It’s getting to that time of year where everyone is inviting their loved ones over for some quality time spent in the sun, catching up on life and in general, having a great time together. One of the biggest pressures that people feel when it’s their turn to host is how to impress their guests with the food that they serve and also how well the night goes entertainment wise. Well, not to worry! Take a look at these tips on how to wow your guests with your culinary skills and steal the show when it’s your turn to host!
Decide a theme
If you’re really looking to stand out from every other social gathering, why not decide a theme for the night? This could even include a dress code too! Encourage your guests to go along with the theme by asking them to dress accordingly. So, if you’re looking for a classy sit down meal, you might choose to dress in the theme of the 20’s. No matter what theme you decide to go with, it will help you finalise the dish you’re going to be cooking for your guests. For example, if you decided to go for an Aussie theme, you’d choose to do a BBQ and keep everything super chilled out. Not only does it help you decide what food you’re cooking, but it makes the evening just that little bit more exciting. Another great theme idea for a BBQ evening is a sausage and cider party, my friends did one a couple of years ago and all guests had to bring the most unusual sausages and cider they could get their hands on (asking guests to contribute food and drinks can really cut down the cost and stress of a party and as long as you don’t ask for too much it creates a lovely sharing atmosphere), they rented hay bales from a local farmer and had wonderful chilled cover music and lots of lanterns in their garden, it was just perfect.
Look for food inspiration
Everyone has their favourite dishes, and many people shy away from branching out and cooking new and different foods for their guests. Now that you’ve decided the theme for your gathering, it’s going to be easier to search for some food inspiration. You can gain inspiration from pretty much anywhere including the television, magazines, online recipes and also from the round up at Brit Mums. The great thing about recipes is that they can always be tweaked to your personal preferences, or even allergies that people may have. Try and pick a dish that you know everyone will love, but that’s also on the unusual side to perk up interest and tantalise taste buds.
Spend a little more time on your presentation
You may have seen professional chefs present their food in many wacky and wonderful ways. The most common presentation method is minimalistic and strategically placed food. Experiment with different presentations with your food so that you can wow your guests and make some truly insta-worthy food! Salad and vegetables are perfect for cutting into shapes for presentation of food, and it’s always a good idea to stick to colourful food that stands out from the plate. Spend a little more time on your presentation to really win your guests over before they’ve even tasted your food. Help yourself platters always go down well and generally can be put together in advance which takes the pressure off once your guests arrive.
Provide fun
Finally, no dinner party is complete without some laughter, so why not encourage the laughter and chatting by bringing some quiz cards to the table after dinner? Questioning each other and having a friendly but competitive game between yourselves is the perfect way to end an amazing night together with friends! There’s also a bunch of great apps for after dinner games, my favourite is Heads Up – it’s always good to have a couple of games in your back pocket to keep it going if the mood takes you.