The Hostest Writes A Postest

I love entertaining...well, I like the idea of it anyway. When push comes to shove, hosting events can be downright nerve-racking. But over the years I've mellowed out and learned a few tricks. For example, now not every room in my house need be spotless before visitors arrive. (And if you've already seen my house once, I won't knock myself out to scrub it for your second perusal.)

In fact, here's an untouched shot of what you'd find on a typical day at my home. Say, like, if you stopped by today.

Paper piles are the bane of my existence.

But I recall my first dinner party years ago. I was newly married, living in an apartment, and only beginning to take an interest in cooking. I didn't realize that a host must be organized in order to pull off a meal for six. The whole affair went a little something like this:

• Invite friends over for the coming Saturday.
• Look at a few cookbooks to get recipe ideas. Settle on one Friday night: Chicken Corn Chowder. That's it. Just Chicken Corn Chowder.
• An hour before friends come, go to the grocery store to pick up the necessary ingredients.
• Arrive back at my apartment just as friends are showing up.
• Freak out. I haven't even begun cooking anything yet!
• Welcome friends inside. Find out that one friend won't eat corn, and another won't eat chicken.
• Set three pots on the stove: one for Chicken Corn Chowder, one for Corn Chowder, and one for Chicken Chowder. Begin making all three variations at once.
• Figure out what to serve on the side. I think I have some bread around here! And water. Perfect.
• Oh yeah, I guess I should set the table too.
• Oops, there's not enough room for us all to fit comfortably. Cram 'em in!
• When everyone is starving, set the food on the table and eat.

That dinner party fiasco taught me valuable lessons that I never forgot. I entertain at least once a month these days, and my routine looks nothing like the list above. Allow me to share my new normal:

• Invite friends over for the coming Saturday.
• Ask them if they have any food allergies or dietary requirements that I should keep in mind. 
• Select a theme for the menu well in advance: Asian, Latin, African, Classic American...consider how adventurous (or not) my guests are. Then scour the internet for ideas-- or even more fun, the library!
• Some favorite recipe spots: Epicurious, Martha Stewart, The Pioneer Woman, America's Test Kitchen and Food Network.
• Start with one must-make recipe and build the menu around that. (Whether it's a side, main dish or drink matters not.) 
• Disregard recipes that do not contain a "make-ahead" element. If I want to be relaxed in the kitchen when guests arrive, I need to step away from the stove.
• Typically, I include a main dish, a vegetable side, a starch side, a fruit side (optional), a drink, and dessert. Sometimes I make it fancy, sometimes I make it simple. I like both.
• Grocery shop 1-2 days before the party.
• Prep all I can the day before.
• Set the table the morning of.
• Time dinner so that it's ready 15-20 minutes after my guests are due to arrive. (I find most people show up late.) Make appetizers available for the early birds.

Two ending thoughts: 

• I rarely request guests bring an item for a meal at my home. You are my guests. Don't fight me on this, people, Miss Manners has my back. Of course, exceptions may apply in certain circumstances. For instance, an impromptu potluck with family or friends, major holidays (my mom doesn't deserve to be stuck making everything), or a jointly-hosted affair.
• And secondly, I still bomb, despite my years of experience. Just ask the members of my small group. (Two words: Pad Thai.) But I don't let mistakes bother me. In fact, those times make for some of the best stories and/or learning experiences. And the pizza delivery guy is always just a phone call away.

So be brave! Invite someone over for dinner this month. It's a lost art. Revive it, and reap the rewards!