| By :
Mark Etinger
There are certain ways to have a dinner party. You want to be able to provide a delicious meal, comfortable atmosphere, and quality conversation. Here's how: 1. Clean: Before the party, make sure your home is spotless. Not only does this reflect positively on you as the host, but it will also make people more careful not to make a mess. 2. Music: Is nice before dinner is served. Choose something with a little funk, that isn't too distracting, but sets the mood well. Think jazz, classical or a personal favorite album or two. 3. Serve the food on time. When guests get hungry you don't want to keep them waiting. They get fussy, antsy, and gossipy about what's going on in the kitchen. 4. Drinks: If you open a few bottles of wine before dinner and during, everyone will be happy. Use barware to fix cocktails, and for water, ice tea or lemonade, Ravenscroft Decanters, drink dispensers, or a glass beverage dispenser will fit the bill. Get someone likable to serve the drinks. 5. Keep food on the table. This allows people to have seconds when they want, and will make for fewer trips to the kitchen. 6. Plate Up: Don't make anything that requires assembly. A cut here, a serving there and you will be fine. A salad, a vegetable or two for those who are finicky, meat, and a carb, like potatoes, pasta or rice, rounds out a quality dinner. Desert can be cake or cookies, and please, serve coffee. 7. Serving order: Women are served first, from eldest to youngest, then men, in the same order. If you are all sitting at table, you can pass around the dishes in a clockwise manner. When you pass dishes, do it from the left and hold the bowl while you serve yourself. 8. Dinner conversation: Talk about the recipes, why the wine goes so well with the dinner, art, literature, philosophy, jokes, but not politics. 9. Clearing: Clear two plates at a time, so you don't accidentally drop anything. Scrape plates in the kitchen, and try to do it quietly. Everything on the table should be removed before dessert is served – this includes spices, side plates, and condiments. Set the dessert spoons and plates. 10. Serve yourself last: With all your hosting duties you probably won't even have to try. 11. Ask for help: If your guests are all sitting there while you slave away, don't feel bad about asking for an extra set of hands. Usually someone will offer, but sometimes you never know. Enjoy yourself – remember, it's a party! If you're stressed out, overworked, or generally bored, everyone will be able to tell, and it will be a damper on the whole night.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesbacklink.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
