Planning a Dinner Party

There are tons of factors to consider when throwing your own bash: who to invite, what to wear, how long will it take to clean your house, and most importantly the menu. Luckily I’m the food department of Cooking with Caitlin and this is something I’m always thinking about. Here are a few party menu planning tips to take into consideration the next time you find yourself creating a menu.

When we throw a party, the three of us actually get to have fun doing what we love – and this involves food and people. Here’s my take on our events: Molly will walk in all dressed up ready to welcome guests, Kelly will spend the better part of an event, learning everyone’s names and details of their family tree, and I always arrive, with arms packed with food and wine, ready to feed everybody. We all grew up with parents who loved entertaining and I think we are carrying on the tradition very well.

There are tons of factors to consider when throwing your own bash: who to invite, what to wear, how long will it take to clean your house, and most importantly the menu. Luckily I’m the food department of Cooking with Caitlin and this is something I’m always thinking about. Here are a few party menu planning tips to take into consideration the next time you find yourself creating a menu.

Dinner Party Planning

#1 Make food you feel comfortable serving. Whether it is McDonald’s on a silver platter or homemade gnocchi in a creamy marinara sauce, make sure you feel great serving your party menu. What’s worse than having a frazzled host who refuses help?

#2 Dinner party menu: design a menu that allows you to be part of the party. You didn’t create this amazing gathering to not be a part of it. Even if you have to hire a caterer, let yourself off the hook – the last thing you want is for your new dress to be splattered with gravy and your makeup to melt off as you stir the soup.

#3 Make enough food for everyone – even potential party crashers. I’m from the school of thought that more is better when it comes to food. I dare anyone to come to our events and not leave full. I find it hard as a guest when you are only allowed one appetizer, one protein, and one starch. I know in theory that should fill most people, but what if your guests arrive ravenous? Plus leftovers aren’t a bad thing – send the leftovers home with your guests as parting gifts if you need to.

#4 Have options. Whenever we throw a party there are at least 3-5 appetizers. I know that not everybody is going to like everything but if they love something then they can have two. Be aware of your guests in terms of a picking your protein, and not making too heavy of a menu with just one ingredient.

#5 Party food ideas: create a fun menu. Whether served family style or in a fondue pot, get your guests together. Why not be memorable? Perhaps it’s just me but I can tell you the menu from every great wedding, baptism, birthday, or even Sunday night dinner. If I can’t remember, the food probably wasn’t as great.