Hosting a dinner party is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your friends and family and make a lasting impression. You can show off your culinary skills, hosting skills, and create lasting memories. However, not all of us are natural born Martha Stewarts.
Here are some of the best tips for making an impression— even if you’re not a professional chef.
Plan Ahead
If you hope to impress your guests, then it’s important that you plan ahead. Start by creating a menu that is easy to achieve with your skill set. Choose dishes that you won’t struggle to create, and most importantly that complement each other.
If you choose plenty of different dishes that clash or are too difficult to cohesively flow from start to finish, then you might find yourself struggling and stressed out. When choosing your menu, try to choose dishes and ingredients that are appropriate for the season.
In other words, lighter menu items are better for summer, and heavier items are probably better for winter. You also want to consider which vegetables are in season in order to choose the best possible ingredients.
Don’t Forget Beverages
Often, we are so focused on food that we forget one of the most important aspects of hosting guests— drinks! Whether you have a wine chiller, or or more modest set up, the idea is choosing beverages that go well with not only your guests, but also the food.
In other words, you don’t necessarily need to make fancy cocktails if you’re planning on serving dinner to a younger crowd. You want to choose something non-alcoholic and simple. On the other hand, if you’re eating red meat, you want to make sure you have a nice red to pair with the meat that will enhance the flavors and textures even more.
Create an Inviting Setting
The setting you create will play a significant role in what kind of experience your guests have. In other words, create an inviting atmosphere with soft lighting, or even candles. Choose a great playlist that compliments whenever your menu is. For example, if you’re choosing French dishes, play some soft accordion music, whereas if you’re eating Italian, consider some Rosemary Clooney! A well-set-out experience, and a well-decorated table can make a world of difference in making your guests feel special.
Consider An Interactive Dish
One of the most entertaining ways to entertain your guests is by offering them an interactive portion of the meal. Think of things like assembling a dish themselves, or even dipping bread into fondue. Dishes that allow them to build their plates themselves or even cook their own meat can be a fun way to breathe a sense of excitement into your meal.
Leave a Reply