A Dinner Party for No Reason
A seasonless make ahead menu and the perfect lamb recipe for Easter...
Did you know that you don’t have to have a reason to have a dinner party?? It’s perfectly fun and fine to have a dinner party for no reason! This newsletter is dedicated to Dinner Party 101. We have put together an easy make ahead menu, included all of our tips and tricks, and we know the party you’ll host will be a smashing success. So go ahead and get those invites out!
DPFNR Menu:
‘Elegant yet Easy’ recipe (subscribers only): Herb & Garlic Rack of Lamb w. Crispy Potatoes and Asparagus
Dinner Party 101:
Guest List: your guests don’t all need to know each other, and it actually makes for some of the best dinner parties when people are expanding their group and sitting next to someone they’ve just met! A dinner party is a great opportunity to invite friends that you want to get to know better. The intimacy of having someone to your house is a great way to connect and grow relationships!
Invitations: a dinner party always feels a little more special when you send out an actual invite - our favorite way to do this is with a HiNote text invitation. They are fresh, fun and flirty and perfect for a dinner party invite!
Batching a signature cocktail before the party sets the tone for a fun night and keeps you from being stuck playing bartender. Here are all of our essentials for batching out the freezer martinis listed above. You can take them to the next level by making your own marinated martini olives ;)
Seating: avoid that awkward moment where everyone is asking where they should sit by including place cards at each place setting. We like to sit guests boy, girl, boy, girl and make sure that no one is sitting next to their spouse. This allows for great conversation for the entire table. Do take into account if you have shy guests - they often appreciate being sat next to their spouse or a friend.
Flowers: you want to make sure all of your guests can see each other to allow for easy conversation, so we like to use smaller bud vases or other low flower arrangement that don’t block guests from being able to see each other.
Lighting: this creates the ambiance for the party! Make sure to turn all overhead lights off, or to a very low setting. Use a mix of both tall tapper candles and shorter votive candles candles, as well as additional votives around the room and only use unscented candles when serving food.
Music : put together or find a fun playlist or find one you like on Spotify before the party starts. Have the music going when guests arrive - it instantly sets the vibe!
Games, trivia cards and fun tchotchkes and great for encouraging conversation and fun! See a round up of our favorites below.
Always make sure you have more ice than you think you need!
Most important tip: If the hosts are having fun, the guests will too! Fun is fun! No one goes to a dinner party expecting the best meal of their life, they go to have fun, make memories and build relationships.
Dinner Party Essentials:
For Subscribers Only:
Dinner Party (for no reason) Shopping List & Prep Timeline
NEW ‘Elegant yet Easy’ Recipe- Garlic & Herb Rack of Lamb with Crispy Potatoes & Asparagus
My grandmother was an amazing cook who had a very cool culinary career for a mother raising her children in the 50s and 60s. She would often make this lamb when we would visit her, and I remember the thrill of dolloping green blobs of mint jelly onto my plate, anticipating the culinary joy that I was about to experience. My mom and I often still make this for each other when we are together, and it’s truly a no-fail recipe! Each element of this dish is timed to be easily executed in tandem with the others, making it the epitome of an ‘elegant, yet easy’ dish. Make this for your next dinner party, for a fancy Friday night at home, or for your Easter lunch. And make sure to serve it with mint jelly!