That time of the year has rolled around again, where for many of us, the pressure to entertain and see every single person we know before the end of the year is paramount.
The fundamental issue with entertaining and inviting people over to your place is that you spend much of the evening preparing and cooking rather than actually socialising with your guests, which can get tedious for the host.
Roccbox shares some tips on how to keep things low maintenance while still providing a great meal and experience.
Invite people over in relevant groups
Most of us have a few groups who we socialise with, our work friends, school friends, close friends and maybe partner’s friends. Hosting a dinner party is far more intimate than a party-party, so inviting people who you know will get along, entertain themselves and make friends easily with each other is a good way to take the pressure off you, especially if you are the one hosting and preparing.
Provide alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks
This is a no brainer really, at this time of year, unless they are pregnant you will find some guests will want a glass or two of wine. However, it is also good to accomodate for those who may want to lay off the alcohol so you should also offer a non-alcoholic punch.
Always offer your guest a drink when they arrive as having something in their hands is a good way to help them get comfortable. You may have noticed that a lot of people will cross their arms or hold their handbag in front of themselves when entering a new place or meeting new people. This is a natural barrier that people use while they are setting in, or when they are uncomfortable. The drink allows them to have that barrier while they settle in.
Prepare in advance
Aim to have the salads made and refrigerated, the cheese platter organised and snacks and dessert organised in advance. The hot food may be a little harder as you want to keep it warm, but as long as everything is marinated and ready to go it will save a lot of time and pressure once your guests arrive.
You can consider serving pizza as there are many benefits. For starters, it doesn’t make much mess so it is very easy to clean up afterwards. Everyone likes it, especially now that gluten free dough is available.
Try getting your guests involved. Cut up a bunch of toppings, make the dough in advance and get them to make their own so you can have a bit of a ‘cook off’. A little friendly competition is a great conversation starter.
Set a theme
Having a few ornaments and colours is a great way to add a festive flair to your party. The perfect place to get inspiration for this is to jump on pinterest, create a folder and get creative. The $2 shops and candle shops are a great option too
Something sweet
To end a beautiful summer evening, it is perfect to whip up a seasonal dessert. If you’re feeding a crowd then save some time and whip up a cake or mousse beforehand. Because at the end of the day, everyone lives something sweet at this time of year! You can create a nutella pizza with ice-cream or coyo. Sounds strange, but it is always a winner
Have fun
The most important part in hosting a dinner party is to relax and have fun. Because at the end of the day, you want to enjoy yourself and you want your guests to enjoy themselves too. There is nothing worse for you than feeling as though you are minding everyone. Make the prep as low key as possible. Plan in advance and make sure you can enjoy the party too
