Contrary to the dinner party blue soup scene from “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” dinner parties don’t have to result in a mound of dirty tableware, a filthy kitchen and inedible dishes. Instead, imagine the scene from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” where Holly Golightly’s guests are having a fabulous time mingling, enjoying the company as much as the food.
There are some secrets to throwing a spectacular dinner party. By following these helpful tips, you’ll be well on your way to a delightful soirée!
- Recipes – A dinner party isn’t the time to experiment with new recipes. Stick with recipes that you’ve made at least once.
- Make Ahead Dishes – These are critical components to multi-course meals, allowing you to avoid slaving away in the kitchen while guests are having fun. Some dishes even taste better the next day, such as lasagna, enchiladas and sauces.
- High Quality – Opt for delicious bakery breads, quality olive oils, olives, pickles, roasted peppers and even an assortment of delectable cheeses, such as aged cheddar, Brie and a rich blue cheese. If your budget can afford it, opt for Mothais Sur Feuille (a tangy goat cheese), St. Eadburgha (a mild cow cheese), Appleby’s Cheshire (an artisan cheese with rich earthy flavors) and Comté Androuë (a nutty cow’s milk cheese).
- Delegate – If guests offer to bring something, don’t hesitate to accept. Whether it’s a bottle of wine, side salad or dessert, having a variety of delicious foods makes for a great dinner party.
- Tableware – For formal dinner parties, opt for charger plates. Just Charger Plates is a website dedicated to selling a variety of charger plates, ranging in shapes from round and square to octagonal. Additionally, they offer a myriad of colors and materials, including acrylic charger plates, glass charger plates, mirrored, metal, melamine, faux wood, rattan and even faux leather charger plates. Even the simplest of dishware can be dressed up with a sophisticated charger plate design.
- Bring the Outdoors In – If you have fresh herbs and a small garden, consider incorporating these bountiful ingredients in your dishes for a special touch to any dinner party meal.
- Culinary Choices – Consider selecting a dinner party menu that reflects a region. For example, consider exploring Indian cuisine, French cuisine or even Moroccan dishes.
- Plan – Planning ahead and making a detailed game plan wil help you maximize your time. Make sure dishes are planned accordingly so they have ample time to cook.
- Skip Dinner – If you have a hearty assortment of appetizers, you can forgo dinner for a more leisurely cocktail hour.
- Go Outdoors – If your home is smaller and can’t accommodate a significant number of guests, consider embracing the outdoors. The bottom line is that dinner parties are about having fun and the outdoors gives guests ample space to boogey down, laugh and enjoy the comradery of friends.