For some people, inviting people over for a meal comes naturally. Maybe you grew up in a home where your parents served you well, or maybe you have a knack for being very organized and calm while coordinating all the moving parts of putting a meal on the table. And for the rest of us, we want to invite people over but are stuck with all the reasons why we put it off.
Hosting doesn’t have to be formal. It doesn’t have to look like my party or any other party you see on Instagram. The point of hosting is to bring people together to spend time together. The size of your home or your cooking skills don’t matter. Even without the pressure of comparison, the thought of having so many things to do before and during such a situation can be overwhelming.
Hassle-free hosting
I hope you invite people. So I asked my friend (and generous host): lisa Wit & Delight is co-hosting a new fun series called “Come Over For…” In each post, we share all the essential information you need to host a fun party centered around a specific theme or idea. This includes a timeline the day before and the day of, a detailed grocery list, and recipes for each menu item. The series aims to make it easy for groups of friends or family to recreate this type of event.
Lisa and I have been cooking and sharing meals for a long time. She is a wonderful hostess, kind and relaxed, both for large parties and small dinners. She is also an amazing cook and has developed her own recipes. All the recipes in this post are made by her! By collaborating on this series, we are exploring a richer approach to hosting that combines our styles and expertise.
Submit your email here Get recipes, a full grocery list, and a hosting timeline.
In addition to cooking and entertaining, Lisa is the founder of: Hackwith Design House And a multi-hyphenate creative who is good at everything she does. And the important thing is that she has confidence in her creative ability. I really admire that about her, because half of creativity is the willingness to try.
Lisa and I wanted to keep all the recipes and steps in this series light and doable. Fun without all the unnecessary hassle. A reminder that a simple approach to hosting can still feel special.
Come… Casual Dinner Party
For our first iteration, we curated a casual dinner party that was easy, beautiful, delicious, and memorable. It was a tall order to fill, but we did it! The menu for this casual dinner party was designed to be easy to bring to the table, but still special. It’s vegetarian, filling, and delicious, so everyone will be satisfied.
Here’s the menu, including cocktails to start your evening:
- Vermouth Spritz
- Thinly sliced fennel, toasted hazelnuts and arugula salad
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta
- Lemon Panna Cotta
Submit your email here Get recipes, a full grocery list, and a hosting timeline.
5 Tips for Easy Enjoyment
Whenever I throw a dinner party, I keep the following in mind to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable evening:
1. Create a menu
We took care of this for you.! When creating a dinner party menu, I like to consider the number of people attending and the steps it takes to get the food on the table. This menu is suitable for up to 6 people, but can easily be expanded without much effort.
Here’s another tip: If you want to make and practice a new recipe, do a demonstration first. Make it for your family or yourself a week before the party so you can get used to the steps.
2. Plan ahead
Plan your dinner party so you don’t have to rush the evening. Lisa and I put it together. Timeline Planning ahead of time what to do and what to do before the party will help you get a feel for the pace of the party and the flow of the evening.
For more tips on planning, creating a guest list, and sending out invitations, read this post: “How to Plan a Dinner Party: Top Tips to Simplify the Process”
3. Keep it simple
No elaborate table decorations or ambiance are needed. When it comes to setting the table, I believe that simplicity is always more elegant. For this dinner party, all I had on the table was a striped tablecloth, tapered candles, and some fresh fruit. Add a flower arrangement to the seating area nearby, Good playlistAnd let go of everything else.
4. Ask for help
For this dinner party, I showed up early to help Lisa before the other guests arrived. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! It can ease last-minute stress and make the preparation process much more enjoyable. Here are some tasks you can ask your helper to do:
- Make a cocktail
- Make your own salad dressing
- Chop the fennel and fruit for the salad.
- Clean up the dishes that pile up while cooking.
- Set the table
5. Go with the flow
If you plan ahead and do your best to not rush, you will be ready to enjoy the event with your guests. All of this is to say, things will go wrong. Laugh it off, ask for help, and remember that the best memories are often the ones that go off the rails. I have never thrown a party where something didn’t go wrong. Dessert wasn’t ready, plates were forgotten, the music stopped, the rice got burnt. That’s okay. It happens to everyone. The more you host, the easier it becomes to just go with the flow and have fun.
Submit your email here Get recipes, a full grocery list, and a hosting timeline.
There’s more to come! This series will continue over the next few months. And it won’t always be about dinner parties. We’d love to share ideas for simple dessert parties, afternoon teas, no-cook lunches, friendsgiving, and more. Stay tuned!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is Testing the limits of her creativity. Follow her on Instagram @withanddellight_.
