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In the Host Seat: How to Give the Perfect Dinner Party
 A dinner party is something more than just a small
party with food as its centerpiece. Yes, you are feeding your
guests in a literal way, with food. But you’re also
feeding their spirits with an experience that will linger
on long after the meal is digested. A successful dinner party
is like alchemy: people leave in a different state of mind
than when they arrived.
Throwing a successful dinner party, however, means looking
over both the practical details and the creative flourishes
at the same time.
The practical first: Whether you’re sending out handwritten
invitations, using an internet invitations system, shooting
off e-mails, or just doing it by phone, give your guests plenty
of time to RSVP. How far in advance you invite them is up
to you; you know how busy your friends are. But two weeks
is a good rule of thumb.
Gently insist that you need a firm answer one way or another.
With a dinner party, there is a limit to the number of people
you can entertain, and you want to fill every seat. You also
need a reliable headcount when you go shopping. And when you
are at the market, keep in mind that it’s always better
to err slightly on the side of excess.
How many should you invite? A dinner party usually consists
of six to 12 guests. Many people feel that the smaller end
of the spectrum, say six to eight, is more intimate. This
is generally an optimal number for people who are new to each
other to become friends, which is one of the most rewarding
things about throwing a dinner party. Also, strive for a fairly
even gender balance. And if most of your guests are couples,
invite single people in pairs. A lone single person at a party
can feel stranded.
A pre-dinner cocktail hour—or hour and a half—with
hors d’oeuvres, is a nice way to kick things off, but
stick to the designated cut-off time and lead your guests
to their seats. Like a ballet, the best dinner parties are
choreographed. Giving your guests a sense of the beginning,
middle and end will help them relax.
What you serve for your meal depends, of course, on your skill
level in the kitchen and how well equipped it is. The important
thing is to not be overly ambitious. The best menu choices
allow you to do most of the work in advance. Whether you’re
up to serving individual Cornish game hens, or opt for a communal,
one-pot meal served family style, remember that you’re
not there merely to serve your guests, but to enjoy their
company and let them enjoy yours. Give yourself room to breathe.
And dress for the fest. Let your attire show that this
is an occasion that matters to you. Formal, funky, casual,
eccentric, whatever: like everything else involved in throwing
a dinner party, it should be an expression of you. A dinner
party is a great opportunity to express yourself creatively,
and the more you do so, the livelier it will be.
Click here for the perfect dinner party recipe and pairing
suggestions>>
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