The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Dinner Party

Photo: Armelle Blog

A dinner with friends and family should be filled with love, laughter, good food, and even better conversation. Only one thing should be missing from that dinner—stress. The trick to a stress-free dinner is preparation. I'm going to share my best tricks for easily hosting a fabulous dinner party, from planning to grocery shopping to setting the table.

Photo: Armelle Blog

Plan and Prepare

• Decide on the menu. When considering the menu, look at prep time and total time. If all of the dishes are very involved it may not work as a menu together. Avoid a menu with a lot of last-minute prep.
• Prepare ahead of time. If you can do most of the steps for a recipe a day or two in advance, do it.
• Consider where your dishes are cooked. If the oven is occupied, you may not want to have two items on your menu that finish off in the oven at two different temperatures.
• Keep it simple and tasty. Don't go overboard with too many menu items. Stick to about four or five items so you don't overwhelm yourself trying to get it all done at the same time.
• Use your tried and true recipes. Dinner parties aren't the time to experiment on new recipes in case they don't work out. Stick with what you know tastes good.
• Read through the recipes several times. Make a schedule for things that need to get done. Look at the last steps of the recipes and work backward, add another hour to how long the recipes will take to give yourself plenty of time.
• Pick your platters. Think about how you will make and plate everything. Pull out serving platters or special dishes for your recipes to be served on.
• Make a grocery list. Three days before, go through recipes, and make a grocery list of items you will need to buy. Be sure to check your pantry for items you may already have on hand.
• Invite the guests. Invitations should go out at least one week before the party, but two is always best so that your guests can save the date. Send mailed invitations if you're feeling fancy, but email, phone calls, or texts work perfectly fine for a more casual affair.

The Food

• How to shop. Make a list of all the ingredients and amounts you don't have and need to buy. List them by the sections in your grocery store for a more efficient shopping trip (produce, dairy, meat).
• When to shop. Shop for fresh ingredients (meat, cheeses, fresh produce, dairy) up to two days before the dinner party. Pick up bread and any seafood the day of the party to ensure freshness.
• Rule of thumb for serving meat (as the main course). If you have a few small side dishes, you'll need 1/2 pound (8 ounces) per person. If the side dishes are more substantial, then you can get away with 1/3 pound (5-8 ounces).
• When in doubt, buy more. If you're unsure of the amount to buy. It's always better to have extra than not enough. You can always include that ingredient in a recipe for a family dinner later in the week.

Photo: Armelle Blog

Staying on a Budget

• See what you have. Check your pantry for any ingredients you may have on hand.
• Shop the sale. Shop and set your menu around sale items at the grocery store. If they're having a sale on chicken, consider serving roasted chicken.
• Make a list and stick to it. The simpler you make your meal, the easier it will be for you to get it all done on time. Set your menu and stick to it. No buying extras.
• Borrow. If you do not have the right serving dishes or linen, see if you can borrow from a friend.
• Collect white serving dishes. White serving dishes never go out of style, and you can use them over and over for any party. 
• Use what you have. Look around the house for centerpiece vessels and outside for foliage or flowers you can make an arrangement with.

Photo: Armelle Blog

Centerpieces

• Take your table to the next level. Fresh flowers are always a beautiful way to take your table to the next level. Buy inexpensive flowers from the market and arrange them nicely.
• Short and sweet. Keep arrangements under 12 inches high so your guests can see across the table.
• Do it the day of. Try to buy and arrange your fresh flowers no more than one day before the event, or ideally the day of to ensure a fresh-looking arrangement.
• Wrap it up. If you want a sleeker look, pick up a banana leaf and wrap it around the inside of the vase.
• Light it up. Candles are another great way to bring a nice ambiance to the dinner.

Photo: Armelle Blog

One Day Before the Party

• Clean the house one to two days before.  Make sure the bathroom is tidy and well-stocked with clean hand towels and toilet paper for guests. Vacuum, dust, and spot clean all rooms you will be entertaining your guests in.
• Set the table. One or two days before, set the table. This will help you take inventory of any serving dishes, linens, and utensils you may need to find or wash.
• Add special touches. While setting the table, set up personal name cards or menus if you want to go the extra mile.

The Day of the Party.

• Clean up as you go. Put things away as you're putting on the finishing touches. Wash dishes or run the dishwasher ahead of time so the party starts with an empty dishwasher ready for easy cleanup.
• Empty your trash. Start with an empty trash and have liners ready to go for when your trash gets full.
• Shower ahead of time. Avoid finding yourself un-showered or undressed 15 minutes before the party.
• Time it perfectly. Pay attention to what the recipes say. If it says serve immediately, time your dish to do your finishing touches then. If your roast needs to rest for ten minutes after you take it out of the oven, then pull it out of the oven just before your guests arrive, so it will have the time to rest before you carveand serve. 

Party Time 

• Relax. Take a minute to sit down and relax. Your guests will pick up on your stress and it will set the tone for the party. Try to stay relaxed and cheerful. Allow your guests to help with any last minute details.
• Create a beautiful ambiance. Have music on when your guests arrive, and be sure to light your candles if you have them on your table. If the dinner party is at night, dim the lights and set out candles.
• Set out an appetizer and a drink. If you're still working on some items and are waiting for all the guests to arrive, this gives guests something to munch on and drink in the meantime.
• Don't overdo it. Avoid setting out too many appetizers, or your guests may not save room for the main course and desserts!

Photo: Armelle Blog

Foolproof Recipes

Stick with what you know when it comes to dinner party recipes! But if you need a new option, try one of my favourite (and family-tested) dishes.​

• Lemon-Limeade with Herbs
• Strawberry and Honey Ricotta Crostini
• Pork Tenderloin with Spice Rub
• Creme Brulee with Fresh Berries