Hospitality trendsetter and founder of By Word of Mouth and Frozen for You, Karen Short, shares her top entertaining tips as we head into the party season. No matter the event - cocktails and canapés, a multi-course sit-down dinner, or a relaxed brunch, your friends will be asking the same question… ‘how do they do it?’
Create a budget and stick to it.
It’s easy to get carried away with extravagant catering and stunning décor, but the first step toward stress-free entertaining is deciding what you want to spend. Then commit to sticking within your means.
Simplify the guest list.
After you determine the number of guests you can afford, curate and cut your guest list again and again until you have just the right mix of people. If you’re not sure whether to invite someone, ask yourself, ‘Have I seen or spoken to this person in the last year?’, then decide. Remember, this isn’t a wedding – there’s no pressure to invite everyone you know.
Set the scene the night before.
Ask yourself, does my home feel warm and inviting? Does it smell good? Will guests feel comfortable? Go for overall ambience and don’t worry too much about the little details no one will notice, like the dusty bookshelves. Save time by laying out linen, crockery, cutlery, glassware, candles, flowers and any other décor the evening before. Pull in favours and outsource a few jobs if you can… friends, kids and partners are usually willing to help!
Set up a self-serve bar.
Stock up on plenty of soft drinks, beer, wine, champagne, a few bottles of spirits, and ice, and if you’re feeling adventurous, set out fruit slices and fresh herbs to muddle or garnish drinks with. Don’t forget the cocktail jiggers for measuring, and let your guests get creative and play mixologist.
Keep the menu simple and fresh.
By far, the biggest help in stress-free entertaining is a quality heat and serve meal, like the gourmet ones my fellow chefs and I create at Frozen for You. By choosing a hearty, wholesome main that you simply pop in the oven, you can concentrate on prepping a few delicious sides to dress-up the main dish – like vegetable bakes, fragrant rice, creamy sauces, fresh salads and crusty bread – all of which are available from frozen too. How convenient is that?
Remember to cater for special diets.
Ask ahead of time and have vegetarian, banting or gluten-free options available if needed. Instead of cooking a separate meal, or limiting the entire menu to a few special requests, simply pick up single-serving portions from Frozen for You to ensure all guests are cared for and catered for.
Sweet and easy.
Avoid finicky desserts that need to be done last minute, like poached fruit or crème Brulee, and opt for the perfect way to end a meal – a pre-prepped, crowd-pleasing treats, like a summery tarte au citron, creamy and crunchy meringue roulade or decadently moist chocolate yoghurt cake, with a sticky chocolate ganache.
Finally - don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Let go of perfection. Don’t be afraid to ask people to bring something along or go for a good-quality store-bought option to ease the pressure. Guests can sense if the host is anxious or running around in circles, and your mood will have a radiating effect, so take a deep breath, sip something cold, start the music, and mingle with your guests. You want to have fun at your party after all!
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