Come dine with me
Hello everyone! Those who know me, can tell you how much I love having friends and family over for a meal. What can be better than being surrounded by your favourite people in the comfort of your home, with good food, drinks, music and lots of chatting and laughing! I would like to believe that 'entertaining at home' is my thing. I love everything about it – the planning, prepping, cooking, eating and sometimes (believe it or not), even the cleaning!
When we were in the UK, we always hosted Christmas lunch, and I loved planning for it – I would start looking for interesting recipes almost a month or two in advance. And everything from the menu to the décor was meticulously planned and organised. This year I'm planning to host a Diwali party for all my friends in Dubai and I’m already looking forward to it!
Hosting at home, as fun as it is, can also be quite stressful. But there are ways to reduce the stress and have a great time, even if you’re the host! Trust me, if the host is stressed, it will show and no one wants to see that! So, today I want to share some ideas on how you can make entertaining at home seem like a breeze and also make it very special for your guests!
Planning
This is possibly the most important step! You may have a month to plan a party, or sometimes just a couple of hours (if you’re lucky!). Whether you plan things yourself, or ask someone to plan for you, it really doesn't matter, as long as there's a plan! You see, More planning = Less stress. That's the formula. Simple. While you can easily get away with certain things and 'wing it' on the day, there are some basic things that need to be considered (even before you get to the actual menu). So ask yourself these questions:
1) How many guests are expected? Are there any kids?
2) Any special dietary requirements/ allergies / kids meals?
3) Is it a formal, sit down meal or a more casual affair? Are there enough seats/chairs?
4) Is there a theme/dress code? And are all the guests aware?
5) Do all the guests know (or are comfortable with) each other?
6) Are you well stocked on drinks (alcoholic/ non-alcoholic)
7) Do you have enough plates, bowls, and cutlery?
8) Are you going to cook the meal at home (or have a pot-luck) or arrange for catering?
9) Are you going to be a noisy bunch?
10) Are there enough toys and games to keep the kids entertained?
There are obviously a lot more things you could add to this list depending on how much of a planner you are. For me, if I have considered these points and have answers to all the above questions, I can say with confidence that I’m reasonably organised and in control of the situation.
It always helps to know the exact number of guests so you can ensure you have enough food and drinks to go around, and also plates, cutlery, bowls and glasses. If not, you can always borrow from someone. Unless it’s an extremely formal affair, I’m personally not too fussed about plates and bowls matching etc. In fact I do like to mix it up a bit – it just adds to the casual vibe. I find that a formal, sit down meal takes longer to plan compared to a casual, relaxed meal because there are a few more things to consider like table décor and seating arrangement etc. so it's always a good idea to give yourself some extra time for planning.
If there are kids, I like to make sure there are kid friendly options for food/drinks. It’s always best to consult with the parents, just to be aware of any allergies or dietary requirements. Generally speaking, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and fish fingers are always a big hit! Also, I mentioned about the noise because I think it’s good to let your neighbours know in advance that you’re having guests and it could be noisier than usual. I mean, let’s face it – if you decide to play dumb charades or pictionary after a few rounds of drinks, it’s not going to be a very quiet affair, is it?! Also, this way they won’t get too annoyed if they suddenly see 10 cars parked around their house! I think these little things really matter because as far as possible, you don’t want to inconvenience anyone else.
Special touches
I love adding little touches to make the day even more memorable for your guests. Here are some of my tried and tested ideas-
I'm lucky to have such gorgeous flowers in my garden (UK).
Flowers: I think adding flowers to the décor creates a very welcoming and happy environment for your guests. You can buy a ready made bouquet from the market or you can simply cut some flowers from your garden and place them in a beautiful vase. This really doesn’t have to be an expensive affair. I usually love adding lots of plants and flowers in my décor anyway, so there will always be flowers in the house - guests or no guests :D
Candles and soft lighting: Everything looks and feels much better with soft lighting – your home, the food, even makeup :D! That’s why candle light dinners are so special. So after the meal, when everyone is in a more relaxed mood, I love putting on some soft lights, or candles and fairy lights to create a lovely, cosy, relaxed ambience. Add to that, some soulful music, and you're pretty much set for the evening.
Cloth napkins: I know this may sound silly, but I think there’s something very elegant about cloth napkins at the dining table (I mean instead of paper napkins). It’s also economical in the long run and it feels like you’ve put in a lot of thought and care into everything. You can either use fancy napkin rings or just use a piece of ribbon or twine. I’m sure your guests will appreciate it. An inexpensive way to make your own cotton napkins is by buying some good quality fabric, cutting out 16” or 18” squares and hemming the edges. You could also have them monogrammed to make them extra special!
