How to Host a Dinner Party, the Right Way!
There's always a party house in every family. The house that throws the best barbecues, dinner parties, and spontaneous game nights. You name it, it all happens at that one house. THAT house was always Xiomara's (my mom) house! My mother is the queen of parties and is known as the hostess with the mostest in my family. She's an expert and has been killing the party game for as long as I can remember. Brunch, birthday dinners, and holidays- she executes all of them flawlessly. How does she do it? She plans, preps, and makes sure there's enough time in the schedule for her to get ready. Candles being lit and merengue playing meant the house was ready for guests and it was time to get ready before they arrived. Her pet peeve? The house being in total chaos when people arrive. So she made sure that everything was all set beforehand. The time worked perfectly and she always looked effortless and beautiful. You'd never know she was slaving the night before and day-of. She's a true expert and every time I see her in action, I stare in awe.
So you see, dinner parties are in my blood. It took a while for me to master the skill but I finally have it down. All with help from Xiomara. Before that, I was a chicken with no head. Things would burn from rushing, the guests would arrive while I was still in my dirty cooking clothes, and the kitchen would be an awful mess. By the end of it, I'd be exhausted with little to no energy to entertain. I still remember my mother's calm voice saying "It's all in the planning" after a dinner party fail. She was right! With planning, prep time, and cleaning you too can get to expert level status. Stick to the plan and you'll be smooth sailing with little stress. Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, you name it! These tips and tricks will have you looking like a pro.
THE PREPARATION
Make sure you've cleaned your kitchen! All of the dishes should be put away and your sink should be empty. You'll need to fill it up with dirty dishes as the night comes to a close. Let's remove as much stress from your night as we can.
Take out the garbage- the garbage will also fill up by the end of the night and you'll want to avoid having to empty it out while you're entertaining guests. Drinking wine and socializing is way better than trash duty.
Plan your menu. Plan out your theme and begin creating your menu. Plan the meal for the number of guests that are attending. If you're inviting more than ten, make this dinner party a 'potluck' of sorts. Put yourself in charge of the main dish and assign everyone a dish that goes with the theme. Less than ten guests? Create a menu that involves one protein, a carb, and a vegetable. Want to make your life even easier? Make a one pot dish like Pasta and pair with a nice Arugula salad. All they care about is wine anyways.
Plan your cocktails & beverage options. Going overboard and offering a bunch of drink options is unnecessary. I like to offer one white wine and one red wine option. For ease- Serve a featured cocktail all night. Sangria works great for this. Serve in a drink dispenser and add some flare with colored straws and fruit additions.
Prepare as many dishes as you can ahead of time to make the night of a breeze.
Bring out all of your serving dishes and have them ready for use!
Pro tip: Pre-make dessert as well (I will usually do this the night before). If it’s a chilled dessert, even better. But if it’s a dessert that requires baking, prep as much as you can ahead of time and pop in the oven when people are done with dinner. Store bought also works! They’ll never know.
SETTING THE TABLE
Keep it simple but add personal touches to your table setting!
FLORALS. An underwhelming flower arrangement is basic and lacks that wow factor. You want to make sure your guests are fed but also want them to enjoy a beautiful table setting. Creating an experience is key! Instead of one small arrangement in the center of the table, fill the space with multiple arrangements or a long garland. For budget-friendly decor, add single roses to bud vases across the table.
LIGHTING, LIGHTING, LIGHTING! Set the mood. Create a vibe. People love to linger around "warm" well-lit areas. Layer soft lighting in different corners of your dining area. Add candlesticks, votives, and even battery lit tea light candles to create a warm atmosphere. You want the room to glow when the lights are dim.
TIMELINE OF THE PARTY
I love filling dinner parties with activities. From the start to finish, you want your guests laughing and having a great time. That way, they’ll be sure to leave saying that your dinner parties are the best!
Start with appetizers—a simple cheese plate is never a disappointment. I like to make a simple crostini recipe that I pair alongside a charcuterie board. Who doesn't love bread? And cheese- an added bonus! Keep your guests happy with some wine/cocktails to enjoy with their cheese.
During appetizer time, warm up the dishes you prepped earlier and time them to be ready right before dinner. Guests shouldn’t be made to wait longer than thirty to forty-five minutes.
After dinner and dessert, have a game for your guests to partake in. Card and board games work great for dinner parties. This completely depends on your crowd, but we love Cards Against Humanity, Heads Up, and the best of them all- Taboo!
OVERALL, ENJOY!
There is nothing better than gathering your friends together for a fun night! Sit back and relax, and enjoy these moments with them around the dinner table!
After the night has ended pat yourself on the back. YOU KILLED IT!