HOSTING A FABULOUS DINNER PARTY
- mya625
- Apr 18
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Have you ever hosted a dinner party and found yourself trapped in the kitchen, sweating over the stove while your guests made small talk in the living room? You are not alone. It happened to me on my first few dinners, and if I’m not careful, it could happen again, even after years of successes. Throwing a dinner party can sometimes feel like running a mini-restaurant, minus the professional staffers, a top-notch Maitre D, and sometimes even Michelin stars. But guess what? You can host a fabulous soirée without morphing into a stressed-out weed. Yes, really. And I’m going to tell you how.
Start with a Plan
I love planning dinner parties, especially because it’s relatively easy to impress your guests with just a little advance planning. Of course, the perfectly coordinated centerpieces, dinner plates that look like works of art, amuses bouches and a live singer in the background, would impress just about anyone, but trust mee, you can achieve all of this, plus an amazing meal, by simplifying the process and adding inexpensive, but impressive, personal touches that will make your guests’ mouths drop.
Start by deciding if you want the evening to be themed or just an intimate dinner with friends. If you go with the theme, look around your house to see what you have that a theme could be built around. I love gold accents and at Christmas time I keep my eyes open, as there are usually many such items on sale. Every year I add new serving plates, bowls, etc. etc. (gold, of course). to my collection during the holidays, then use them throughout the year to create beautiful and unique dinner tables.
Scheduling
Because it’s dinner you usually think you can pull it off in one day. That may be true, (if you’re super woman) but for a dinner party to impress, most of us need a week or more to plan and execute. If you take care of small tasks days, or weeks, in advance, which sometimes includes preparing, refrigerating and sometimes even freezing some dishes, it will take away a lot of the pressure of getting everything done on the day your guests arrive.
An example of a timeline for an out-of-this-world dinner party might be:
Two Weeks Before
Plan the theme. Visit Pinterest for inspiration. Wouldn’t your guests be impressed with an appetizer like the one below? Easy.
It came from Pinterest, and is very easy and inexpensive to make. It only consists of cream cheese, smoked salmon and caviar. But here’s a little secret, I use Black Lumpfish caviar instead of wild sturgeon caviar and sometimes pair it with blinis, instead of wrapped like above, and no one has ever called me on it. After all, who doesn’t like to brag that they had caviar at a friend’s dinner party?
Easy preparation: Warm the blinis, put a piece of smoked salmon and a dollop of Boursin cheese or cream cheese on top and finish off with a teaspoon of caviar.
Research what you have at home that can be used for the special event, from napkins, to chargers, to wine glasses (you’d be surprised how many of these items can be found at rock-bottom prices during the holidays.
Design your table on paper. Below is a diagram of the proper place settings for upscale dinners. Of course, you can adapt it to the dishes and beverages you are serving.
Be sure to check Pinterest for inspirational ideas for table design.
Borrow items from friends who may have some of the serving dishes/accents you’re looking for.
Order items online or pick up at a store near you. As is often the case, you can find some of the best deals on Amazon.
10 Days Before
Create a menu to impress. Consult Bon Appetit or other haute cuisine magazine or search for a special dish you may have eaten in a favorite restaurant. Surprisingly, they often post their recipes on the internet (I’ve often wondered if they keep a secret ingredient.
This is my favorite cookbook for special dinners, and the recipes therein, never cease to impress! Las Vegas has some of the most amazing restaurants in the world and chefs like Michael Mina and Wolfgang Puck have graced this edition of Personal Favorites, The Chefs of Las Vegas with some of their favorites.
Make a grocery shopping list.
Research stores in your area to make sure they have what you need and ask if there is a better day to purchase depending on arrivals.
Make table cards for your guests. Nothing easier and classier. You can put them together in Powerpoint or other graphic program or even handwrite them on pre-cut cards, which adds a special touch of elegance. Either way they will be even more elegant in an inexpensive holder and you can effortlessly put people together who you think will click.
1 Week Before
Purchase all non-perishable groceries.
Print your recipes and put in plastic sleeves, to avoid soiling while cooking.
Plan your music, enlist help with this one if it’s not your forté, one less thing to worry about.
Plan the timeline of the evening. It’s the only way you can avoid running over on time and serving dessert at midnight.
3 Days Before
Take out all your serving dishes and label them with sticky notes as to what is to be served in them. Also note any cooking directions or info to remember before setting the completed dish on the table. You don’t want to forget something that would have really made a difference, in the excitement of the preparations.
