Soft chatter fills the room as numerous scents waft from the kitchen. Your friends and family surround you, their eyes filled with love and gratitude for this holiday season. During this time of gratitude, dinner parties are a staple way for people to gather together to commemorate the closing of one year and the beginning of another. To ensure the success of such an event — whether you are planning your first or are a veteran — here are some quick tips for a memorable evening.
Your menu sets the stage. Planning a balanced meal that includes proteins, fresh produce, and healthy carbs shows great attention to detail.
“I’m very inspired by what’s in the farmer’s market,” said Dr. Lisa Harper, an English teacher. “Pretty much all my cooking has been based around that for decades.” Farmers’ markets are a great place to be inspired while staying current with the season’s trends.
As you gather your ingredients, finding new recipes can feel daunting, so sticking with what you know and are comfortable with can still yield a great result. “I have an Alice Waters pork recipe that I cook often for holidays,” said Mr. Jake Moffat, the English Co-Department Head & Creative Inquiry teacher. “Like, it’s magic.”
Having that reliable staple dish allows for more room to experiment with different courses and possibilities. “I love menu planning. I spend more time than I probably should looking at recipes and variations of recipes,” said Ms. Virginia Boesen, the Religious Studies Co-Department Head.
With your menu complete, it is time for the non-food prep: the setting of your dinner party. Keeping a clean space, not just where you eat, helps create a more welcoming atmosphere, as it shows the effort you have put into preparing for this gathering. So clean your house!
Then find the table you want to set for the occasion. For example, Moffat recommended “having a big wooden table that is welcoming. I love a farm table — not that cluttered or fancy.”
Maintaining this mindset, when setting your table, skip the crowded centerpieces. “Set the table and put the food on it so [that] everybody can still see each other,” said Boesen. Decorations are food for the eyes, but gathering around the food with your loved ones is food for the soul.
When the awaited event arrives, the smallest of touches can truly elevate your guests’ experience. “If you make a good drink, your dinner party works,” said Moffat. Set aside that time between when your guests arrive and the meal to chat and unwind with a mocktail in hand.
You want “things that help people sort of come together and have a conversation,” said Harper. Whether that’s a grazing board you’ve put together or the shape of glasses you’ve set out, conversation starters help set up for the true purpose of your evening: sharing gratitude.
So, as a last piece of advice, Moffat recommends you “bring together different sets of people.” It is easy to fall into the rhythm of gathering with those we know the best. But reach out to a new group of people, and you will find a truly transformed dinner party experience.
