Hosting Dinner Party this Saturday.....need suggesstions......

[rbuzzotta]

My friend just called. She asked if we could have the dinner party at my house because another friends DH is allergic to dogs!! I have no problem with this at all..............

She is bringing lobsters, I will be getting shrimp cocktail and making small appetizers, another friend is bringing the salad. There will be 8 of us (and 5 kids, not having lobster!!). It is my friends 50th birthday!!

I need suggestions on wine (I am not really a wine drinker!), serving suggestions (Lobster is messy and I usually do lobster outside in the summer). I want the presentation to be nice. This will be the first time these friends see my new house! We all used to work together (the woman) and havent' been together in years!! I want it to be a nice relaxing dinner.

I have never hosted a sit down dinner. always have done buffet .
Any suggestions will be appreciated!!

 

[wdwnutze]

We recently had lobster for a party of 7. We usually serve the lobster on trays(plastic ones that I got at Walmart for $1 a piece). The trays are colorful and are about the size of a placemat. They have a lip on them so that the liquid doesn't drip everywhere. They contain the mess nicely and they look pretty. I put the cooked lobster in a clear glass baking dish and put that in the middle of the table with a pair of tongs. Some small shallow soup bowls for the butter, plenty of napkins and plates for the salad. Can;t help with a wine selection since I am not a wine drinker. Have fun!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Tthanks wdwnutze, how big were the trays?? Are they like individual serving trays? The lip on it sounds great. I love lobster but absolutely hate the mess!!!

Any other suggestions.........anyone???

Thanks

 

[TimeforMe]

Definitely individual small bowls with drawn butter, some cut-up lemons and a large bowl to put the shells in. I would also slit the lobsters down the middle before serving to make it easier for the guests to get at the meat.

For wine, definitely a nice chilled white or even some champagne since it's a special celebration. Beringer makes an award winning chardonnay (expensive) and I really like pinot grigio. Sounds like a nice party--let us know how it goes!

 

[wdwnutze]

Rbuzzotta- the trays are 11 1/2*16. I just checked to see where I got them and they are from the Christmas Tree Shop. You should be able to pick up extra shell crackers and picks there too. The extra bowl for shells is a great tip too. I know in the summer when we are eating outside I put babywipes on the table. Inside I use facecloths so people can clean off their hands without having to get up all the time. It's especially helpful if there is other food to eat and you will be using other utensils.