If you love to entertain and also happen to have a passion for cooking, then you won’t be a stranger to dinner parties. While going to someone else’s house for this type of social gathering can be a lot of fun, hosting one can be just as exciting. However, being the host also comes with other responsibilities, and this might make your experience a little more stressful than you would like. With the festive season upon us, you might have planned to host a dinner party at your place to celebrate, and here is a quick guide to help you be the perfect host.
Table of Contents
The Menu
Firstly, make sure that you ask all of your guests about any allergies or dietary preferences they have. The last thing you want is for someone to be unable to sample your delicious dishes because it has ingredients they can’t eat! Once you have determined who can eat what, you can begin to plan your menu.
Three-course meals are great for dinner parties, particularly if you want to make it a special event. When it comes to choosing a starter, try to avoid foods that are too rich, and this can spoil your guests’ appetites. If you are going to serve up something creamy or heavy, make sure you only serve small portions. Think about preparing seasonal dishes, too, as it will make finding the right ingredients in grocery stores easier. For example, roasts, casseroles, and stews for autumn/winter will work well.
Cocktails and Wines
You need to serve some refreshing beverages to go with your menu, and pairing wines with the meals that you serve is a good idea. Cocktails can also serve as an excellent precursor to dinner or afterward dessert. If you are having a festive dinner party, consider trying some of these cocktails to stay in the theme. Don’t forget to stock up on soft drinks either for those who don’t drink alcohol or are driving.
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Entertainment
As well as wowing your guests with your excellent culinary skills, you should think about how you can keep them entertained in-between courses. Card or board games can always be good for some after-dinner fun, or perhaps a murder mystery for something more extravagant? You could even consider organizing a virtual chocolate tasting to double-up as entertainment for your guests and dessert! Dallmann confections can arrange these tastings for you and your friends, and you will get sent a box of delicious truffles to sample.
Timing
Although you are cooking for a group of people, you don’t want to spend the entirety of your dinner party stuck in the kitchen. This is why it’s important to make sure that you are paying attention to timing. Not only will this allow you to spend time with your guests, but it will also make sure that nothing is burning or being undercooked. Set timers on your phone as a reminder when you need to check on your cooking, and perhaps even do a test run the week before your party if you are trying out new recipes to make sure you’re getting it right.
If you are planning to host a dinner party this holiday season, or any time of year for the matter, use these tips to make sure your guests are satisfied and that you’re having a good time, too!
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