How hard can it be to throw a dinner party? If you keep it simple and relaxed, or you’re a professional chef and party planner, then it’s not that hard. However, if you’re just an average person wanting to gather friends over a sit-down dinner filled with great conversation and great food, then you might be surprised at how many details there are to take into account. So, if you’re already overwhelmed and the dinner party is drawing near, take a deep breath, read on, and try to avoid these dinner party mistakes.
Not prepping in advance
If you haven’t started prepping, start now. Preparation is key to a successful dinner party. We recommend making lists. You need a list of all the groceries you’ll need and any extra tableware and chairs you’ll need to borrow from neighbors, and you’ll need to figure out how much time it takes to make the food that you are planning to make.
Anything that can be chopped, peeled, sliced, diced, and minced should be taken care of in advance. Any cold appetizers, salads, or hot dishes that can withstand being cooled and reheated a few days later should be cooked and stored properly until ready to plate and serve.
Getting too ambitious in the kitchen
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are planning a dinner party is to get too fancy with the menu. You want to impress your guests, but don’t set the bar too high. You may be an avid cooking show fan, but watching a professional chef cook classic French cuisine is a lot different than taking on Duck a L’Orange as an amateur chef. Don’t make your dinner party the first time you try new tricks.
Of course, if you have a lot of time to test your inner chemist in the kitchen, then by all means, set your culinary bar as high as you want. However, if it turns out you can’t handle it, switch to an old favorite that you know you can pull off.
Forgetting to enjoy the party
If you’re putting on a culinary show, expect to miss most of your party as you are always setting up and prepping for the next course, not sitting at the table enjoying the dinner and the conversation. The biggest mistake a dinner party host can make is to miss the dinner party.
Cater your dinner party
DiAntonio’s is a Philadelphia-based catering company. DiAntonio’s has catered sit-down dinners and buffets for private parties and corporate events for over 25 years.