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How to Plan a Successful Dinner Party Menu

There is a lot of planning that goes into key here is to NOT have everything the
a successful dinner party menu. In order same shape. But not everything has to be
to pull it off, you'll have to ask different either.Think about the
yourself some questions. relationship that the foods on the plate
WHO? Who are your guests going to be? have with each other. Are they
Do any of the potential guests have any compatible? Do the major flavors blend?
food allergies or food restrictions?For This is a somewhat esoteric question and
example, Maybe someone can't eat peanuts. difficult to get without a lot of
Or maybe some one is Vegetarian. It would experience, but think about it this
be a shame to have someone who is way.... Does more than one item contain
allergic to shellfish come to the party the same ingredient? Is there garlic in
only to find that the main course is everything? Do two or more things contain
Maryland Crab Cakes with Chipotle Tartar vinegar? Does the spiciness of one item
Sauce. Now, most people with food overpower the delicate flavor of
allergies or food intolerances will something else?Do the foods have a
remember to ask what is being served, but compatible relationship?Just as a general
sometimes they don't do so until the day rule, don't overpower your guests with
of the party. A good host or hostess will too much garlic or onions. These foods
take that fact into consideration when are the basis for developing great
planning the dinner party menu. Make a flavor, but tend to give people bad
list of potential guests and find out if breath if eaten in large quantities. Also
they have any food allergies and/or food remember that beans can cause flatulence
restrictions. Something like this might and may be embarassing at a dinner
work:____Guest_______Allergy?______RSVP__ party.You'll also have to check your
___ equipment.
1)____________________________________ By "equipment", here, I mean:How many
2)____________________________________ guests can fit at your table?How many
3)____________________________________ place settings and what kind of tableware
4)____________________________________ do you have?Do you have enough table
5)____________________________________ linens? napkins?What size? What color?
6)____________________________________ Glassware?
7)____________________________________ Silverware?
8)____________________________________ Salt and pepper shakers?Do you have
9)____________________________________ anything to use as a centerpiece?For
example, a vase? Candles? Be Careful with
10)___________________________________WHE the flame!!!If you need extra space, do
N? When is a good time to have the Dinner you have any card tables or craft tables
Party?What day of the week? Do most of that you can cover with a table cloth to
your guests have the same work schedule? serve as a buffet?If you don't have
What time of the day? Are there people enough of these items, you can rent them
who can come earlier but not later? from a Party Supply Store, or buy
When do the Trash men come? You'll them.What equipment and cookware do you
usually have more trash to take out after have in your kitchen?Remember, you can't
a party.WHERE? Where do you want the make recipes that need special equipment,
guests to be?Do you have enough space in if you don't have the special equipment.
your home for the invited guests? Do you For example, Do you have a deep fryer? a
have to trim the guest list or find a crepe pan? a bundt cake pan? etc. What
larger space? What about outdoors? HOW about cutlery and knives?How many
MANY? How many courses do you want to burners on your stove?You can't make six
serve?Before you get too carried away, things that have to be cooked on the top
ask yourself some simple questions.. of the stove and served at the same time
How good a chef are you? Would you rate if you only have four burners.
yourself a gourmet chef or are you just How many ovens?On a tentative menu: How
learning how to cook? Can you prepare many things need to be Baked? Roasted?
fancy French recipes or do you need quick Braised?How many refrigerators do you
and easy recipes?Hors have?
D'Oeuvre_________________________ How much space in them? Can you clean
Cold Appetizers________________________ them out to make more space?
Soup_________________________________ How much counter space do you have?
Warm Appetizers_______________________ Do you have a dishwasher?
Salad_________________________________ Will it hold all the plates, cups,
Intermetzo____________________________ silverware etc?Food Preparation Flow:
Fish__________________________________ For each menu item, figure:
Intermetzo____________________________ What will be the flow of the food?
Pasta_________________________________ From storage (where?) Pantry? Fridge?
Intermetzo____________________________ Freezer? Porch?.......
Fowl__________________________________ to Preparation (where?) Countertop?
Intermetzo____________________________ Sink? ..........
Vegetable_____________________________ to Cooking (where?) Stove Top or Oven?
Intermetzo____________________________ Grill? Microwave? Remember that you have
Beef__________________________________ to have enough space to prepare
Intermetzo____________________________ everything on your menu.Timing For each
Second Vegetable______________________ menu item:Go over the recipe and figure
Intermetzo____________________________ how much time each will take. Figure it
Entree________________________________ as if each recipe were the ONLY thing you
Cheese________________________________ are going to make. How much washing,
Dessert_______________________________ peeling, cutting, slicing, dicing,
Coffee sauteing, baking, roasting? Don't forget
Tea____________________________WHAT? cooling time if something needs to
Would you like to try new recipes?Are cool!Over estimate on time, because
there foods that you would like to try something can always go wrong, and you
out?Think how your home will smell when want to stress as little as possible.Then
the first guest arrives. Do you want to add up the times for all of the recipes
make fried fish? Beef Bourguignone? You and you know how much time you must allow
want to make their mouths water before for prep and cooking. Now I know that
they even sit down. Will the the most of us can do at least two things at
ingredients you need be available to once, like mix something, while something
you?Do you have a variety of colors on else in in the oven, but figure it this
the plate? Think what this plate would way and you have a MAX time.Also, Is
look like.....Turkey Breast, with Cream there any place in the recipe that you
Gravy can break it up? I mean, is there any
Mashed Potatoes place where you could begin the recipe
Cauliflower au Gratin and finish it later? If so, you may be
Not very appetizing is it? Everything is able to prep the day before and just
white or beige. Now, think what this finish everything on the day of the
plate would look like... party.If it looks like too much work,
Turkey Breast with Cranberry Beurre begin again with another, simpler menu.
Blanc Another idea is that if you are
Polenta Parmesan DiamondsBroccoli Rapini stressing about the dinner party, do a
with Lemon Zest Sounds much better dress rehersal. Prep and cook everything
doesn't it? Yet the main dish, Turkey a week or two before the party day, just
Breast is the same and there is a starch to see how long it actually will take,
and a vegetable also. But the colors!! and if there are any glitches that need
White, Red Yellow and Green!!Try to get a to be worked out. This is especially
variety of textures on the plate... for helpful if you are trying to prepare an
example, don't have everything on the unfamiliar recipe.
plate mushy or everything fried. Try to Disaster on Party Day isn't fun.DON'T
incorporate something silky on a OVERDO!! It just Causes stress and the
generally crispy plate, or something idea of a Dinner Party is FUN!Chef Spicer
crunchy on a generally soft plate. Think is a Professional Private Chef with over
about how the food will feel in your 23 years of experience in giving
mouth. Aim for at least one different successful dinner parties. You can
texture.Try to have different shapes on contact her via her web site at
the plate: triangle, square, round. The Dinner-Party-Advisor.




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