Do your last minute shopping for perishable items today and tomorrow.
1 Day Before
Set the red wine out and make sure you have a wine opener that works properly.
Get your wine buckets ready.
Buy bags of ice.
Go over every single detail and pretend like your party is tonight so you can do as much as possible in advance.
The Day Of
Set the table and cover everything with clean towels.
Start preparing dishes.
Confirm that the music is set.
Send someone to the store to pick up any last minute items you might have forgotten.
3 Hours Before
Everything should be done (I use the word loosely, because it never is).
REST! Sit down and relax your mind and body and prepare for an evening to impress.
2 Hours Before
· Take a relaxing shower and get yourself ready to be the star of the evening.
30 Minutes Before
Be 100% ready to go. Invariably someone will arrive early and ask if they can help. I thank them for their kind offer, but never accept. For me it makes it even more hectic and if I can have a few minutes in the kitchen alone, it helps me keep things in perspective. Same goes for cleanup. I prefer to let the guests enjoy every aspect of the experience and all the effort I put into it, and not worry about anything else. If you’re lucky you can organize and even rinse a few dishes as the evening progresses so there won’t be as much to do at the end.
Is the Menu Manageable?
Over the years I have mastered some of my favorite dishes (the main ones from Personal Favorites, The Chefs of Las Vegas, referenced above, and they comprise my go-to menu when guests come over for a first-time special dinner treat. Below is one of my curated menus and you can click the link below to download detailed recipes.
Friendly reminder: The menu above and the required tasks to make it happen may have your head spinning, but will really blow your guests away. The last thing you want however, is to overwhelm yourself and be so stressed at the dinner that you can’t enjoy itr.
Unless this is something you really love, or think you can grow to love, you don’t have to attempt a such an aggressive plan the first time around. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, but trust me, your guests would rather see you relaxed and smiling than witness your meltdown over an overcooked main course.
Ideas to make the dinner planning easier on yourself.
One Showstopper Dish: Choose one special recipe, like a slow-cooker beef stew or a colorful veggie lasagna, that can be prepped ahead of time. Make that your star.
Easy Sides: Complement your main with simple sides that require minimal fuss, think roasted vegetables, a fresh salad, or even artisanal bread.
Set the Stage for Grazing: A well-curated cheese or charcuterie board can double as both appetizer and conversation starter. Who doesn’t love nibbling on brie while discussing the pros and cons of pineapple on pizza?
Create an Ambiance that Sings (But Not too Loudly)
Ever walked into a party and felt instantly at ease? That’s the power of ambiance. It’s not just about dimming the lights and lighting a candle or two, though that certainly helps.
Lighting: Soft, warm lights can turn any living space into a cozy, welcoming haven. Swap out harsh overhead bulbs for lamps, fairy lights, or even flameless candles if you want to avoid open flames.
Music: Set up a mellow playlist that matches your theme. If it’s a laid-back evening, try some jazz or easy-listening music. Just keep the volume low enough so your guests don’t have to shout across the caviar.
Seating: If you can, arrange seating so everyone can see and talk to each other. Nobody wants to feel like they’re banished to the kids’ table (unless, of course, they want to avoid adult conversation and indulge in silly jokes).
Laugh off the Little Disasters
Let’s face it: even the best-laid plans can go hilariously awry. Maybe the dog decides to sample the appetizers, or you realize you forgot to buy napkins. These moments are the stuff of party legends, not catastrophes. Remember our theory of Imperfection? It applies here as well. Embrace the chaos. Spill some sauce on your shirt? Make a joke about it. Burn the rolls? Offer your guests “charcoal buns” with a wink.
Your guests are there to enjoy your company, not to judge your culinary prowess. If they wanted a flawless, drama-free evening, they’d watch a carefully edited cooking show on TV. The occasional mishap simply adds flavor to the night.
Remember, you’re the host, not the hired help. Once the main course is in the oven or simmering on the stove, pour yourself a drink and mingle. Ask your guests questions, share a laugh, and don’t let yourself become the missing person everyone wonders about. After all, the best part of hosting a dinner party is connecting with the people you care about. By planning ahead, keeping the menu simple, and allowing yourself to delegate and laugh off the inevitable hiccups, you’ll create an evening everyone will remember, and enjoy.
So go ahead—light those candles, turn on the music, and let the good times roll. Because at the end of the day, a fabulous dinner party is less about perfect plating and more about the warm memories you create. Happy hosting!
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