Last Updated on September 6, 2024
As dinner parties are once again de rigueur, hosting one can be a daunting thought. But there are some things that can help your ‘kitchen supper’ (also the new nom du jour for dinner party) go off without a hitch.
Decide who to invite
Firstly, decide who to invite. Four to six guests always work well and try for an even number. It’s best to invite people who know each other to avoid any awkward silences – at least for your first foray into hosting anyway.
Give guests three weeks-notice, any longer and they tend to start dropping out, any shorter and they might have something else in their diary.And Fridays and Saturdays are the best evenings to host a dinner party.
Craft your menu
Once you’ve decided on your guests (and they’ve hopefully RSVP’d) you can start thinking about menu ideas. Tapas are modern dishes to create, and it also means you can cater more easily for vegetarians, vegans and fussy-eaters.
If you are thinking of cooking a main dish, now is not the time to get creative. Cook something you know you can do and can time to perfection so you’re not feeling stressed before guests arrive.
Prep the day before
Avoid that frazzled feeling by prepping the day before your dinner party. Giving rooms a quick clean and tidy will make all the difference, and make sure there’s enough toilet roll in the bathrooms too!
Invest in reed diffusers instead of scented candles for dinner parties. They’re more subtle at fragrancing a space and are much safer than an unattended candle.
Providing enough seating is an essential part of hosting a dinner party. Having stools in the kitchen is a relaxed and informal way to host whilst you’re preparing the food. And allows you to interact with guests before sitting down, instead of feeling separate from all the action.
Have fun!
Hosting a dinner party is about spending time with friends in the comfort of your own home. Find a great dinner party playlist, and let the drinks flow. Who cares if supper is later than planned, or someone dropped out last minute, and the crème brûlée is more burnt than you intended! Your friends aren’t expecting Michelin Star quality food, they too just want to have a good time – and leave by midnight. Afterall, nothing good happens after midnight!
