Hosting Tips!
Keep things simple: Serve what’s in season and choose appetizers and desserts you can prepare in advance.
Don’t overdo it by making too many different items. Three is the magic number for different appetizers.Rule of thumb: if you are only serving finger food, then figure 6-8 pieces of each appetizer per person. If you are serving a buffet or meal, then figure 3-4 pieces of each, per person.
Use help from the store. Supplement some of your own gourmet cooking with store-bought delights. This means less stress and prep for you and your friends will hardly know the difference- they’re coming for a sociable gathering not the culinary experience.
Set a cozy scene by moving your furniture around to accommodate your food items and/or bar area for an easy traffic flow for guests. Try to optimize mingling for your guests by moving food away from the kitchen and setup in the main living space. Separate the bar and food area, since the most congestion will be by the beverages.
By grouping large furniture pieces in your main space to various corners of the room allows for smaller conversation areas that can each be highlighted by a food theme.
You don’t need to redecorate your entire home for your gathering; it’s all about the attention to detail. Set the mood by using candles throughout your space. Alert your guests that it is time to come to the table by dimming your lights. Place floral arrangements around the room, focusing on a single color scheme.
Serve guests from a sidebar in an orderly buffet-style meal instead of crowding the main dining area with an abundance of serving dishes. Keep centerpiece décor to a minimum height so your guests won’t have to peek through shrubbery or dodge tall items to interact with one another. Remember: You want your party to be elegante but also comfortable, leaving your guests with a memorable time with friends.