and sidecars are dinner party classics.
Tip #6, Balancing Hosting/Cooking: Your guests may know you well, but may be at a remove to know each other, and so you’ll need to be in the thick of the party as much as you’re in the kitchen. For those with a fitted kitchen/Dining area, the space really comes into its own here in bridging both roles. If not, you’ll need to think about what dishes can be prepped to maximise your time with your guests.
Hopefully these ideas will get you thinking about the general strategy for pulling off a successful dinner party. In part two we’ll be looking at the top five absolute dinner party essential ideas for improved success.
About the Author
Betta Living offers fitted kitchens and bedrooms around the UK
Wine Types & Selection Tips : Wine for a Dinner Party
|
|
Twelve Table Numbers, Wedding, Anniversery, Dinner Party Ideas £4.70 A pack of 12 pretty table number cards to help lead your guests to their tables. Add a card to a table number holder to create a beautiful setting for any special day. Suitable for use at weddings, anniversaries or even dinner parties. Pack includes 12 single cards printed both sides with the numbers 1 to 12. Cards measures approximately 10.5cm in width by 15cm in height. Supplied in a clear aceta… |
