How To Throw A Dinner Party

Throwing a dinner party can be a fun, yet incredibly stress-inducing experience. Every decision that you make, from those on your guest list to the music that you play, can be a source of anxiety. As a host, you will need to approach this task with a clear sense of determination. Whatever type of party you plan to throw, you need to be driven to maintain good relationships, entertain and, of course, impress. To make this easier, here are six things that you should do.

Invite A Select Group

You may not be hosting the Met Gala, but those on your guest list should still be a select group. After all, you don’t want to give yourself too much work or invite people that don’t get along. Make sure that you select individuals with similar interests, or, at the very least, people that need introducing. When you send out invitations, remember to ask about guests’ dietary restrictions.

Cook What You Know

As tempting as it can be to cook something new and exciting for your dinner party, you should avoid this at all costs. The last thing that you want to do is to try and fail at cooking some exotic dish. Instead, you should choose one that you’ve cooked before and are confident in preparing. There are many stress-free mains to consider, which look fancy, but take very little effort.

Check Your Kitchen Inventory

Before the night of your party, you need to check that you have all of the necessary dishes and tools to prepare and serve your meals. If you don’t, checking your inventory early gives you plenty of time to research and stock up. This allows you to take a look at, Cut It Fine, for example, for advice on purchasing boning knives. Remember to check all of these again on the day.

Get An Early Start

Cooking a meal for more than just your family is no small feat. For this reason, it helps to get an early start and prepare as much as you can before your guests arrive. Certain items, like baked desserts, can be made a few days prior to your party, while veggies can be peeled and chopped the day before. Your table can also be set a few days back so that you have less to do.

Go Easy On Appetizers

Everyone knows that a charcuterie board is a must for any dinner party. However, that doesn’t mean that you should go overboard on it and other appetizers. If you do, your guests will fill up on cheeses and meats, which means that they won’t be hungry by the time your meal is presented. To avoid this, you should limit them to only a few options and don’t replenish the supplies.

Ask For Some Help

You may be the one hosting the party, but that doesn’t mean that you should be doing all of the work. If you want a little time to enjoy yourself too, then you may need to ask for some help. This could be having reliable friends bring their own side dishes or desserts to contribute to the meal. If guests ask how they can help, find them an easy task to complete.

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Hosting a dinner party can be a lot of work, but, with these tips, you should find the task a lot more enjoyable.