Felicity Cloake, author of Perfect Host, shares her top tips on how to get your entertaining right.
You know those great hosts, the kind of people who can knock up a fabulous dinner for eight on a weeknight without breaking a sweat? Who always just happen to have a homemade cake lying around for an impromptu tea party, and can be found casually chucking cocktail shakers around when guests arrive, rather than rocking on the floor as the kitchen burns around them?
Well, I’ve got good news for you. They’re all charlatans. Every single one of them.
No one is a naturally great host: behind every successful dinner, picnic or birthday party, there’s always planning – embrace that fact, and you’ll have as much fun as your guests. Here are my top five tips for successful entertaining.
1. Think ahead
It sounds obvious, but figuring out how much time you’ll realistically have to prepare, and choosing the menu accordingly will work out much better than having a last-minute nervous breakdown over that recipe you saw on MasterChef.
If time is short, choose something that’s even better made the day before, like a stew or a curry, and can be plonked on the table for people to help themselves to. Make a time plan and – this is vital – leave yourself 20 minutes at the end to have a glass of wine and relax.
2. Cheat
Now, I’m not getting all Delia on you here and suggesting you use frozen mash or tinned mince, but don’t be afraid to take the French approach and buy a few things in.
Far better to serve one course really well, bookended by olives and a great fruit tart from the patisserie/Waitrose, than kill yourself trying to make three courses from scratch after work.
3. Be around
Whether it’s a dinner party or a casual brunch, as host you create the atmosphere far better than any scented candle ever could. So make sure you’re around to welcome everyone and have a quick chat with them, even if you have to head back to the kitchen afterwards.
Similarly, although a little clearing as you go along is a good idea to prevent kitchen chaos, don’t start washing up – you don’t want people to feel like you’re more interested in clean plates than them.
4. Take out insurance
Sometimes things don’t go to plan, but your guests needn’t know that. Stock up on nibbles, even if you’re doing a starter as well. You don’t need to put them all out at once if you’re worried about people spoiling their appetites, but a few judiciously placed bowls of nuts and crisps will keep the company happily chatting away until you’re ready to serve. Whenever that is.
5. Relax
A host who’s having fun will encourage everyone else to as well – so once the food’s on the table, be like the royal family, and never apologise, never explain.
Even if you notice the beef’s a bit tough, or the mash is under seasoned, in all likelihood your guests won’t, so don’t put them off by pointing it out. Just sit back and enjoy yourself – and everyone else will follow suit.
Buy Felicity Cloake's Perfect Host
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