Planning
a Dinner Party Menu

Planning a dinner party menu
.......as simple as
A - B - C

Availability - Balance - Cooking Methods

Dinner Party Menu - AVAILABILITY

• First and foremost, I always try to work some seasonal produce into my dinner party menu. Even just a “hint” of the season is better than none - perhaps a fresh asparagus first course, or beautiful, sweet summer fruits in the dessert. But whatever you do, don't fight the seasons - a rich Game Casserole in the heat of summer, or a Spring Vegetable Consommé in the dead of winter will not impress your guests!

• Try to use fresh, natural produce wherever possible. You just can't compare the flavor of a freshly roasted free-range chicken with that of a frozen or pre-packed bird off the supermarket shelf! And experiment with organic foods, especially organic vegetables which are so much more flavoursome.

• Where a recipe calls for a specialty gourmet food ingredient which isn't available in your area, try shopping online. There are many excellent online gourmet food stores who will deliver right to your door. For the very best, try Dean & Deluca in New York or Fortnum & Mason in London. Buying just one or two small luxury items from stores like this will add a real touch of elegance to your dinner party menu.

• But whatever you choose to cook, don't get stressed if you can't locate the exact ingredients or produce. Instead, simply choose another dish!

CLICK HERE to see a Sample Dinner Party Menu

Dinner Party Menu - BALANCE

• Try to combine different colours, textures and flavours. Smooth followed by chunky, sweet complemented by sour, fish followed by meat........

• Choose lighter dishes at the beginning of the menu, saving the heavier and more substantial for main course. A rich dessert to finish off the dinner party is fine as long as you serve only a SMALL portion.......!

• Don't serve a strongly flavoured first course followed by a lightly flavoured main course. If you do, the delicate flavours of the main dish will be totally lost.....

• Don't over use any single ingredient. Cheese for example is perfect in any course, but over-kill if it turns up in every course......!

Dinner Party Menu - COOKING METHODS

Try to avoid main course recipes that call for last minute complex, or time consuming preparations. The trick is to have as much of the menu pre-prepared as possible, with only the finishing to do at the last minute. This puts less pressure on your time when you want to be with your guests.

Simplicity Rules - ok?

• Restrict the menu to a minimum of two and a maximum of four courses.

• Don't attempt any dish that you are not confident with.

• Don't try to incorporate too many different flavours in any one dish. Let the simple, fresh, uncluttered flavours shine through.

• Try to keep a single “theme” throughout the menu, for example Eastern, European or Classic American cuisine.

• Even if you choose a classic gastranomique French theme, always write the menu in English!

• Don't be tempted into extravagance or excess PURELY to impress. Use expensive, specialty foods sparingly. These days, "less is more"!

• Don't get carried away with over the top, extravagant garnishes and decorations. Let the quality of the food and presentation speak for itself! KEEP IT SIMPLE!

For Tips on How To Plan a Dinner Party CLICK HERE

Practical Limitations

• Consider your kitchen space and equipment. Have you got enough cooking pans, and of the right size?

• Do you have enough china, serving dishes/platters, cutlery and glassware without having to wash up between courses?

• Is your dining table big enough? Take account of the extra space needed for placing serving bowls and platters on the table.

• Consider your time availability and flexibility. If you try to be over ambitious then at the very least you will tire yourself out, get yourself stressed and you won't enjoy the dinner party.....or at the very worst, it will all end in disaster!

“Cheat” a Little!

Buy in some prepared food for delivery to your door. There are so many excellent quality gourmet prepared dishes which can be bought simply and quickly online. Buy in just one course, or two, and leave yourself more time to concentrate on the other dishes.

Or if the budget will allow it, consider hiring a Personal Chef for the evening. You can even have one of these Chefs come into your kitchen before the dinner party, prepare several dishes and chill them. The dinner party menu then only needs you to do the reheating and then to serve it with a little touch of style and flair.

No-one ever needs to know your little “secret”!

only £3.95 (approx. $8)

• Planning the dinner party menu
• Table setting
• Comprehensive wine overview
• Hosting tips
• Printable planning guide
• Printable menu planning worksheet
• A collection of excellent dinner party recipes.....and much, much more!
  
  
  
  

  I can highly recommend this book for its common sense, down to earth approach to planning a dinner party. Treat yourself, or give it as a gift - at only £3.95 (approx. $8) it's a great investment!
  

  Once you have successfully completed your payment using Google Checkout or PayPal, your eBook will be emailed to you normally within 12 hours. Should you not receive it within that time frame, please contact me.
  
  

  ---

  
  To go from my Dinnery Party Menu Suggestion
  My Holiday Menu Ideas
  CLICK HERE

  
  

  
  

  ---