8 TIPS FOR PLANNING THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY

8 TIPS FOR PLANNING THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY-

Tracking PixelI’m planning a fun dinner party for 8! Nothing over the top fancy, but a meal that will scrumptious and easy to prepare! The key to a perfect party is to be organized, make lists, do as much as you can in advance and enjoy your guests! I love to have dinner parties! But I don’t like to be stressed out! So here are some great tips for having a successful and memorable get together!

Everyone loves Italian! Here’s the MENU

Doesn’t that sound yummy! Let’s look at some easy to execute ways to make your next dinner fabulous and enjoyable for YOU!

MAKE AN EASY TO PREPARE MEAL

EASY HORS D'EOUVRES-stonegableblog

Both comfortable and elegant meals can be prepared ahead. The secret is to find the right kind of recipes! Look for ones that will taste fabulous even if they are prepared a day before!

If I am making a meal I buy the hors d’oeuvres. And they are usually easy and scrumptious. Since my meal is Italian I picked out some bruschetta, olives and marinaded fresh mozzarella balls from the fresh deli at my local grocers.  Little crostini accompanies them. A great way to let my guest nibble and not get full.

MAKE LISTS

This is the number one best way to be organized and feel in charge. Make a menu, shopping list, and a to-do countdown list. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. That’s true, for sure!

MAKE MOST OF YOUR FOOD AHEAD

I’m not one for making a-big-production-of-a-meal while my guest wait for dinner. I once went to a dinner party where the stressed out hostess made the entire dinner while we waited. She did not accept help either. I can’t remember the meal, but I sure can remember feeling uncomfortable for her and tired by the time I ate my meal… at midnight!

I love mingling and chatting and having fun too.

Start a few days ahead making what you can. I’ll be making Grandma Lo Bianco’s No Fail Meatballs and the Caesar Salad dressing a few days ahead and refrigerate them. 

The puff pastry bread sticks will be made the day before, put on parchment lined baking sheets, covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated. I’ll pop it into the oven while the salad is being served!

I’ll be pulling the baked ziti together the morning of the dinner party.  All I have to do is pop it in the oven when the guest arrive!

The tiramisu and will be made the morning of the party too and popped into the refrigerator. 

A couple hours before company comes I’ll clean and tear the lettuce and keep it wrapped in paper towels in plastic bags in the refrigerator. I’ll I have to do is put it in a bowl and toss it then serve it!

Don’t forget to chill the white wine and get your coffee pot ready for a crowd!

10 TIPS FOR EASY ENTERTAINING-table setting-stonegableblog.com

Set the table ahead of time! I like to set it 2 days ahead. And get out all serving dishes. 

MAKE ICE CUBES

I seem to always run out of ice when I have company coming! Most probably because my refrigerator is over 20 years old. 

Instead of buying bags of extra ice at a local store I make it myself and keep it in zip type bags.  Start a couple days ahead and make several bags.

I’m looking for a new refrigerator and love love love the great refrigerator in the Kenmore Pro Line! This french door, high tech refrigerator has more capacity using less space. Just exactly what I need! Click HERE to see it!  If you are interested, you can see great videos about the features I love like Genius Cool Technology to keep food fresh, the pantry door (love it), and it has amazing clean filtered air. And the part I love the most is the ice maker!

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Oh I really can see this frig in my kitchen!

USE AN EASY CENTERPIECE AND LOTS OF CANDLES!

10 TIPS FOR EASY ENTERTAINING-glass cube-flowers-stonegableblog.com

I buy my flowers, plants, veggies and fruit to use as centerpieces at my local grocers. Don’t spend tons of money on a centerpiece. Be creative! I found these little peachy orange roses and white tulips on sale at my grocery store. Score!!!

Candlelight really sets the right mood. Be lavish with candlelight in your home and at the table!

EASY ENTERTAINING

DON’T FORGET THE MUSIC

Bobby and I love the “standards” even though they were well before our time. It’s great dinner music. We wouldn’t think of a dinner party without great music. I may play some wonderful Frank Sinatra for my Italian Dinner! So fun!

TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

 Make yourself a timeline! It’s a schedule not written in stone, but it will help you to remember things like preheat the oven, put ice and water in the glasses, etc.

