Planning Your First Student Dinner Party

Guest Lists, Invites, Menu Planning, Decor

The transition from eating out in pubs to hosting your first more sophisticated dinner party can be intimidating, but once you've gotten past the initial fear, the whole thing can be a lot of fun. Start small and take the pressure off by following these easy steps on your first outing.

1. Make a guest list that fits your dinner table size (start with 4 or 6) and invites those that will have enough in common to keep the socializing easy and enjoyable.
2. Chose a theme that suits the time or season (New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Canada Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas etc.), or your ingredients (curries, fresh fish, seasonal fruit), or that focuses on a particular culture and meal type (Indian, Thai, Sushi, Italian, Mexican, Greek), or that emphasizes an event tie-in (Oscar party, Superbowl, birthday or anniversary).
3. Plan a menu that begins with an appetizer, main course and dessert and that may pair with drinks at each stage as well. Be mindful of guest food preferences and allergies. Consider 3 or 4 items for each stage and consider veggie options like salad and crudites to complement meat, fish or carbs like potatoes, rice or bread.
4. Consider complementary cocktails, beer or wine. This may take some research to see what chefs recommend and what is in your price range and local liquor store. You may also need supplementary appliances like a martini shaker and glasses or espresso-maker and smaller cups. Of course you can also keep it simple and ask your guests to BYOB.
5. Send ou e-vites, paper invites in the mail, or texts. Make sure everyone has the right time and address with directions or a number to call if they got lost. If guests are to wear particular dress (formal, costumes, bring bathing suit for after-dinner swim) or contribute something, make sure this is spelled out.
6. Clean up your home so that laundry and mess is out of sight and the place has been dusted and vacuumed, bathrooms wiped down, and candles stocked. Do you have a place for everyone to sit comfortably and enough matching dishes to set the table with napkins, glasses and a centrepiece?
7. If you have chosen a theme, what could you do to tie it in to the decor? Perhaps a pinata for a Mexican Cinco de Mayo dinner, incense and Indian tablecloth for a curry dinner, small Canadian flags on a red-and-white checked cloth for Canada Day - you get the picture.
8. Set out the appetizers in advance and chill drink mix and fixings so they're ready when your guests arrive. If you can do the pre-cooking prep like cutting vegetables or marinating meat in advance do so so you're not in the kitchen when your guests arrive.
9. Clear the table between courses, keep drinks refreshed and offer seconds if it is not a buffet style with food on the table. Be sure to have utensils for serving at hand and invite people to move to the lounge chairs or living room after the meal.
10. Offer coffee or after-dinner drinks while relaxing and when people are ready to leave, if you have a lot of food leftover, offer doggy bags so that it doesn't go to waste. If the evening was a success, you may want to tentatively set a date for the next party at your place or one of your guest's.

You may soon find that hosting a dinner party is more fun then going out, because it is a communal effort and it is often cheaper and more enjoyable that standing in line for a table, a bathroom and forking over a hefty tip.