‘Tis the season for, well, lots of things, but dinner parties is certainly up high on that list. Between all of the holiday hustle and bustle, decompressing with good food, a group of friends, and copious amounts of alcohol is pretty much the only way to survive the grind this time of year. But as fun as sitting down to a meal with people you love can be, playing hostess can be seriously stressful.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. Dinner parties aren’t about trying to impress your friends—and stretch your skills—by being obnoxiously fancy. This isn’t the time to try out those new molecular gastronomy techniques you learned on YouTube or worry about finally investing in nice china. If you’ve got the basics covered, no one’s going to care whether or not the napkins match the plates or that you’re using plastic forks. These eight tips will help you host a stress-free and awesome dinner party that all your friends will agree was totally the best of the year.
Be realistic with the menu
If you’ve never made beef Wellington before, a dinner party is probably not the occasion to spend tons of money on a whole tenderloin that you’re going to potentially ruin for all your friends. Instead, show off something you’re already good at, like the crispy roasted chicken you’ve been perfecting all year or your mindblowing hot wings sauce. If you’re serving a large crowd, perhaps one bigger than your kitchen can handle, consider offering a buffet of fancy bites and snacks. It’s easier to make dips and arrange cheese plates for 15 than trying to sear individual filets of salmon.
But get fancy with the details
Dinner parties are still, at least a little bit, about showing off. You don’t have to go all-out and make a six course dinner, but a fancy touch here and there will let everyone at your party know that you’re a way better cook than they are. Add a little freshly-grated parmesan and truffle-infused salt to popcorn for an appetizer, or garnish deviled eggs with inexpensive caviar and dill fronds. Creative presentations (oyster shooters, anyone?) and exotic dishes can also be a good way to convey your culinary prowess.
Find a theme
Themed parties can be cheesy, but when done well, your Moroccan feast or build-your-own French crepes bar will look really impressive. You don’t have to go all-out with costumes and decor, but choose a loose theme, like the season or a style of cuisine, and stick to it. Once you’ve got a framework, you can easily build a menu, pair with the right wines and cocktails, and bring a sense of cohesion to your dinner party.
Offer variety
Accommodating all of your friends’ dietary choices is a nightmare, but it’s easy enough to provide a variety of options so that everyone can enjoy at least one or two dishes. Provide a vegetarian side or appetizer for your meat-averse friends, vegetable sticks for dips for the gluten-free crowd, and a healthy snack or two for those counting calories. That way, you won’t feel guilty when your ex-roommate’s obnoxious vegan girlfriend is scowling at the bacon-wrapped scallops and holding an empty plate.
Serve punch or pitcher cocktails