Dinnert Party – Part 1

Basic essentials for planning the perfect dinner party…

Well before the occasion, give yourself ample time to sit down with pen and paper and really start planning the dinner party. Consider essential points such as the following:

• What type of dinner party is this to be, casual or formal? Generally, casual or semi-formal dinner parties are better suited to the majority of domestic environments.
• What is the budget? Be realistic! Don’t try to impress by overspending – even with a fairly small budget and a little creativity, you can achieve fantastic results.
• How many guests? Again, be realistic! Never invite more than you are truly comfortable with. If you are hosting this on your own, or even with the help of a partner, keep it to a maximum 6 or 8 guests.
• Remember that YOU also want to enjoy this dinner party, so if necessary, be prepared to hire some help. If the budget allows, consider hiring Why Concepts Event Management, with a Personal Chef for the evening. Getting in a third party to facilitate the party or help you plan it can take a lot of stress and possible mistakes off you plate..(pun intended). Or if you prefer to do the cooking yourself, think about hiring a Butler who will discreetly take care of the entire service. But if you can’t afford to hire, and you are doing this alone, then enlist the help of a trusty friend or relative!
• PLAN THE MENU. Perhaps the most critical consideration when planning a dinner party is the Menu. Gourmet recipes do not have to be difficult or complicated
• Plan the wines and drinks. Give some special attention to matching the food and wine. Your local wine merchant is usually a great source for really good recommendations.
• Send out the invitations. For a more casual dinner party, a telephone call or email will suffice – but give your guests at least 2 weeks notice. Planning a dinner party successfully requires careful (and often tactful!) consideration of your guest list.
• Depending on how formal the dinner party is to be, it may be appropriate to specify a dress code for the evening.
• Make lists – one for shopping and one for jobs to do. Not only does this keep you on track, but it’s also very satisfying crossing things off!
• Visualise how you will serve each course and check to see that you have enough plates, dishes, bowls, cutlery etc.
• Consider the limitations of your kitchen & its equipment. Above all, take account of how much refrigeration space you have especially if you intend to do a lot of advance preparation.
• Plan ahead. Non-perishable foods can be purchased well in advance leaving only perishable foods to the last day. A great tip if you are short on time is to consider buying your groceries online and have them delivered.

You see, planning a dinner party is easy! With that completed, now let’s move to the last 24 hours……..and hosting the dinner party. Look out for the next blog entry to get some more advise.

Be inspired, have fun and enjoy the journey!