Confession time again. I am not a huge fan of restaurant get-togethers. Yes. Restaurants do have their uses, but for a number of reasons I just feel that they're not very conducive to too large of a group. There's noise to consider, along with the fact that you can't exactly mingle. Well, unless you consider all the time you have in the crowded lobby just waiting to be seated. There is also the kid equation. If you don't allow kids, then everyone has to first hunt for and then shell out for a sitter. If kids ARE included, then you have to first figure kids into the seating arrangement, then figure out how they're going to be entertained the entire time... Ugh! My list potential complications can go on and on.
To avoid the huge headache that can go along with dining out, I prefer to host a nice dinner party in the comfort of my own home. Hosting an at-home dinner party can come with its own unique set of challenges. For one thing, there's the question of what on earth you're going to cook for everybody! Sure you could do the take-out option, if you're feeling lucky and have impeccable timing! I usually end up with cold food that then congeals when I attempt to reheat it. You could go with a hired chef or caterer if you wish. I've done this before with wonderful results but realistically, if I did this every time I hosted a dinner party, said parties would be few and far between!
My hubby and I have begun to host some pretty fun dinner parties that celebrate the best of dinner parties... Food, friends and fun! We are blessed to have a couple of sets of foodie friends who relish getting together and sorting out recipes. With the interests of this crowd in mind, we've hosted some really fun dinner parties where we've made food the complete focus.
First, we decide on a main dish we all want to try to master. This past weekend we put Beef Wellington on the menu. Having selected the main entree, we planned sides and then we all sort of agreed to show up with wines, cheeses and apps that would complement the main dish. We listened to great music and tasted the wines and cheeses as we worked together to prepare the main meal.
The end result was a beautiful Beef Wellington made by the hands of many. The task of preparing such a dish was far less intimidating with the involement with so many cooks and the prep time was made delightful with the conversation that flowed during the process. Throughout the evening, we were able to relax, knowing our kids were happily playing together in a kid-friendly environment while we enjoyed each other's company and delightful food. All of these factors made for a very enjoyable evening. One that I would recommend to others in a heartbeat.