Example:

  • Hors d’oeuvres out of frig at 7:30. Assemble crostini on plate.
  • Light candles 7:45
  • Put on great music 7:45
  • Preheat oven… don’t forget this! 7:55
  • Guest arrive at 8:00
  • Hors d’oeuvres till 8:30
  • Pour ice and water in glasses 8:30
  • Put Baked Ziti into the oven 8:30
  • Toss salad 8:30
  • Dinner call 8:35
  • Serve Salad 8:40-9:00
  • Put Parmesan Puff Pastry Breadsticks in oven 9:00
  • Take baked ziti out of the oven and cover 9:00
  • Collect salad plates 9:05
  • Serve wine 9:05
  • Take breadsticks out of the oven 9:10, let sit 5 minutes and put in bread basket on table
  • Serve dinner 9:15
  • Coffee and Tiramisu in the living room 9:50
  • Serve after dinner drinks 9:50

It’s time like this that I wish I had a double oven. Sadly, I only have one! I make due, but sometimes it’s a juggling act. Here the double oven I would choose….

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Gorgeous, I  know! It’s from the Sear Kenmore Pro line! This top of the line oven has a convection oven (LOVE), a temperature probe and professional, precise knobs. To see more about it click HERE.

LET EVERYONE HELP

If one of your guests ask to help… SAY YES! Put anyone to work that asks. The only thing that is completely off limits is the dishwasher. No loading the dishwasher while guest are in your home! It’s kills the fun spirit and signals “night over”! 

Make having friends over to share a meal and a good time fun for everyone! INCLUDING YOU!

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8 TIPS FOR PLANNING THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY-

A big thank you to Sears for sponsoring this post.

 

 

 

 

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27 Comments

  1. Great timing, Yvonne! I’m having guests for a Valentine Dinner. Love your menu. Pinned what I could pin. Looking forward to the main course and dessert. Your recipes are the greatest. I’ve made several of them and they are scrumshious! Have a great time at your dinner party!

  2. Yvonne,

    Everything looks wonderful. I’m also hosting a dinner party/Game Night this weekend (with guests staying overnight). You and I are in total agreement as far as party planning goes. I just purchases a new refrigerator after 24 years (it’s sad appliances today won’t see that life expectancy). I purchases the exact refrigerator you’ve shown in your post today. I love it! The only little thing I would change (and it’s a small thing) is that the butter compartment cannot be moved lower on the door and the lid does not stay up. Other than that – I’m really enjoying all the space and an ice maker/water dispenser which I’ve never had before!

    Enjoy your dinner party and guests!

    Leslie

  3. Morning Yvonne,
    These are some great tips, I use many of these myself, and you are so right about making the lists, they really really help.
    and doing as much ahead makes life so much easier….

    Blessings, Nellie

  4. Thanks for this Yvonne, the food sounds delicious and the timeline is a great idea. I usually start chatting to my guests and forget about the food! I love the wooden candlesticks too.

  5. I am having a birthday dinner celebration for a dear friend, we will be 8 guests.
    Being Italian preparing the meal is not a problem, but I will follow you advise and
    be very organized and have the dinner table and the house done in advance.
    Thanks so much!

  6. Carol Davis says:

    When I store extra ice cubes in the freezer I place them in paper bags. I read years ago that this would prevent them from sticking together and it really works. Totally agree with so many of the tips on entertaining. If the hostess is stressed out the guests do not enjoy themselves either.

  7. Hi Yvonne
    I notice the fridge – you will love Kenmore appliances – I had a Kenmore Elite fridge and loved it. The thing you will love the most is the draw under the fruit & vegetable draws – It holds so many things.
    I wish I still had it. When we sold our house it stayed –

    Your table setting is stunning.’
    I felt like I was looking at the Barefoot Contestant’s Table. Beautiful
    Have a great day
    Rose

  8. Victoria Schwalbe says:

    I too have a frig with that drawer below the fruit and veg drawers. I don’t know how I survived with out one for so many years. Great place to keep eggs, cheeses, sandwich meats, tortilla for wraps…all of those odd shaped packages that don’t really stack well. I also never start to clean up while our guests are still here. I always make sure all of the counters and sinks are clean and empty so I have lots of space to stack the used dishes neatly. Having a small dinner party tonight for friends who are leaving tomorrow morning for a couple of months in Florida. I told her to bring containers to take leftovers home so they don’t have to live on fast food on their 3 day journey. Your timing schedule is spot on and that way you know you won’t forget anything. Ever find the rolls after guests have left? Been there, done that. Great tips Yvonne…as always.

  9. I follow the same system as you, Yvonne, but I always seem to run into one problem and wonder how you handle it. When your guests arrive and you’re serving the appetizers, what do you do about beverages? Do you use the water or wine glasses from the table? Do you use a whole other set? What do you do with their drinks and glasses when they’re ready to be seated for the meal? This part always has me stumped. Any advice?

