If you’ve decided to take the plunge and host a dinner party, you’ll probably already realise that planning is crucial and the small details could be your downfall. There’s a lot to think about when having people over for dinner. You’ll be playing the role of host and that means a lot of responsibilities. It’s not just the food either, conversation and drinks should flow and you’ll have to dress your dining space too. If you’re struggling to know where to start, or want to make sure you’ve prepared for everything, take a look at these tips and tricks below…
The Room
It’s a good idea to prep your dining area well ahead of time. No doubt on the day itself you’ll be focussing on the food. The last thing you want is to scrabbling around looking for that tablecloth when you have guests arriving in 30 minutes. Speaking on tablecloths, make sure you have a nice crisp clean one on your table, or if you don’t mind spills going directly on the table you can go without. Richard Haworth have some great absorbent, stain release tablecloths, perfect for a dinner party. Even if you do decide to ditch the tablecloth and leave your table bare, napkins are a must.
Set your table long before your guests arrive. It shouldn’t take too long but you want to have time to focus on the smaller details and the food. Obviously make sure all plates, cutlery, and glasses are clean before laying them out. Each guest should have a wine glass (if that’s what you're serving) and also a glass for water or soft drinks.
The last thing you’ll need to do is add your personal touch to a table. Whether it’s a centerpiece of flowers or handmade name cards, add a special individual touch. Putting some candles on the table is also a good idea, especially if you’re having guests over in the evening.
The Food
Before you come up with any kind of menu you need to find out if any of your guests have allergies. You may find that you have to tweak what you had in mind or swap some meat for fish. Once you know everybody’s dietary requirements you can start thinking of a menu. The best tip is not to try anything for the first time. Cook something you know works and that you love. It doesn’t matter if that’s as simple as a great spaghetti bolognese as long as you know it works. Another good idea is to cook a one-dish meal. This will mean you can cook it in advance and saves a lot of hassle making individual meals.
A great idea for a started is a simple cold antipasto. You can prepare this ahead of time and all it really involves is presenting some meats, cheeses, bread, and olives on plates. Also, try making your dessert ahead of time, but if you’ve prepped the other courses you can afford to be a little more adventurous here,