| There is a lot of planning that goes into a | | | | Not very appetizing is it? Everything is white or |
| successful dinner party menu. In order to pull it | | | | beige. Now, think what this plate would look like... |
| off, you'll have to ask yourself some questions. | | | | Turkey Breast with Cranberry Beurre Blanc |
| WHO? Who are your guests going to be? | | | | Polenta Parmesan DiamondsBroccoli Rapini with |
| Do any of the potential guests have any food | | | | Lemon Zest Sounds much better doesn't it? Yet |
| allergies or food restrictions?For example, Maybe | | | | the main dish, Turkey Breast is the same and |
| someone can't eat peanuts. Or maybe some one | | | | there is a starch and a vegetable also. But the |
| is Vegetarian. It would be a shame to have | | | | colors!! White, Red Yellow and Green!!Try to get a |
| someone who is allergic to shellfish come to the | | | | variety of textures on the plate... for example, |
| party only to find that the main course is | | | | don't have everything on the plate mushy or |
| Maryland Crab Cakes with Chipotle Tartar Sauce. | | | | everything fried. Try to incorporate something |
| Now, most people with food allergies or food | | | | silky on a generally crispy plate, or something |
| intolerances will remember to ask what is being | | | | crunchy on a generally soft plate. Think about |
| served, but sometimes they don't do so until the | | | | how the food will feel in your mouth. Aim for at |
| day of the party. A good host or hostess will | | | | least one different texture.Try to have different |
| take that fact into consideration when planning the | | | | shapes on the plate: triangle, square, round. The |
| dinner party menu. Make a list of potential guests | | | | key here is to NOT have everything the same |
| and find out if they have any food allergies and | | | | shape. But not everything has to be different |
| or food restrictions. Something like this might | | | | either.Think about the relationship that the foods |
| _____ | | | | on the plate have with each other. Are they |
| | | | compatible? Do the major flavors blend? This is a |
| ____ | | | | somewhat esoteric question and difficult to get |
| | | | without a lot of experience, but think about it this |
| ____ | | | | way.... Does more than one item contain the same |
| | | | ingredient? Is there garlic in everything? Do two |
| ____ | | | | or more things contain vinegar? Does the |
| | | | spiciness of one item overpower the delicate |
| ____ | | | | flavor of something else?Do the foods have a |
| | | | compatible relationship?Just as a general rule, don't |
| ____ | | | | overpower your guests with too much garlic or |
| | | | onions. These foods are the basis for developing |
| ____ | | | | great flavor, but tend to give people bad breath if |
| | | | eaten in large quantities. Also remember that |
| ____ | | | | beans can cause flatulence and may be |
| | | | embarassing at a dinner party.You'll also have to |
| ____ | | | | check your equipment. |
| | | | By "equipment", here, I mean:How many guests |
| ____ | | | | can fit at your table?How many place settings and |
| | | | what kind of tableware do you have?Do you |
| ____WHEN? When is a good time to have the | | | | have enough table linens? napkins?What size? |
| Dinner Party?What day of the week? Do most of | | | | What color? |
| your guests have the same work schedule? | | | | Glassware? |
| What time of the day? Are there people who | | | | Silverware? |
| can come earlier but not later? | | | | Salt and pepper shakers?Do you have anything |
| When do the Trash men come? You'll usually | | | | to use as a centerpiece?For example, a vase? |
| have more trash to take out after a | | | | Candles? Be Careful with the flame!!!If you need |
| party.WHERE? Where do you want the guests to | | | | extra space, do you have any card tables or |
| be?Do you have enough space in your home for | | | | craft tables that you can cover with a table cloth |
| the invited guests? Do you have to trim the | | | | to serve as a buffet?If you don't have enough of |
| guest list or find a larger space? What about | | | | these items, you can rent them from a Party |
| outdoors? HOW MANY? How many courses do | | | | Supply Store, or buy them.What equipment and |
