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Dinner Party
Dinner parties are special because there are a limited number of guests and you know exactly how much food you will be making.
Usually a dinner party is limited to 4-8 people (depending on the size of your table) and there are three parts to the party:
the appetizers and social time, the sit down dinner and the dessert (which can be served at the table or in another location).
I'm listing three examples of successful dinner parties I have hosted, but there are so many other options - just be creative!
The major thing in hosting a dinner party is that you remain part of the party and not stuck in the kitchen cooking - so just about
everything for a dinner party can be made ahead of time and quickly assembled before service. This allows you to enjoy your
guests and have a clean kitchen at the same time.
Menu:
Meze Platter:
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Tzatziki (Cuccumber Garlic Dip)
Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)
Dolmades (grape leaves)
Greek Salad
Marinated Lamb Kabobs
Rice Pudding
Baklava
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Greek Dinner Party
The colors of Greece are Blue and White (with a touch of gold)- there is your decor!
Create a placecard for each guest by writing their names with gold glitter glue on clean, white clam shells and
roll white linen napkins into a tight cigar shape and place inside a gold colored napkin ring. Put a strip of blue
fabric down the middle of the table, with a centerpiece of white roses and votive candles in gold holders and you
have the simple elegance of a Greek Dinner party.
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Menu:
Simple Soup:
French Onion Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Cream of Asparagus Soup
Main Dish:
4hr Lamb Roast
Provencal White Beans
Salad Course:
Mesclun Salad w/ Sherry Vinaigrette
Butter Lettuce w/Tarragon Crème Fraîche
Cheese Platter
Desserts:
Vanilla Creme Brulee
Apricot Almond Clafouti
Profiteroles
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French Dinner Party
If you REALLY want to impress yourself, try a French dinner party - the traditional way with 7 courses. Remember, that with 7 courses you
don't want to have huge portions of food, which is fortunate because some of the ingredients are rather pricey.
- 1st course - simple champagne or wine served with simple plate of crackers, olives, salami and condiments
- 2nd course- simple soup - could be a Cream of Tomato Soup with croutons or a Cream of Asparagras with a dollop of sherry or an impressive
French Onion Soup
- 3rd course - main dish
- 4th course - simple salad - just mixed greens and a vinegrette
- 5th course - crusty bread and/or crackers with two or three different cheeses (Brie being one of them)
- 6th course - dessert - might be Creme Brule, Apricot Almond Clafouti or Profiteroles
- 7th course - coffee with chocolate candy dish
There is a lot of prep involved, but everything can be made the day before and simply heated in the oven, or assembled before service so that you get to enjoy the party!
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