My resolution is to host more - help me with nice dinner party/ group hosting tips and ideas please

[enidblythe]

We finally have a space to entertain as we completed our kitchen Reno in November. I d love to host more large get togethers.
I m an OK cook not the best not the worst.
What are your hosting menus and any ideas that make it a little special or different ?

I want to keep a few menu ideas handy and I want to get a few things together to have to help this -
Large serving platter / and some extra crockery and dishes for example

Grateful for any tips

I quite like hosting an afternoon tea as it's not particularly tricky and you can make whatever cake and sandwiches you like. For the coronation I did Welsh cakes and millionaires shortbread (didn't realise at the time how appropriate that combination was), prawn sandwiches and egg and cress sandwiches. Bbc good food is fairly reliable for recipes.

If you have time and energy it can be quite fun hunting for platters and cake stands in charity shops.

Love the idea of charity shops for platters that s super, might try some auctions / markets too actually

I hadn't considered sambos type combos and actually that could be a good idea

Would love some good one pot wonders type of meals - beef bourgignon maybe

Keep you extra plates, bowls and cutlery in ziplock bags in the garage so you don’t have to wash them every time you bring them in

Get friends to bring a dish

Extra wine glasses - factor more glasses than guests

Paper napkins - ikea do nice printed ones

you can never have enough serving plates/ bowls/platters

I like meals with friends where you assemble your own food. Things like fajitas, wraps, various different salads and bits and pieces. Even desserts like sundae with a variety of toppings.

Lamb shoulder with flatbreads / tsatsiki / pomegranate / roasted veggies is a great and very easy one

I'm a fan of big lasagnes can be assembled ahead of guests arriving.

This is amazing slow cooked beef stew: www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/beefbraisedinbeerwit_79803

Curries from scratch again can all be cooked ahead just heated / add naan / cook rice and bought samosas etc

Fajitas is fun and can be very quick once guests arrive.

Homemade pizzas

Key to successful hosting is to have a plan, all the ingredients and get as much prepped either the day before on first thing in the morning.

This might sound pretentious, but I like to have an appropriate glass for the drink. Red and white wine should have different glasses. I hate wine served in one of those thick rimmed glasses you would get at a pub.

Oh thanks

I need to try a few different curry recipies to get the 'crowd pleaser' one I think, as I don't quite have one that s great. But yes in theory a huge curry is good.

Fahitas, we have them a lot as a family dinner not sure why I don't love the idea for a crowd. Maybe it s all the different bowls of salsa guacamole veg etc

Though a large jug of margarita is easy to make to go with that isn't it and fun too so maybe should consider!

Good ideas on plates storage, and having enough glassware - am generally good for thst

Paella

Lasagne, garlic bread and a salad = a classic and relatively easy meal. It won't win any prizes but suits many people.

Random: shop for chocolate moulds in a generic pleasing shape or seasonal like Christmas tree. Let butter soften a bit, press into mould and freeze. In 20 minutes out pops custom butter. Either personal size or one large for the table depending on the mould you choose. It's a nice touch.

Brunch is a good way to entertain.

I’m a fan of getting everything sorted before people arrive. No last minute stuff!

There are some nice recipes for slow cooked lamb (or beef/ venison which works well. You can prep mash (or use frozen) and reheat in the oven. Red cabbage. Cauliflower cheese…

Ottolenghi style sharing platters of veggie type starters. Some kind of mousse or ice cream for dessert. Nigella does a nice lemon cream pots which you can serve with shortbread.

@enidblythe - you’d probably get better responses in the Recipe threads too… At least check them out! 🙂

The hairy bikers Beef bourguignon recipe is wonderful.

I rarely do starters nowadays but do put out nibbles on arrival. It's then main meal, dessert, cheese & biscuits and fruit all on the table afterwards.

This just works for us and the friends we have round regularly and we're all over the formal 3 course affairs of days gone by.

I can highly recommend Delia Smiths beef with walnuts - can be made the day before and reheated and everyone loves it. Ditto mash which goes well with it.

I do a huge traybake with red onions, sausages, new potatoes, garlic and fresh rosemary. Throw in tomatoes on the vine towards the end.
Tip it on to a big serving platter and serve with some greens and crusty bread.
I think it's a Waitrose recipe but I get asked to cook it every-time one group of people come over.

It is so good to read this post! I read so many posts on mumsnet of people saying they never let people into their house, their home is their sanctuary and don't host etc etc. It's made me so thankful for my sociable set of friends.
Meal suggestions aside, I always think it's good to have a good cocktail made up for when people arrive (both alcoholic and a mocktail), don't bother with starters but always have nibbles. And we all seem to be really into board games at the moment so we do that after dinner if we're not too knackered.
It's also a brilliant way to introduce friends to each other.
LOVE a dinner party!!!

The key is to be as organised as possible before guests arrive. One of my favourite menus is filo wrapped feta oven baked and drizzled with honey and sesame seeds with a little pomegranate salad. Then a lamb leg or shoulder with flatbreads, tzatziki and salad or herby couscous and cumin roasted carrots with goats cheese crumbled on top and honey. For dessert I love meringues topped with rose water infused cream and pistachios, lemon and thyme tart or tiramisu.

My favourite crowd pleaser curry is this one despitethesnow.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/a-kashmiri-curry/

It's honestly amazing!!! I love making naan but you can buy really good ones in Indian supermarkets.

I also love a good chicken or steak and take pie with loads of mash and roasted root veg and an easy grazing/charcuterie board to start.

You can never have enough serving dishes- TK Maxx is excellent for these and I like to keep my table dressing pretty simple with candles and maybe a couple of small vases of fresh flowers.

I also love a good playlist. Apple Music has lots of dinner party style ones but I'm too fussy so love to make my own depending on who's coming.

Happy hosting!!!

Keep it simple and organise the cooking over two days, if possible.

I like meals based around the cuisines of different countries, Greek, Spanish, or Belgian for example. It's nice to have aperitifs that tie in with the theme too if possible, such as sherry before the Spanish meal.

Highly recommend Mrs Balbir singh curry spices, they come with easy to follow recipe cards and she has an instagram account

https://mrsbalbirsingh.com/?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADEeW9e8xJNbwMQD0HPjbhhB1ksVp&gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9m7BhD1ARIsANsIIvCj5GR2C988plgu00DL52D86cGyGrfWWVTduf2bGG85DJCli0UbUaArtsEALww_wcB

Cheese / charcuterie boards are the way to go. I rarely have people for dinner now - far too stressful trying to get the timing right and you don’t really get to chat if you are the chef. Will stretch to making pizza if I really have to (with pre prepared pizza bases)

Some great ideas and links here 😊

Why have I never thought that a well presented charcuterie board would do the job of a meal? Excellent suggestion @AncientBallerina

Our classic go-tos are duck masala, lamb shoulder roasted with anchovies and olives, or slow-roast Gochujang beef. Crisps/nibbles to start. Cake (or if I’m feeling lazy lemon posset) for pudding. Lots of really good wine. Love having people round, but until we redo our kitchen/diner we can’t fit in many!

I like serving brunch. It means folk go home at a decent time.