Whether you’re a seasoned gourmand, have a personal chef at home, or are new to hosting entirely, a dinner party is an excellent way to bring family and friends together to celebrate the joys of cuisine. From drinks to dessert, planning out a dinner party can be daunting. With careful preparation, execution, and a well-chosen wine (or other libation), hosting your dinner party can be transformed from a hectic chore to an exciting adventure to let your taste and design shine.
Choosing a Dish
The first big decision to make when hosting a dinner party is the dish you are going to serve. With so many different options in cuisine and ingredients, there are countless items to set in front of your guests. To narrow down the choices, the first thing that should be confirmed are any food allergies or diet requirements guests may have. Common allergies like peanuts, lactose, or gluten are always a good place to start. Some guests may not eat meat or seafood, and others still may simply dislike particular ingredients. All of these dietary requirements are important to remember and will be paramount to making your dinner party a success.
Food Pairings
Once diets have been noted, common food pairings are another fantastic place to start. Classics always go well, such as steak and potatoes, juicy hamburgers, or vegetable soups. A round meal should include at least a main dish and a side dish that complement each other, though creativity always has room in the kitchen! Experimenting with unique food pairings can lead your palate to fascinating and memorable dishes that will leave your guests begging for seconds.
Beverage Pairings
Finally, the beverage you serve alongside your dish can elevate your meal to the next level. Often, dinners will start with an aperitif, a drink that gets guests ready to eat. Usually aperitifs are marked by their dry and light profile. After the aperitif, the main course should be served with a delicious, more hearty drink. Whether it’s beer, soda, wine, or a mixed drink, what you serve alongside your main dish can help to bring complexity and depth to the plate..
Red wine, for example, is commonly served alongside steaks. Beers and margaritas might find their place at a taco night. While these pairings commonly complement each other, it’s most important to choose what you like! A drink that you dislike won’t taste good, no matter how well it is “supposed” to pair.
If your guests cannot drink alcohol for any reason, there are many alternate offerings in market shelves today. Non-alcoholic beers and wines still taste great, and there is a large variety of flavored seltzers that can bring a refreshing, bubbly kick to a dinner table without too much extra sugar or flavor.
More Than Just Food
The dinner part of a dinner party is only half the battle. To host an excellent dinner party, careful attention also has to be paid to the ambiance of the event. The environment should reflect the type of dinner you are serving, and vice-versa.
Often, the first step to setting the mood is the decor. This includes the location where guests are eating, the table setting, and even the lighting of the space. Dining rooms or halls lend themselves to quieter, more intimate gatherings while eating communally in the living room, or near the grill outside can encourage guests to be energetic and mingle with each other. The dining ware can also indicate what kind of food people will be eating, allowing them to wonder and prepare for the food before it even hits the table.
Lighting is a special touch that can add a lot of personality to the event. Food tends to look best in warm lighting, softening the glare of bright plates and shiny glasses. Cool lighting can make food look washed out and unappetizing to many guests. Furthermore, the lighting can affect the mood of your dinner party, with warm lighting granting a cozier feel, while cool lighting may impart more energy or excitement to the function.
Behind it all, music plays a big role when hosting a dinner party. Pay attention to your guests’ music tastes, as well as the dish you are serving for them. Softer music, such as classical piano or smooth jazz, caters to a more upscale feeling. More energetic music, such as electronic or rock music, can take focus of the dinner party away from the food and towards the people, encouraging guests to spend more time with each other.
In the end, hosting a dinner party is a phenomenal way to bring people together, and shouldn’t be complicated into a difficult task. Through careful planning of dishes, drinks, and decor, your dinner party will be a night to remember.
