Like all things, a good dinner party requires thought and planning. Don’t get too confident because there’s always that old Shakespearean quote about the “best laid schemes of mice and men that oft’ go a stray” to comfort you. You can never go wrong by planning ahead. Consider yourself a boy or girl-scout and be prepared. After all, the parents of one of them may very well be one of your dinner guests!
Spread the preparation for the party over the course of a few days. The more you do beforehand, the less you will have to do at the last minute and during the party. Tackle all that bad food in the fridge; face it and throw it out. Say goodbye to green cheese, blue sandwiches and gray vegetables. Make way for party food because it soon will be time to boogie! Organize the refrigerator so that separate shelves hold separate courses. Store ice water and other drinks on the door. Set the table as far ahead of time as you can, checking to make sure platters fit and linens are clean.
If you have a side-board, a dinner party is the perfect occasion to use it. Set it up with dessert dishes and the coffee service for a smooth transition between courses. Select and stack your choice of music next to your music station, remembering that low volume instrumentals are soothing and non- intrusive to table talk.
The outside door of the fridge can help you in your preparation plans as well. Hang a menu on it with those magnets you never use for anything and a check list to ensure there are no forsaken side dishes or lost buns. Use a kitchen timer as a reminder to stir a sauce, remove a pot or turn off a burner. (Just remember to write down on your check-list what the timer is timing or this will be no help at all.)
Remember above all, that like a good captain goes down with his sinking ship, it behooves a good party host or hostess to have a good time. After all, that’s what these parties are for, right?
Related Reading:
http://forums.families.com/easy-party-ideas,t36833