| you want to serve?Before you get too carried | | | | cookware do you have in your |
| away, ask yourself some simple questions.. | | | | kitchen?Remember, you can't make recipes that |
| How good a chef are you? Would you rate | | | | need special equipment, if you don't have the |
| yourself a gourmet chef or are you just learning | | | | special equipment. For example, Do you have a |
| how to cook? Can you prepare fancy French | | | | deep fryer? a crepe pan? a bundt cake pan? etc. |
| recipes or do you need quick and easy | | | | What about cutlery and knives?How many |
| recipes?Hors | | | | burners on your stove?You can't make six things |
| D'Oeuvre_________________________ | | | | that have to be cooked on the top of the stove |
| Cold | | | | and served at the same time if you only have |
| Appetizers________________________ | | | | four burners. |
| | | | How many ovens?On a tentative menu: How |
| ___ | | | | many things need to be Baked? Roasted? |
| Warm | | | | Braised?How many refrigerators do you have? |
| Appetizers_______________________ | | | | How much space in them? Can you clean them |
| | | | out to make more space? |
| ___ | | | | How much counter space do you have? |
| | | | Do you have a dishwasher? |
| __ | | | | Will it hold all the plates, cups, silverware |
| | | | etc?Food Preparation Flow: |
| ___ | | | | For each menu item, figure: |
| | | | What will be the flow of the food? |
| __ | | | | From storage (where?) Pantry? Fridge? |
| | | | Freezer? Porch?....... |
| ___ | | | | to Preparation (where?) Countertop? Sink? .......... |
| | | | to Cooking (where?) Stove Top or Oven? |
| __ | | | | Grill? Microwave? Remember that you have to |
| | | | have enough space to prepare everything on |
| ____ | | | | your menu.Timing For each menu item:Go over |
| | | | the recipe and figure how much time each will |
| __ | | | | take. Figure it as if each recipe were the ONLY |
| | | | thing you are going to make. How much washing, |
| __ | | | | peeling, cutting, slicing, dicing, sauteing, baking, |
| | | | roasting? Don't forget cooling time if something |
| __ | | | | needs to cool!Over estimate on time, because |
| | | | something can always go wrong, and you want to |
| ____ | | | | stress as little as possible.Then add up the times |
| | | | for all of the recipes and you know how much |
| __ | | | | time you must allow for prep and cooking. Now I |
| Second | | | | know that most of us can do at least two things |
| Vegetable______________________ | | | | at once, like mix something, while something else |
| | | | in in the oven, but figure it this way and you have |
| __ | | | | a MAX time.Also, Is there any place in the recipe |
| | | | that you can break it up? I mean, is there any |
| ___ | | | | place where you could begin the recipe and finish |
| | | | it later? If so, you may be able to prep the day |
| ____ | | | | before and just finish everything on the day of |
| | | | the party.If it looks like too much work, begin |
| ___ | | | | again with another, simpler menu. |
| Coffee | | | | Another idea is that if you are stressing about |
| AT? Would you like to try new recipes?Are there | | | | the dinner party, do a dress rehersal. Prep and |
| foods that you would like to try out?Think how | | | | cook everything a week or two before the party |
| your home will smell when the first guest arrives. | | | | day, just to see how long it actually will take, and |
| Do you want to make fried fish? Beef | | | | if there are any glitches that need to be worked |
| Bourguignone? You want to make their mouths | | | | out. This is especially helpful if you are trying to |
| water before they even sit down. Will the the | | | | prepare an unfamiliar recipe. |
| ingredients you need be available to you?Do you | | | | Disaster on Party Day isn't fun.DON'T OVERDO!! |
| have a variety of colors on the plate? Think what | | | | It just Causes stress and the idea of a Dinner |
| this plate would look like.....Turkey Breast, with | | | | Party is FUN!Chef Spicer is a Professional Private |
| Cream Gravy | | | | Chef with over 23 years of experience in giving |
| Mashed Potatoes | | | | successful dinner parties. You can contact her via |
| Cauliflower au Gratin | | | | her web site at Dinner-Party-Advisor. |