Table is set for Christmas lunch! The theme is Red and Christmassy as you can see!
Table setting and décor: There are so many things you can do when it comes to the table décor - the possibilities are endless! You can dress it up, or dress it down, keep it casual, or make it formal. I personally like to keep it simple and less crowded because the table can get very overwhelming and cluttered very quickly. So unless I’m inviting the Queen, I will avoid surrounding the plate with too many forks, knives and spoons and stick to the minimum required. I like to pay close attention to my table cloth and mats and make sure they are clean and ironed before D-day.
Trays and Platters: You can never have enough trays and platters in my opinion. Trays have this amazing superpower that makes everything seem more organised than it actually is. They can be used for serving as well as decorating and can hold a lot of little bits and bobs that can easily look messy and cluttered. So whether you want to keep glasses and bowls, or decorative pieces, or candles and flowers, use trays to keep everything in place and add a nice touch to the decor.
Name cards: If you choose to have a sit down meal at the dinner table, you can make it extra special by adding name cards for guests. This also works if you have invited a bunch of people who may not know each other that well, and can avoid that little moment of awkwardness when no one knows where to sit. Of course this applies to a more formal setup.
Party favours: We tend to associate party favours with weddings, or formal dinners or kids parties more often. We all know how much kids enjoy and love this concept. But why should only kids have all the treats? I personally love it when party favours are handmade or personalised. Something as simple as a little brown bag with freshly baked cookies or biscuits, or some handmade chocolates, or personalised chocolate bars/tea bags can do the trick and make it a very memorable event for your guests! You don’t really need to spend a lot of time and money on party favours in my opinion, but instead use your creativity to create something that your guests will remember for a long time.
Food and Drinks
These are undoubtedly the two most important things to think about when you invite guests for a meal. Here's how I approach it - First of all, I like to check for any dietary requirements or allergies that my guests might have. If I decide to cook myself, then I like to stick to one pot meals or things that don’t need constant monitoring. I’ll be honest, I would rather mingle with my guests than stir a risotto or stare into the oven! So my tip would be to choose your menu wisely and make it as hassle free as possible. Also, try not to repeat ingredients in different courses/dishes and make sure that collectively, they are not too heavy on the stomach. A lot of the time, a menu looks great on paper, but when you actually eat all that food, it just doesn’t seem right. So it’s best to keep these things in mind when you're planning the menu.
If there's anything that can be prepared in advance, go for it. For example, if I'm serving canapes, I make at least one batch in advance and cover and keep it in the fridge before the guests arrive. It just gets things going and takes away some of the stress.
Earlier, I used to keep too many items on the menu. But over the years, I’ve toned it down a bit and realised that less is more. It’s so much better and easier to have just one showstopper dish, and a few side dishes or accompaniments. It's a lot more manageable and there’s definitely less leftover and less wastage. So gone are the days when we would be eating party leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
In case, you’re ordering food from a restaurant or having caterers, make sure the food arrives before the guests do. That way there’s ample time to figure out the serving bowls, and heating requirements in advance, and you won’t be frantically running around trying to track down the delivery vehicle when your guests are hungry. There are times when ordering food from a restaurant is a much better option than making at home, but really depends on the occasion and who the guests are (and how many).
When it comes to drinks, it’s always good to have a few options for your guests – for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Make someone in charge of the bar, so you don’t have to worry about that bit. If you’re offering some wine with the meal, make sure it complements the meal nicely. When in doubt, always consult with an expert (or Google!)
If there’s one thing I never ever leave out, it’s dessert. You know you’ll always get dessert if I invite you over for a meal. I think it completes a meal nicely and is often something people look forward to (I know, I do). So whether you buy/bake a cake or slice some seasonal fruit or decide to be brave and make a soufflé, it’s always nice to end the meal on a sweet note!
Help? Yes, please
Last, but not the least – if someone is offering to help, just take it! I think it’s really OK to delegate certain things to your friends or family. You would do the same for them, right? Of course this will totally depend on who your guests are and your relationship and comfort level with them – but generally speaking, when you invite your friends or family over for a meal, they are more than willing to help. Keep some spare aprons handy, because the last thing you want is for someone to drop something on their clothes while they are helping you!
If you try and do everything by yourself, you’ll just end up being really exhausted and it won't be fun, trust me. While a little bit of tidying up is OK to do to while you chat with guests, don't start scrubbing pots and pans while your guests are still here. It can all wait. Finally, make sure you also get a chance to relax, sip on something you like, and get out of that apron from time to time!
Because hey, so what if you're the host? It’s your party too! Do you have any other ideas you'd like to share? If so, please comment below!
xx
Kirti