Dinner Party Tips from 15 Genius Hosts

Cup of Jo had an article some time ago that I cannot find – help! Does anyone remember an article about someone in a neighborhood hosting a party, and there being new people in the neighborhood. The host sent out the invitation with a bunch of questions that people should come prepared to answer (or ask?) and it was either an ice breaker, or people had to guess at the answers? It was brilliant and I am hoping to find it again. Thank you!!

Real memories are made with delicious food, a thoughtful and beautiful set table and genuine, caring friends. I entertain almost every week and have learned the trick is in the planning, or in the mise en place. Like anything worthwhile, entertaining takes practice and a bit of organization. Plan a menu that is comfortable for your cooking ability, prepare as much as possible in advance, set the table the night before, take out all serving dishes, plates, utensils well beforehand (and label them), open wines before guests arrive, and most of all make a list outlining what needs to be done and when–timing is key and I always work backwards from the time I want everyone to sit down for dinner.

This past December, my parents hosted me, my boyfriend and his mom and step-dad and dad and step-mom. They get along relatively well but there was still some awkward tension. Then my parents had the great idea at the dinner table to ease the tension. Everyone had to each choose their favourite christmas song and tell us why they liked it. and then we would listen to it. We ended up going around the table for two hours and it turned into everyone picking different songs (not just Christmas) and it was HILARIOUS and everyone relaxed!!!

My great aunt made the best, easiest, I-can’t-tell-exactly-how-she-made-this-but-it’s-amazing dessert:

Line a jelly roll pan with ice cream sandwiches. Poke with a skewer all over. Pour a decent amount of Kahlua (or Bailey’s, if you prefer) over them.

Cover with whipped cream or Cool Whip, and freeze for a few hours to let the flavors meld.

Topped with toasted sliced almonds just before serving, and slice into whatever size portions you wish.

It sounds so simple, but tastes really fancy and like it has way more complicated ingredients!

Thank you! I was almost not going to read this article because I was afraid if feel overwhelmed. These are really helpful, practical tips! And I love hearing people’s different perspectives.

Just came across this tips, and they are awesome too-
http://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/holidays/article/thanksgiving-pregame

My mother in law (who lives in California) frequently makes grilled veggies drizzled with olive oil, grilled steak or chicken and a big, beautiful salad. So simple and laid back but delicious and impressive when done well!

I find that its good to have a few go to desserts, that can be made ahead that way you only really need to worry about the dinner prep side of things!
My favourite deserts are:
http://erin-marees-antics.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/best-ever-loaded-brownies.html Served with ice cream and maybe a nice chocolate or caramel sauce
http://erin-marees-antics.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/flourless-chocolate-cake-with-almond.html Served with cream or ice cream and fresh berries.
Both of the above can be made ahead and frozen if required plus don’t take much time to prepare.
I also love getting guests involved with the food prep side of things, I will often do pizza nights and prepare everything (dough, sauce, cheese grated and toppings chopped) before people arrive and start making the pizza 15 minutes before people are due to come and when they rock up they get involved and it prevents any of that awkward stage and its fun to do.
For an easy drink I mix sparkling mineral water with lemonade and fresh lemon slices, its refreshing, not overly sweet and looks great in a clear jug.

Have a BBQ! That’s definitely the way here in the Southern Hemisphere, followed by a dip or something :) Easy, casual and the men could do all the cooking! haha!

I love to cook and like the idea of a dinner party, but my house is tiny. We don’t have a formal dining room, and only one living room with limited seating, so I don’t want to cram my friends in. We usually limit our hosting to the warmer months when we’re able to utilize the backyard as well. I wish we could host year round, but I don’t know how to remedy the feeling of confined quarters.

In Greece we regularly received bottles of wine as entertaining or welcome gifts. Ironically the plainer the bottle, the better it typically is! The home made stuff (which is AMAZING) actually comes in liter-sized water bottles :)

We had an impromptu dinner party the other night. I made four cheese pizzas -everyone was happy (one without sauce). It was 4 adults and seven boys! Everyone had a great time!

Thank God my fiancé is a master at timing everything so that the meat always comes out perfect – because I am about 10 years away from mastering that skill! Between the 1 yr old running around and my large pregnant belly, this thanksgiving I am doing as much as I can the night before and then letting him deal with the bird! Love these tips!!

xoxo http://www.touchofcurl.com

These are great tips. And perfectly timed since I’m planning to host a Friendsmas in December. The best piece of advice I’d have for a dinner party is to not serve any new recipes. It really cuts down on the stress. As for what to bring to a dinner party, I always ask the host the day of if they need me to bring anything specific. That way if they realize last minute they forgot to pick up cheese for the cheese plate or whatever else I can save them the hassle of having to run back out.

