It doesn’t matter whether you have recently purchased your first home and you want to have a house warming dinner party or whether you are something of a dinner party veteran, there are always new aspects to your soirees that you might want to explore. Perhaps you’ve always gone formal or served the same five courses for years. Maybe it’s time to change it up a bit and bring a little modernity into your gatherings. Dinner parties are a perfect way to spend time with your nearest and dearest in the comfort of your own home. Take a look at this recipe for a perfect dinner party.
Go With What You Know
It’s good to try out new recipes for a dinner party, but make sure that you’ve practiced them a little beforehand. Going into your party catering for eight hungry mouths and cooking up a storm in the kitchen with an ingredient you’ve never used before is asking for disaster. Don’t be too ambitious and cook what you love. The chances are that you’re a bit of a whizz in the kitchen otherwise you wouldn’t enjoy rustling up gastronomic delights for your friends. Think about the sort of menu you want to produce, keep it seasonal and balanced, and don’t choose a dish that’s too labor-intensive. This is your dinner party too and the guests will want to enjoy your company as well.
Drinks
Make sure you pay attention to your drinks menu as well as your food menu. Some people may not drink alcohol so it’s important to provide them with a pleasant option rather than just water. Some gourmet soft drinks such as sparkling elderflower cordials are perfect wine equivalents. If you need to accompany wine with your dishes, consider a papillon red blend for your steak main, and a new world chardonnay for your seafood starter. Pairing wines to dishes adds a touch of sophistication to your evening, and allows your diners to experience new taste sensations that they haven’t had the pleasure of before.
Table Settings
The era of boy-girl-boy-girl is long gone. Yes, it’s nice to talk to new people at a dinner party, but you also want people to feel comfortable. If all of your guests know one another you might even want them to choose their own seats. If your gathering is a little less formal, consider eating al fresco in the garden, or not having a table at all. A dinner party doesn’t have to be a formal sit down affair with numerous courses and an amuse bouche. You might choose a more cohesive one pot meal. Bringing out a gourmet centerpiece for diners to dive into is less formal, encourages more conversation and has people worrying less about their table manners.
You could choose to have a dress code and go for a formal soiree, but many people prefer the more relaxed surroundings of their friend’s homes. Allow people to bring a bottle, enjoy people’s company and let the food play second fiddle to an evening focused on good conversation and comfort.
Dinner parties are a great way to spend time with family and friends. Enjoy rustling up a feast for your pals at your next informal dinner party.
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