From TheNest.com

Secrets to a Successful Dinner Party

By JUSTIN HARTUNG/THE NEST

Never leave guests yawning, starving, or ordering pizza on the way home again with these dinner party tips from The Nest.

Steve Giralt

Call Your Guests
Let the crew know about your party at least 10 days in advance. You don't want to get down to the wire and realize half of your guest list can't make it. Plus, it's polite to let everyone plan your party into their busy schedules.

Check and Recheck
Don't wait until the 11th hour to make an ice run: Make a list of all the items you'll need and go shopping a couple of days before. Once you get home from the store, lay out every ingredient needed for each recipe as well as bathroom essentials (like towels, a candle, and extra TP).

Plan a Low-Maintenance Meal
Pick a main course that doesn't need a lot of fussing over. Although fajitas sound like fiesta food, they're best eaten hot off the grill, making it impossible to hang out with friends while monitoring the meat. One of our favorite entrees is lasagna -- it pleases carnivores and vegetarians alike. And you can make it in advance and then just pop it into the oven to warm it up. Pick a simple salad as well: Prepare it before guests arrive and drizzle it with dressing just before serving.

Do a Test Run
Successful dinner parties start with a well-practiced recipe. Make the crowd-pleasing crab dip you've brought to everyone else's parties. Using a familiar recipe will ease some of your stress, and your guests won't complain -- their mouths will be full. If you don't cook regularly (or ever), try your concoctions at least once before making them for a roomful of hungry friends.

Use Premade Items
Unless you're Giada, you probably won't have the time or energy to make all the food you serve. So go to a French bakery or gourmet grocery and stock up on fruit tarts or a delicious side dish. No one will know the difference.

Have Appetizers Ready
Guests will arrive hungry, but don't spring the main course on them right away. Give everyone a chance to relax and hang out. Chips and dip are old standbys, but it's much more fun to try something more creative. If you opt for the lasagna dinner, a good like-minded Italian appetizer is bruschetta -- toasted slices of French bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil and chopped tomatoes.

Let Someone Else Bartend
This is a role many people (read: men) will be all too eager to play -- why not let 'em? It'll save you time and stress. As far as drinks go, save the wine for dinner and start the evening with something fun and frozen, like margaritas or daiquiris (put that new blender to good use!). For a fancier shindig, let your bartender mix up martinis or a signature cocktail.

Mix and Match Friends
No need to play matchmaker (unless you want to!), but dinner parties are always more interesting with a few wild cards. Bring together friends from different circles, mix singles and couples or introduce different personalities who you know will hit it it off.

Include Entertainment
Make sure you have a camera ready -- it's a fun way to engage your guests and document the night. Another ice-breaker: Pull out an active game like Pictionary or Cranium and play a couple of rounds over drinks and dessert.

© 2009 The Knot Inc., All rights reserved.

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22 comments

SoundOffTom 04:42:00 PM Nov 10 2009

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Dear Justin, I've read some of your posts, and I really love how easygoing your writing is. You make entertaining sound so easy. I'd like to invite you to write a post on a website that I created, www.SoundOffToAmerica.com. As such a valued contributor to the blogosphere, your voice is one that users on our site would really like to hear from.I invite you also to include a link back to TheNest.com in your posts, which as you know can help promote the SEO for your site.A little about soundofftoamerica:Unlike many message boards and online forums, there is no one central topicbeing discussed at Sound Off To America, and thereâs no single orientationof the users. Itâs not a site just for conservatives or liberals. There areno moderators. The idea behind the site is to promote conversation on anyvariety of subjects, in a clean, usable interface, ultimately making SoundOff To America a place for users to both become educated and educate others.Thanks so much for your time, and I can

Verum6 05:41:52 PM Aug 23 2009

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Your suggestion of bruschette for an appetizer doesn't conform to the tried and true rule -- don't serve anything for an appetizer that is difficult to eat and messy. Imagine standing holding a glass of wine, eating a bruschette with lots of topping all the while avoiding spilling anything on yourself or others. If you are serving a sit down appetizer at the table, bruschette is wonderful.

