Hosting The Perfect Dinner Party
Whether you're throwing a bold Italian, laid back Parisian or modern Australian dinner party, there are a few things to consider in preparation for the perfect dinner party. Entertaining at home doesn't have to be a labour of love, there are many benefits to skipping the hustle and bustle of a restaurant for an intimate get together within your own home.
Food, drink, friends and good conversation, no need to wait for a special occasion to host your dinner party - read on for our top tips on entertaining at home.
Preparing for the night
Pick a date
Decide who to invite
Choose a theme
Consider dietary requirements
Start thinking about menus
Researched paired wines or cocktails
Organise table settings
Source any hard to find ingredients ahead of time
Getting a professional chef
If you'd prefer to take a back seat on the food side of things and focus on the ambience, you can consider calling in the professionals. Not being a whizz in the kitchen shouldn't hold you back from the perfect night in. There are loads of online services to help you find the perfect chef or menu, and the best part is not spending a minute cooking or cleaning. www.gathar.com.au and www.atyourtable.com.au both offer private chef experiences at home, and you can browse by menu, chef, location and price per person.
Order dessert, salads and sides
Take some pressure off by ordering elements of the menu from local restaurants. Most restaurants offer takeaway menus which means you can serve your favourite desserts, salads or sides without all the prep work.
Take advantage of your surroundings
Will you choose to turn your dining room into the perfect dinner party destination or prefer to go alfresco? If you have open plan living, you can move furniture into a spare room, hire some tables and chairs and create a grand long table setting. However, the number of people you're catering for might make your options limited. Most modern apartments have dedicated floors for entertaining, with BBQ areas for casual get togethers, right up to dedicated function rooms and kitchen facilities.
Consider your drinks list
Elevate your menu by pairing your wine or cocktails with your dishes. Starting the night with a glass of light bubbles or a signature cocktail is a great way to get everyone to mingle before sitting down for the first dish. There are plenty of online resources for pairing wine and flavours, or you can find a smaller boutique cellar that has a wine guru on hand to help out.
Music
Any good party needs music! If you're planning a sit down dinner where everyone can chat, something lighter like acoustic covers or jazz might be your best bet, and then you can switch to something more lively as the night progresses. Creating a playlist ahead of time will ensure you don't have to worry about being the DJ on the night. If you have a record player, you could invite friends to bring their favourite vinyl or create a playlist on Spotify and invite guests to collaborate on a playlist for a great mix that appeals to everyone.
If you love dining and entertaining, then Cremorne on Fish Lane can be your ideal address. Featuring 'Heart of the Home Kitchens' with slick SMEG Dolce Stil Novo appliances and built-in variable zone wine cabinets, you'll be everyone's favourite dinner party host. Cremorne's Green Room also offers beautiful functions rooms with kitchen facilities, so you can host the ultimate gathering or celebration with plenty of room to dine, sip and dance the night away.