Dinner Is Served
If youre running behind on prep work, #4 will save you.
(Im also not hungover and my kitchen is magically clean.)
Im lucky if I dont fall asleep face-first in the dessert.
The world will not end if you skip salad forks entirely.)
Of course, if youwantto go all-out with your theme, you certainly can.
I would love PrincesPurple Rainbecause I would want everybody to choose something purple.
Seriously, Dont Procrastinate
Plan the menu as soon as you decide youre hosting, Nass says.
If you need speciality ingredients, source them early on.
Dry goods and alcohol can be purchased as far out as you want.
Produce can be purchased three to four days before the event.
Meats, fish, and flowers should be purchased the day of or day before.
Bread must be fresh-fresh.
Invitations Are Still A Thing
The invitation sets up the anticipation of whats going to happen, Hall says.
Try These Hacks For Chilling Your Wine
Nobody wants to drink room-temperature wine.
(Yes, that goes for reds, too.)
If youre in a pinch, take a paper towel and wet it with cold water.
Squeeze out the excess, wrap it around the bottle, and pop it in the freezer.
(She and her sister-in-lawSydel Curry-LeelaunchedDomaine Curry, a Prisoner Wine Company portfolio label, in 2018.)
Serve Guests A Little Treat Upon Arrival
Set the tone from the moment people walk in.
If the idea of hors d’oeuvres sounds fussy and stressful, relax theyre just snacks.
Try a simple cheese plate with charcuterie, fruit, or nuts.
Theyre also easy to prep ahead of time; the oven will take care of the rest.
Casseroles let you do just that.
Of the casseroles recommended by these experts, one reigned supreme:lasagna.
(And yes, lasagna is a casserole; this is not ahot dog-sandwich debate.)
Serve Your Meal Family-Style
Sending out [individually plated food] is out of style now, Calvo says.
Instead, she recommends setting out all the food in serving dishes and letting guests help themselves.
It removes the hosts responsibility of portioning out food and timing when each course is served.
Let People Sit Where They Want With Some Rules
I dont usually assign seating, Pelosi says.
I think its a little bit presumptuous [to assume] you have that much power in the world.
He does, however, encourage guests to switch seats multiple times during the party.
Hall also has a trick to facilitate bonding among guests.
you might talk about anything else, but you cant talk about what you do, she says.
Its a party, not a networking event.
Make It A Group Effort
Whoever said potlucks were out of style was seriously disturbed.
(Those less culinarily-inclined can bring wine, ice, and other supplies.)
Thats the attention to detail.
Thats the finesse right there.
Citrus rinds, nuts, and breadcrumbs work, too.
If you have a specific theme, go with something that fits.
If not, throwbacks are almost always crowd-pleasers.
Like, were going to play 90s, early 2000s music.
Entertaining is not aboutrunning an episode ofThe Bearin front of your friends, Pelosi says.
If the host is having a good time, thats going to be contagious.