I love dinner parties because I love good company and food. When I host parties, I like to serve food family style as it feels more intimate. My tip for hosts is to be aware of all your guests and make them feel included. I’ve been to some parties where friend’s partners are unintentionally ignored because friends have their own in jokes and memories.

I like Ina Garten’s tip of wearing slippers to make guests feel more comfortable.

My first dinner party decades ago was Hamburger Helper lasagna, so I think I’ve got you beat, J. I’ve been through the whole Martha perfection stage and am now in my Ina just-roll-with-it stage. It is great fun to serve simple, seasonal food. I have a large outdoor garden and my all time favorite is to set one long huge table and while my husband grills steaks and salmon, I slice a dozen gigantic heirloom tomatoes, plop a few balls of burrata on the platter, drizzle with olive oil and place that platter and a few crisp baguettes and cold butter on the table. A week before I would have made chocolate chip cookies and a few days before the gathering I would have put vanilla or coffee ice cream in between two, wrapped in waxed paper, and put back in the freezer. I bring out the ice cream sandwiches sometime after dinner when folks are still enjoying the table conversation. The children run free and climb trees and I don’t worry about their sticky fingers. A galvanized tub of ice with plenty of sparkling beverages and white wine. Red on the table. I have a wonderful set of enamelware we use outside and I don’t hesitate to use my best white linen tablecloths and napkins. If I’m inspired to do an appetizer it’s often raw oysters and I let the guests who know how to shuck have at it. There is zero stress, we hose down the outdoor furniture the next morning, and every one is happy. To the readers who fear hosting…just do it! It becomes easier with practice and these parties are what you will remember all your life.

I don’t drink wine, so I never bring wine as a guest. I often bring olive oil, or a good loaf of bread with butter and sea salt, or a box of breakfast pastries so the host can have a great breakfast the next day.

I grew up in a family that never had very much money, or even that many friends, but they love to entertain and I learned at a young age the kinds of things that really pleased and excited guests.

It’s definitely not necessary to spend tons of money, and I learned that the hard way when I left college and started hosting dinner parties on my own. So much money I spent that I didn’t have! I think the tips listed here are so great, particularly when it comes to serving good drinks and having food available right away. Here are a few things I would add…

– It seems obvious, but always be sure you have enough places for everyone to sit. I can’t tell you the amount of dinner parties I’ve been to at friends houses where everyone was sitting on the floor, because there were enough seats for maybe two people. That’s fine when you’re in college, but if you don’t have enough couch or table space for more than six people, then don’t try to throw a dinner party for 12.
– This sort of goes off of the tip about buying extra wine, mentioned above, but I think the same goes for food. Always make sure you make more than enough, and that may mean sticking to a simple pasta dish, or large couscous salad, or something else that can easily be made in bulk. Those things tend to keep her really well for the next few days, and it’s worth spending a little extra to make sure that guests don’t finish one serving and then have nothing left to eat.
– Joanna has written posts about this before, but I think it bears repeating: always have your bathroom stocked with toilet paper, and a plunger. A lovely scented candle, or an odor spray is also essential. There’s nothing worse than being a guest at someone’s house and being stranded with a disaster in the bathroom!
– This should go without saying, but I’m embarrassed to admit how many friends I have that don’t abide by this rule: NEVER EVER EVER ask your guests to reimburse you, or contribute monetarily to your dinner party. It’s one thing if you decide to open it up for people to bring some beer or wine, or if the type of dinner party you’re having opens it up for a family member or friend to contribute a dish or an appetizer, but if you decide to throw a party and you pick the menu, the cost is all on you. If you can’t afford to host your friends, then don’t.

We are a big fan of stew with homemade bread as the main- most of the work for both is done hours before, and its a nice cozy meal. We start with cheese and/or salad and end with dessert (usually we outsource this or do a good make-ahead like chocolate pudding- yes I usedCup of Jos recipe for this at least once!). I agree on the goal of a relaxed host/hostess!

I’m definitely going to start using these suggestions at my next dinner party! And coincidentally, we’re having a non-traditional Thanksigiving dinner this year and plan to serve bo ssam!

This post is so timely! I’m actually hosting my first “real” dinner party this weekend, and I was inspired to do so after reading the “Friday Night Meatballs” article which you once linked to in weekend links :)