We're having guests
for dinner on Friday!!!
Friday is an easy night to get together. The workweek is over. We can all relax over a bottle of wine and a decadent dessert. Recently we've been having friends over for dinner a lot! And I love it!! Nothing better than a home-cooked meal shared amongst friends in the comfortable atmosphere of your own home!
I love to entertain and here I am sharing some simple tips to have a love-filled meal with extended family and your circle of friends:
Tip 1. …yet be flexible.
Know of a family member who’s allergic to fish? Or a friend who’s turned vegan? Keep that in mind when planning the menu for the dinner. A little thoughtfulness can go a long way in making family members and friends feel really special.
The most important thing to remember is that guests will try to make your time as simple as possible, and often respond with lines such as “I’ll eat anything!” or “Whatever you want!” The key to being a good host is anticipating things, and not accepts that your vegetarian friend “Doesn’t care if there is bacon in that”. A little time and effort will make your dinner better than any fancy soho dinner.
It may sound like a dream to serve cheese souffle, but unless you’ve mastered it you might end up serving cheese soup. Make your signature never-fail dish (or at least something simple) and you’ll be guaranteed success.
Tip 3. Make it special.
So you make your signature dish? Don’t eat it on same way like if you would be on Sunday night catching up on magazine reading. Sit at the table, add some flowers and nice candles; a simple meal becomes a special event. Hong Kong offers a lot of place to find nice and cheap tableware!
If you rock in the kitchen prepare some nice starters! Fresh guacamole is always a win bet. You also can rock by trying a pack of ready guacamole or hummus with grissini or pita bread for starts before to go in to the table.
Tip 4. …the extra bits.
Dishes aren’t the only important foodie items. Make sure to have your guest’s favorite staples (orange or apple juice, coffee or tea, red or white wine).
Drinks. Try some easy and exotic drinks to warm up the night. I would offer some sparkling wine with chopped strawberries. If you guest are not drinking alcohol, try some bubbles with sparkling water, cranberry juice and some fresh blue berries. Those drinks are so easy and nice, even for somebody who is new in the kitchen arts, like my friend Yuri.
Add some nice color napkins and a very nice tablecloth; try the local markets of Hong Kong or the souvenir shops to find something on the budget.
Tip 5. Be home-y
Make your guest feel at home. Always offer them something, even if you aren’t hungry. If your guest feels at home, the pressure is off, so even if you do attempt that soufflé, a fail wouldn’t be so bad.
Friday night is the perfect time to pull out your casual dinner party ideas. Everyone is glad it’s the end of the week and nobody expects gourmet. In fact they probably prefer to come over, pour a glass of wine and gather round as you pull together easy dinner party ideas. Enjoy!
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