From the beginning of this article, I would like to point out that when having people over at your house, whatever the case is, the way you will welcome them as well as the atmosphere you create, plays a major role in to how the night will evolve. Even the slightest failure or mistake concerning the food, can be unnoticed, if the environment is warm and pleasant for all your guests.
- The way in which both the house and the table are decorated, will show off you style and personality. So, express yourself freely and spontaneously and create a scene, shooting the occasion. Fresh flowers, correct lighting and some soft playing music at the back will uplift the scenery. A table cloth of your choice is necessary not only for presentation reasons as for health reasons too. Some prefer cloth placemats or straw, which I think is a great suggestion for a more informal dinner. Avoid combining plastic placemats with crystal glasses or one-use utensils with embroidered tablecloths. The decorations should definitely be different depending on whether your sitting down at a table or offering a buffet to your guests.
- In the first case, all necessary utensils should be on the table: wine glasses, others for water or liqueur, silverware for both the first and second course, double or triple plates, napkins etc. you can decorate the center of the table with fresh flowers or a round mirror or a glass base on top of which you will be placing small and bigger candlesticks. In plenty of stores, you can also find decorations such as little stars and rocks, ribbons and seashells, that will help you decorate your table in an easy and cheap way. Choose similar color tones between your décor so that the final product is cohesive. You can also choose to decorate this way if you are serving a buffet.
- When it comes to the second case of the buffet, the table can already be set with all utensils, plates glasses, silverware etc. on one side, usually the front one. Toy can have some décor in the middle of the table while the rest of it has nothing on and once your guests fill their plates, you can add on the table some bread or a cheese plater, salads or even some appetizers. It is also often that we choose to bring out the company’s favorite food a little later. When having a buffet, it’s good to make sure to have extra silverware and plates, so that in case our guests want to have more food or change they flavors they were tasting, there are clean utensils available.
- Don’t ruse to serve the next dish especially when not having a buffet, so that your guests have time to enjoy your cooking and clear their taste a bit before moving to the next dish you’ve prepared.
- Make sure the menu you choose is cohesive when it comes to its main ingredients. For example fish is a great combination with legume or serial salads, meat with vegetable and cheese appetizers. To be more exact, I would suggest that you avoid ham and cheese pies as a first course, when your main one is a shrimp risotto. With this recipe a great combo would be zucchini pancakes with salmon which is both easy and matches the taste of shrimps.
- I suggest that you portrait your own personality to the dinner and avoid copying menus you’ve tasted before by others. It’s always nice to enjoy pies with greens at Mary’s with her thin homemade crust and traditional delicious smelling soutzoukakia at Kathryn’s. it doesn’t mean that since Costas is great at making sushi I should be cooking the same when he comes at my house. Make a difference with your style and enjoy the process. This to me is the way to happiness.
- I also suggest that you avoid cooking a recipe you have never tried before. This will only make you feel nervous and might be the reason of a failed dinner gathering. Choose recipes you have tried making and tasted before yourselves. Besides, simplicity and quality ingredients are two of the most fundamental elements to succeed when cooking.
- Try prepping as much as you can beforehand so that you won’t have to stay in the kitchen for long, when your guest are waiting in the living room or balcony. These are some of the preparations you could do:
- Raw salads ready in their bowls, wrapped in cooking membrane to remain fresh (without the dressing)
- Recipes that will bake in the oven, ready in the pots they are going to be baked in.
- When serving pasta or rice, the recipe has to be cooked right before serving or at least finish it right before serving. If its destined for your main course though, you could maybe prep it from the day before and finish by adding the final touches when your guests are ready to eat. Also, when it comes to Chinese food, the rice for example can be cooked even the day before. Right before offering it to your guest just fry it together with the rest of your ingredients and your delicious dish is ready.
- When cooking meat in a pot or the oven, you can let it cook slowly, if that’s what the recipe asks for, but when it comes to grilling it has to happen last. If you have a barbeque, you could marinate the meat. This way you don’t have to stay in the kitchen for long but enjoy the process of cooking the meat close to the barbeque together with your friends, drinking a beer or some wine.
- In most cases the desert can be ready from the day before or even two days before. In some cases, we even want that as they turn out even better. Usually though the guests bring different deserts with them. If that’s something that usually happens with your friends you could even risk it and don’t prepare one yourselves. That on you though.
- It’s always polite to offer more food but you don’t want to pressure your guests to have more or try something you noticed they avoided, as you don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
- Your genuine smile together with a nice appearance are necessary for a successful dinner. Even though you are in charge and thinking of a lot of things, try to enjoy the process of both cooking and spending time with your friends. Last but definitely not least, congratulate yourselves cause if it wasn’t for you this moments and memories wouldn’t have been created.
Note: one of the rooms that needs to be clean and ready to use when you are inviting people over is of course the bathroom. Clean towels and maybe some aromatic essence would make a great impression. You could also have some candles lit around the bathtub or mirror. Be careful though and especially if children will be using the bathroom, which in this case I wouldn’t recommend it, since you want to be safe
Broccoli soup with blue cheese
Adult birthday party for 4-8 people
Our “theme menus” and “tips” always have new additions to inspire and help you. Don’t hesitate to send me all your questions and comments, and I will be replying soon.
[…] could also read my “guest at home” article for more advice and […]