Want to throw a dinner party that will make a good impression on your gusts?These simple planning ideas and suggestions will show you how to be a great host.
THE GUEST LIST
INVITATIONS
Most of today's dinner parties are put together on the informal basis of phone calls or emails.In the case of intimate dinners, this also allows the host to query at that time whether there are any food allergies or diet restrictions he or she needs to be aware of in planning the menu.If you're having a large gathering for the holidays, however, you may want to go the route of actually sending out invitations.If so, be sure to put them in the mail two weeks prior to the event.For first-time visitors who have never been to your house, the inclusion of directions or a map is always appreciated.Sadly, you also need to take into consideration that a lot of people these days either don't know what RSVP means or simply choose to ignore it.This will require you to follow up with a phone call a few days before to ensure that you'll have enough food and beverage on hand.
THE MENU
Much as you may want to dazzle your guests with your culinary expertise, you probably want the chance to actually visit with them, too.While the good news is that the majority of guests at any given party will end up congregating in the kitchen, the bad news is that they can also end up getting in your way or, if you're a smidge on the nervous side, could frazzle you to the point of distraction or accident.If you're hosting an intimate meal and your kitchen is in close proximity to the dining room (i.e., separated by a counter or bar), you can easily stay part of the conversation while attending to your duties as chef.For a large gathering, you have several options.One of them is to make it a potluck, allowing each guest to bring their specialty dish while you simply fill in with whatever is missing.Another alternative is to have the party catered and simply leave the cooking, serving and clean-up to someone else.The third choice is to plan the food around items that can be prepared in advance and only require heating.
Unless you've dined with your guests before and have a fairly good handle on their tastes, it's never a good idea to spring something on them without a little forewarning.While guests have the option of doing experimental nibbles at a buffet, a sit-down dinner that revolves around a spice-intensive or exotic infrastructure main course could have disastrous effects.Their enjoyment of the meal""and yours""will be higher if you show them the courtesy of sharing your menu plan first if you're not certain their palates are up for the challenge.
SETTING THE TABLE
The larger the party, the more clean-up you're going to have afterwards.For summer barbeques and holiday buffets, it's the reason that so many hosts resort to paper plates and plastic wine glasses that can simply be thrown out.Nor do the guests mind because they, too, know how much work all of this is and, secretly, don't want to be recruited to wash any of the dishes.If you're averse to going this route, however, take heart in the fact that plates, glasses, utensils and such can be rented fairly inexpensively from party supply vendors.
For smaller dinners, this is the perfect opportunity to break out the good china and crystal"¦just as long as it won't make you a nervous wreck the whole evening that it's going to get broken or chipped by a careless guest.
If you're doing a themed dinner for one other couple, you may want to purchase a set of plates and stemware that specifically fit the meal.Not only will the house wares division of any department store carry a wide range of styles but you shouldn't overlook their discount centers, either.Import and cooking supply stores are another great source of inspiration.If you already have a variety of different plates in your cupboard, consider doing a mix and match.In keeping with etiquette book advisements that husbands and wives should not be seated next to each other at dinner parties, you can instruct your guests to find the pairs that match up and seat themselves accordingly.
Planning a centerpiece.Flowers and candles are always a welcome addition at a dinner party.Just make sure that the flower arrangement isn't so large as to obstruct your guests' view of one another or that the candles are so fragrant as to overpower the aroma of the food.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
During the winter months, try to plan the start time of your dinner party so that there is enough daylight left for first-time guests to find your house.During the summer, the opposite is preferred, especially if a portion of the party will be held outdoors.If your dinner party is scheduled on a weeknight, you also need to take into consideration that most of them have to get up early the next day and go to work.
As a host, you also need to be diligent insofar as knowing when to stop pouring drinks and wine and when to bring out the coffee, sodas or bottled water.Nor should you be shy if you recognize that any of your guests are not in a position to drive themselves home.Arrange to have someone else drive them, drive them yourself, call a cab, or keep that spare bedroom at the ready just in case it's needed.
