Planning a dinner party follows an old rule of thumb:
1. Who (is coming to dinner)
2. What (will you be serving)
3. When (will the dinner bell ring)
4. Where (do we set the table)
Simple, right? Let's take these one at a time.
First Things First - Who's Coming to Dinner?
The first thing you need to do is determine WHO will be attending. This is a must because it will determine WHAT you will be serving.
You need to ask the invitees what food preferences they have, if they’re vegetarians, anything that someone CAN’T have (case in point – people allergic to nuts or certain spices and herbs can have a bad reaction if you use it in your meal).
For your first dinner party, you may want to invite 6 to 8 people.
This is a manageable number. Enough to have an entertaining evening while it still feels personal.
Also, most recipes you come across prepare for 4, 6 or 8 people, so it will be less confusing . . .
Note: Although you want your dinner party to be elegant, it doesn’t need to be formal. This is the other reason I suggest you invite all friends (or family) to your first party.
Tip: For your first dinner party, invite people you know and can be comfortable around. It will keep you loose and you'll get more honest feedback. Very important information for your next party.
So What Do I make?
Once you have made your guest list, start asking them about preferences, likes and dislikes. It's just as important to know what NOT to make as what TO make.
Now, take all this information and sit down with a piece paper and a pen. Start on your menu!
First, you must determine what main course you will serve. This is important because it will help you choose an appetizer, soup and/or salad, side dishes, desserts, drinks etc.
Let me go through one of my first menus with you so you can get an idea of how I planned the entire dinner (You will notice that the items on the menu follow the same general motif – Italian. You should ensure that this is the case when you plan your menu.):
Tip: If you know there are certain things you can make, steer them in that direction. For example, I love to make homemade lasagna (or anything with an Italian gravy (sauce)). Once again, this will put you in your comfort zone. Ycan experiment with new dishes some other time.
Appetizer
Focaccia Bread with Tomatoes
Salad
Green Leaf with Arrugala,
Mushrooms and Tomato
Main Course
Steak Pizziaola
Italian Broccoli
Dinner Rolls
Dessert
Black Forrest Cheesecake
and Banana Crunch Cake
For the main course, I decided on Steak Pizziaola.
This dish prepares quickly and with minimal attention, so you can spend time with your guests.
Also, it sounds elegant, looks delicious, tastes wonderful and offers many choices for the accompanying dishes.
Don’t forget - the idea for a dinner party is to spend time with your friends and maybe impress that special someone with your ability . . . Making the whole affair look effortless REALLY goes a long way in the "impressed" department.
Part of the planning process includes your table. Make sure you have everything you need. This is why planning plays an important role.
If you know what you’re going to serve and how many guests there will be, then you will know what you need for your table.
With that said, why don’t we start with . . . Table Setting