    1. Lynn Knight says:

      New glasses please.
      I always have a beverage ready for thirsty guests when they arrive. Self serve is my favorite. Typically I do a punch or wine and water.
      I would rather the table remain pretty for the meal as well. I like knowing I don’t need to jump up to find/ and sometimes wash a glass and leave my guests without a hostess.
      This also helps me control quantities served and keeps me in my budget for the event.

      1. Maria Isabella says:

        Your self serve idea is a really good one, Lynn! But then when you eventually ask your guests to take their seats at your table, what do you do with their half-empty glasses of wine, water, or punch? My guests usually want to finish what they’ve started and bring their glasses to the table with them, which causes confusion and mess because there are already glasses on the table. This is the part that really stumps me. Any advise here?

  10. Laurie Dinoto says:

    So lovely! You are inspiring me to get back into the kitchen. Many thanks…

  11. Me too Maria Isabella! In fact, I will sometimes forego the appetizer for this very reason!!!! Eager to hear how Miss Yvonne beautifully manages this dilemma! :)))
    Thank you for this wonderful step-by-step blueprint for stress-less entertaining. I am convinced more of us would entertain more often if we felt more confident and less stressed.
    Blessings!

  12. Always great advice, Yvonne. That’s why i enjoy your blog so much.

  13. Toni LeBlanc says:

    Great question about the stemware. I usually end up having empty glasses on the table because everyone brings their drink/wine glass to the table. Another question…What do you do? Set the table and go collect the dishes right before serving, bring food to table( which I never do) or have guest get their plate from the table and serve themselves.

  14. Linda Sitton says:

    Loved your article and hints, they really inspire. Anytime I have a dinner party or have a game night with friends my husband calls me “Hyacinth Bucket!” Even though he means in for fun, I always get complements for the evening with hopes of doing it again soon. Would also love to have double ovens. I do have a french door refrigerator and love it. When I need to up grade, I will with the pro.

  15. I always wanted a double oven too. House we are in ow came with regular stovetop/oven and then a combination microwave/convection oven. I love, love, love it! Not as big as regular oven, but can use as micro, or perfect for smaller casseroles, bread, etc in convection mode. Do consider it….mine is wall mointed under cupboards and above countertop, so it doesnt eat up my countertop. I have the french door refrigerator and, while great for wide items like pizza boxes, etc, i really hate having to bend over amd dig through the lower freezer bins and lift stuff out. I liked my old side by side so much better…….

  16. Great ideas and tips. Your menu sounds great. Have a great party. I also love your choice of appliances .

  17. GwenCondi says:

    I’m in a Bunco group and we each have a month to host. We do serve dinner and dessert during prizes being handed out. With 12 women, we do help get the dishes out of the way and the food put away. It makes for a quick job with three or four helping and the rest visit and set up the game. We seem to be laughing and in less than ten minutes we are playing away.
    I do make my menu –I start planning a couple months ahead! And get help to keep on schedule. I also like to do things I can prepare earlier in the day too. I love your timeline too. My mom always had one.
    I’m ready for company. Even just dessert to start!!
    Your recipes sound delicious too. Thank you

  18. It is my turn for the dinner group of gourmet cooks (less one gourmet cook)….I use post it notes all over the kitchen!…Wish me luck as I try Beef Wellington for the dinner….I will use all of your wonderful tips!

  19. Thank you for really breaking this down in schedule form. You seem to be very skilled at entertaining, so I’ll ask a couple questions that I have trouble with…How do you keep your bread warm, and what type of bread basket and liner do you use? Thank you!

    1. Great question. I wrap my bread in foil and put it in the oven right before I need it so it get’s warm. If I need to “hold” the bread I wrap it in a couple of bath towels and put it in my laundry room until ready. Hope this helps.

  20. Nan, Odessa, DE says:

    Give me some hints on the music –
    I know nothing about playlist. Is this what you use?
    Tell me how to have music without playlist and surround sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Any hints would be appreciated. You made me aware of a weak link in my dinner parties. HELP!

    1. Maria Isabella says:

      Hi Nan, I use Spotify or Pandora (both free apps) on my iPhone.Then I bought an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker and used it to sync with my iPhone to play the songs on my Spotify or Pandora playlist (so easy to do)! Hope this helps.

  21. Yvonne,
    Great tips for planning a “perfect” dinner party, dear friend!!!
    One thing, not on a list, but in my mind. . .are meaningful tasks for guests, should they ask.
    LOVE your flower choice!!! Those hues are gorgeous!!!
    I have that refrigerator. . .and I l o v e it!!! It’s truly, the “p a r t y” fridge!!!
    Now, let’s see when can I host an upcoming dinner party???
    Fondly,
    Pat