Homecarol 04:17:01 PM Aug 23 2009

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No one knows if you serve "stuff" (like tarts) that you bought.get real

FrGMcb 02:05:12 PM Aug 23 2009

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To MKsandie, thanks....my inlaws are Syrian so I know about prep....I am Sicilian we prep for days....babaganoush, kibie, kefte, shishkabob etc all on my list, I now include them with some of my great Sicilian recipes......Mediterranian and Middle Eastern food is very similiar. I am now in the middle of composing a cookbook which I want to publish with all those recipes from my childhood, and extended family. And who hires wait staff???? What are we kings and queens......serving your guests and preparing the food to see the smiles on peoples faces as they enjoy is all the fun......cook in abundance, and have doggie bags for everyone to take home....your party will be a success........good luck all.....HAPPY COOKING

Naofick54 01:41:50 PM Aug 23 2009

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Why can't I add a comment?

Lizharley 12:13:05 PM Aug 23 2009

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I'm having a Luau themed party for 16(hopefully) on the 19th of Sept. I have already sent invitaions (Aug. 19th) with an RSVP. I'm making Kahlua Pig using a couple of 5 LB. pork Butt Roasts, slowly smoked on the grill, Korean Style Beef ribs(10LBS.). Starting off with huge shrimp grilled with fruit. Will also have Macadamia nuts and fresh coconut to munch on. Also, found a great punch recipe online with Midori, light Rum, pineapple juice. But, I always request that it's BYOB and bring your own mix.I already purchased some leis and party themed tableware. Will pickup a DVD of Hawaiian music.I will call my invited guests a week before the party. I hate waiting for them to call.But alas...Hula Hoops, someone mentioned Hula Hoops. They're inexpensive and will add to our fun. I am now looking for a nice, light dessert. I'm always one to plan well in advance. Cameras capture pictures of guests that you can print out and include with your thank you cards. But, those little Tickle Plants soun

TISHYW 11:23:59 AM Aug 23 2009

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One othe suggestion...ALWAYS find out ahead of time if any of your guests have special food limitations...diabeters, vegetarian, allegic to saefood. keeps Kosher, Most important question..."Is there something you CANNOT eat?" Being Italian, I always go by the rule that you can neve have too much food!! Left overs aer fabulous. Also, let your guests bring a side, appetizer, dessert if they offer. In these times a dinner party can cost a lot and a little help from guests can really cut expenses and leave you morre time to enjoy your guests!

MKsandie 11:12:53 AM Aug 23 2009

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to Frgmcb LOL I totally agree. us italians do thing so differently, to make it more exciting I am half armenian too. so you talk about FOOD. takes a week to cook for a party, not the day of LOL give me a break.......

Ccblythe750 11:10:28 AM Aug 23 2009

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WHAT A JOKE .I ENTERTAIN EVERY MONTH AND ALWAY'S HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP ME BARTEND ,SERVE AND CLEAN UP. I LIKE TO ENJOY MY GUESTS.OF COARSE YOU PREP IN ADVANCE AND SERVE ELEGANT SIMPLE DISHES.IT ISN'T THAT DIFFICULT AND EVERYONE HAS A GOOD TIME

FrGMcb 09:00:23 AM Aug 23 2009

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Well, this had to be written by a non-Italian...I have had hundreds of meals, you always invite ahead, but always have enough for extra people to come at the last minute.....and lasagna is never a main course it is the pasta course, first is antipasto...a mix of cold cuts..salami, ham, spressa, cheeses, olives, roasted peppers...very easy to put together and can even be bought in most Italian delis complete on a platter, next a soup, then pasta, then a meat course....meatballs, sausage, london broil, chicken roasted with potatoes, onion, carrots in wine at the last 15 min add peas, makes agreat dish and easy to do.....then desert, Italian pastries are always great with espresso or regular coffee a dinner not to be forgotten and really very easy to put together......if you are a good cook you can do this for 25 people in about 4 hrs......just have all ingredients ready.....if you can't cook...you are in trouble from the get go. Order out!

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