Entertaining guests at your home can be a wonderful way to show off your cooking skills, and give people an insider look at how beautiful your home is. However, if you’ve never done it before, it can be a little overwhelming getting everything in order.
In order to stay organized, and ensure that your guests have a wonderful time, here are some of the best tips to keep in mind while entertaining.
Try to Make it Look Effortless
Even though you may be stressed out trying to get everything out to your guests, it’s important not to let anyone see you sweat. If you have an open kitchen, try to remain as relaxed as possible as you prepare food and drinks since your guests will be able to see you.
This may take some practicing. Sometimes it can be hard to hide just how frazzled you are, but if your guests see you stressing, they may feel as if they’re a burden. Put on your best game face, and pretend like you’re the Martha Stewart that you want to be! As they say, “fake it till you make it.”
Planning Goes a Long Way
Planning is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your guests to make everything go smoothly. Get a specific headcount ahead of time, and know exactly what you plan on serving and how much you’ll need. The more specific you can be ahead of time, the less likely you are to run out of ingredients, or find yourself scrambling at the last minute.
Whether it’s a casual barbecue, or a full-fledged sit down dinner with 15 guests, the same rules apply. Planning ahead is your best friend when it comes to avoiding last minute stress.
Know Your Guests
There’s nothing worse than planning a huge seafood dinner only to find out that your main guest of honor is allergic to shellfish. Always get to know your guests before they arrive to ensure that you don’t have any menu disasters.
It’s a good idea to ask ahead of time if anyone has any specific food aversions or allergies that you should know about. The last thing you want is a guest going into anaphylactic shock as they eat your lobster bisque!
Music is a Must
All the great entertainers know the importance of music at a gathering. While you’re preparing the drinks and food, your guests may need time warming up to each other. Making them sit in silence can create an awkward atmosphere that doesn’t put your guests at ease. Putting on a little background music is a great way to encourage everyone to break the ice, and fill the silence between conversations.
Choice of music is important as well. Go for something easy going that most people can relate to and like. Choosing something too harsh or melancholic could create an awkward atmosphere. Usually jazz or chilled pop is a great way to serenade your guests! Most of all, remember to have fun!