hosting a dinner party:
NOT AS SCARY AS YOU MIGHT THINK
FOOD+DRINK
YOU'VE ENJOYED PLAYING GUEST AT COUNTLESS DINNER PARTIES OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE WELL AND TRULY EXHAUSTED THE 'I'LL DO IT NEXT TIME' CARD. NEXT TIME HAS COME. THERE ARE NO IFS OR BUTS ABOUT IT – THE NEXT DINNER PARTY IS YOURS TO HOLD AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FEARED OCCASION, AS THERE ARE PLENTY OF USEFUL TIPS AND TRICKS OUT THERE TO AID YOU IN YOUR BID TO PLAY THE PERFECT HOST. HOWEVER, IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT, OFTEN ONE PERSON'S IDEA OF THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY LARGELY DIFFERS FROM THE NEXT'S. HERE ARE insideKENT'S SIX TIPS TO AVOID ALL DP-RELATED DISASTERS THIS SEASON.
1. PLAN AHEAD The term 'plan ahead' couldn't be more pertinent to the culinary occasion that is a dinner party. First, you need to book your party into not only your calendar, but the calendars of others. You may have been putting this off for months, but forgetting to invite your guests or not providing specific times and dates is not a good start. Remember to allow time, informing guests at least two weeks in advance and be aware of any dietary requirements they may have. With invites out of the way, your menu will require incessant planning throughout. Make a list of all the ingredients you will need and go shopping in advance. Also try to familiarise yourself with each course and if you have time, hold a test run to practice what you're cooking. Not only will this reduce stress on the night, but it will minimise the chance of a last-minute disaster. 2. DON'T BE OVER AMBITIOUS Menu selection should depend on your cooking skills, and should not be overly ambitious. Cooking something you are familiar with and know tastes delicious will ease your stress. A dinner party is not the time to experiment with new, out-there dishes that you've never prepared before, as after all there's a fine line between being experimental and doing something that is going to shock even the most liberal of eaters. The best choices are low-maintenance meals that allow you to do most of the work in advance and therefore, minimise fuss on the night. Your guests aren't expecting a Michelin-star experience, so don't panic and overdo it. Knowing the host is relaxed and enjoying the company will make your diners feel at ease. 3. A PRE-DINNER APPETISER As most guests will arrive hungry, a pre-dinner appetiser is a nice way to start the night and gives everyone the chance to hang out and relax, especially if guests are not familiar with others attending. Crisps and dip are always a good bet, but small canapés can also work well, especially if they compliment the main dinner. Offer guests a pre-dinner cocktail or beverage to wash it all down, before showing them through to their seats.
4. PRESENTATION IS KEY Make sure each course is spectacular and stands out. We're not talking fancy à la carte presentation, but serving food with consideration will showcase your attention to detail and please your guests. No one likes to see drips of sauce and a plonked-on-plate main course. At the same time, stressing over too many details is what will drive you from a hospitable, caring host into a crazed cook. Guests will feel more at home in a lived-in, clean and comfortable house, rather than a clinical showroom. A simple, relaxing environment will equal content guests, rather than feeling as though they can't touch anything. 5. LOOK AFTER YOUR GUESTS Don't just cook dinner for your guests; be the most hospitable of hosts. A welcoming, sociable, open and friendly persona will go miles in the way of impressions. Make sure they want for nothing and they have their drink topped up whenever you see a glass that's nearly empty (if they want more that is). It is the little things that can turn a good dinner party into a great one. Remember you're not on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me — your diners are not grading you in the taxi ride home, so just relax and enjoy the night. Chances are if there are mistakes, they will be laughed off, as long as you can laugh at yourself first. Finally, bear in mind that it's ok not to be perfect; if you're having fun, your guests will be too. 6. INCLUDE ENTERTAINMENT After-dinner entertainment isn't compulsory as many guests will enjoy the sociable setting and chance to chat at the table, but if you do want to involve entertainment, make it guest-friendly. Games like Pictionary and Articulate are fun and can involve all, whereas pulling out the karaoke machine and forcing guests to perform renditions of your favourite hits may make for uncomfortable hosting and leave diners feeling segregated f ????????????%911d??Q!9,?e=UH? UMQL?9?]Y? == e??M?%8?Q!?-9=]1 ?%P?]=8?P? ?e=UH?QUI8?=H??]!%1?()??????????????????????((??((0