Dinner party tips

[smilie]

Nothing specific, just anything you've had success with. From themes, to food, to decorations. What's been a hit for you?

 

[clarabelle]

Buffet style serving works best for me. I line stuff up on the bar and let people serve themselves.
Drinks in a cooler if it is casual. If not casual wine glasses and and ice bucket in a location away from the food. I start asking people what they want to drink immediately. Or I recruit someone to help with getting drinks. Ice can be hard to stay on top of. Put a pitcher of ice water out with whatever else you are serving to drink.
If serving coffee -I have the coffee pot ready to go with milk,sugar, spoons and splenda.
Pre -plated desserts or separate dessert plates set up ahead of time.

For entrees I have done enchiladas, pork tenderloin, chicken pot pie. Lots of different things. I do better with make ahead type stuff.
I hope this helps!

 

[clarabelle]

If you do a centerpiece -either keep it low -or put it on the serving table . People don't like to look around a big centerpiece

 

[AndreaDM]

Having just been at on on Sunday I can tell you what NOT to do, and that is don't use paper plates, even Chinette! They're fine for a backyard BBQ, but not for a dinner party!

I like having little favors at each place setting, it just adds something to it. Once I found little boxes of Godiva at Macy's, I think there were 2 pieces in each box, for around a buck or so on sale. I put one at each place setting and my guests raved like they were at some swanky restaurant.

 

[eeyore65]

My go to dinner party foods are fajitas (with chips guacamole and margaritas)and shish kebobs on the grill. I find for even fussy, picky, vegan, vegetarian, allergic people - these dinners seem to work.

My other tips are a make way ahead dessert. I like to do ice cream pies. They can be done days or even a week ahead.

I also like to do heavier before dinner snacks. The cocktail hour is often peoples favorite part. I always do some cheese, crackers, veggies dips and some sort of bruschetta.

I always have beer, wine (red and white), soft drinks and some signature cocktail.

I love to entertain and seem to throw a dinner party every couple of weeks.

 

[monkeybug]

Well I have a theme problem. Like I need a 12 step program or something. It's pathetic really, but around here, everything gets a theme!!!
I've had lots o' lots of themed functions, but our favorite by far was the soda tasting party!!
We lived in Sonoma county CA. (wine country) and lot's of people had wine tasting parties. Well I was preggo, and most of my friends were LDS (non drinkers), so I decided we needed to have a soda tasting party. I found a place in Seattle that sold all sorts of crazy sodas and ordered a bunch (it was kind of pricey after shipping), plus most of the guests brought their favorites or some random ones they found (someone even brought home brewed rootbeer). We served it all in dixie cups, and put out little print outs where you could rate the soda on a bunch of different categories (fizziness, packaging, flavor...that sort of thing)
We had a burger bar, and french fries (regular and sweet potato) and a variety of dipping sauces for the fries. I set up tables in the back yard, strung lights around the patio, and used bottle caps glued to ribbons as napkin rings. It was a blast! Dorky! But a blast all the same.

 

[monkeybug]

My go to dinner party foods are fajitas (with chips guacamole and margaritas)and shish kebobs on the grill. I find for even fussy, picky, vegan, vegetarian, allergic people - these dinners seem to work.

My other tips are a make way ahead dessert. I like to do ice cream pies. They can be done days or even a week ahead.

I also like to do heavier before dinner snacks. The cocktail hour is often peoples favorite part. I always do some cheese, crackers, veggies dips and some sort of bruschetta.

I always have beer, wine (red and white), soft drinks and some signature cocktail.

I love to entertain and seem to throw a dinner party every couple of weeks.

Mmmmm....I want to go to your dinner parties! Fajitas, shish kabobs (I love food on a stick!), and Ice cream pie! Man!!! Is it summer yet????
I'm pregnant though so I'll have to have a mockarita with my fajitas.