Saturday, August 8, 2009

Throw a Dinner Party!

When I was a kid, I would sit and write down all kinds of ideas and plans about my future.

On my mental list of "Stuff that Grown-Ups Do" was (to name a few): buy a sofa, table and chairs, buy and drive a car, and throw a dinner party!

I may have been young but I worked hard to learn to be sophisticated. I began to dine and entertain some of my friends in my teens. So I was my own person (although my parents, who had made it; surviving their son-from-hell, were pretty "busy" living their own lives and didn't seem to actually notice or didn't care).

What do you do when that happens?

You start a catering & event planning production company!

So back then - for me - to have my own place, in my mind, would be the icing on the cake. I just had to formally grow up, so that I could literally move on.

So you see, there's no holdup for you to host your own dinner party. I'll equip you with a simple strategy and an easy to manage menu, and you'll see that it's so easy - a kid could do it.

Step 1 is to Plan Ahead

Invite your peeps! Invite six friends. Two fewer guests and it's like you're positioning everyone for a double date (Yuk! Now that's kiddie stuff), add two more and the conversation might divide and being the host (or hostess) you'll miss out on half of it.

Fill your table with an established group of friends, but if you want to make introductions or mingle groups - invite one or two live-wire talkers, and let the chips fall where they may with the rest.

Mail (or email) your invitations at least two weeks before the date of your party (4 weeks in advance if it's close to a holiday). Ask your invitees to RSVP within one week and tell them what to expect, sans imposing a dress code. It's a dinner party for grown-ups, so hopefully they'll figure it out.

Step 2 is to Prepare Your Table (and Set the Tone)

Your everyday dishware basically dictates the style of your dinner party celebration. If you want a sleek tablecloth look - iron the long sides under so the cloth is only as wide as the table and won't hang over.

Here's a caterers secret for you: You take a lot of pressure off each guest if you prearrange seating. Place name cards to convey exactly who should sit where. Or, leave names off the name cards and simply write "girl" and "boy", and place them in the same order; boy, girl, boy, girl, etc..

Step 3 is to Make A Centerpiece

I like to use fresh flowers. Cluster magnolias around sunflower blossoms (leave off the stems) around iris' in stubby vases and repeat. Place low votive candles intermittently between your fresh blooms for soft, sexy lighting.

Step 4 is to Create a Place-Card Napkin Fold

There are umpteen different kinds of napkin folds to choose from. But, for this I suggest that you use a place-card pocket fold.

Substitute your place-cards in place of the silverware or flatware shown in video.

YOUR MENU

Hors d'oeuvres
Veggie Chips, Crudites and Whipped Feta and Pepper, and Marcona Almonds

Dinner
Herb-Roasted Cornish Game Hens
Roasted Portobella Mushrooms, Red-Yellow-Green Sweet Peppers & Asparagus
Garlic-Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Salad
Baby Field Greens with Strawberries and Manchego

Dessert
Decadent Chocolate Cake

STEP-BY-STEP AND IN ORDER
If you stick with this strategy, things will go well

Two weeks before the party

Send your invitations.
Load up on your MP3 or CD player with plenty of wonderful dinner-party music. I suggest something different with a bit of recognizable stuff thrown in, like: Sinatra mixed in with Carla Bruni, Quelqu'un M'a Dit; Mazzy Star, So Tonight That I Might See mixed in with any Sarah Vaughn. You get the drift.

Two days before

Just... chill.
Clear out space in your refrigerator, clear off counter tops and go to the grocery store.

The night before

Prep main entree (game hens, but do not cook) and refrigerate. Make mashed potatoes and dip, and refrigerate.
Create your centerpiece, gather serving utensils and serving platters, set your table and put out cocktail napkins and place-card napkins.
Don't get nervous.

The morning before your guests arrive

Shave manchego cheese, slice strawberries, and wash and dry the salad greens and refrigerate all.
Bake cake and set it aside to cool.

Two hours before

Assemble crudites (fresh vegetables) on platter and refrigerate.
Pour marcona almonds into a nice bowl.

One hour before

Make vinaigrette.
Remove mashed potatoes and hens, and dip from the refrigerator.

Just as your first guests arrive

Put game hens in oven (don't forget to set the timer). Bring out hors d'oeuvres and pour sparkling wine. Then relax (as long as you've set your timer) and mingle. When your timer rings the game hens are ready.
Ask two guests to help you serve (when dinner is ready).
Assemble salad and serve, first (or see below).

When your game hens are ready

Your hens should rest for about 15 minutes. re-set your - warm up the roast asparagus, sweet peppers and potatoes.
Enjoy your great meal! If you're going for a more European way of things, serve salad after dinner, then dessert and coffee as things fall into place, pleasantly.