The perfect dinner party must not only feature delicious food and drinks, but it must offer a balance of both fun and elegance.
If you’re planning to invite friends and/or family over to enjoy various delicious dishes and great company, you’ll likely want them to have a fantastic time from beginning to end.
Impress every guest who enters your home by learning how to host a memorable dinner party.
Ask About Dietary Requirements
Ask your guests if they have any dietary requirements before a dinner party to cater to their needs.
Many of your guests could be gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, vegetarian, or vegan.
By asking about their diet in advance, you can avoid serving them a meal that will trigger an allergic reaction or that’s against their principles.
Balance Your Dishes
Rather than providing your guests with a mix of the best dishes you can whip up in the kitchen, aim to find the right balance of textures and flavours.
For example, a cheese quiche starter followed by a main of homemade steak pie and tarte tatin for dessert will be far too much pastry and stodge for your guests to handle.
Instead, pick a cuisine theme, such as Italian or Chinese, and aim to find a balance of dishes that will linger on their tongue.
Prep as Much as Possible
Avoid stress during a dinner party by prepping as many courses as possible in advance.
The more tasks you complete before a dinner party, the easier it will be to serve dishes to your loved ones.
Plus, you’ll be able to spend more time in their company and less time in the kitchen.
Set a Beautiful Table
A beautiful dining table is bound to wow every guest and make them excited for the many courses ahead.
Make your friends and/or family members feel like a VIP by laying down a high-quality tablecloth, which should be complemented by an eye-catching centrepiece.
You also should ditch worn out knives, forks and spoons and invest in Sheffield cutlery sets that will add a splash of elegance to your table.
Plus, Sheffield cutlery is dishwasher safe, so it can make cleaning up a doddle once a dinner party is over.
Play Soothing Music
Eating in silence could make your guests feel uncomfortable and eager for a dinner party to end. Rather than enduring many awkward silences, play music throughout the evening to help set the mood. However, avoid playing up-tempo songs and create a playlist of soothing music, such as David Gray or Amy Winehouse.
Avoid Complex Dishes
While you might want to impress your guests with your cooking skills, you should avoid complex dishes that could go wrong during a dinner party.
For example, avoid serving mini chocolate soufflés or individual beef wellingtons that can easily fail. Instead, cook delicious yet simple dishes that will explode onto your guests’ taste buds, such as one-pot meals, homemade cakes or healthy casseroles.
