Food

Dazzling Dinner Parties

The Setup

A dinner party—whether formal or casual—is a wonderful way to entertain friends and family.

Keep these hints in mind as you start to put your party together.

Finding room

Start by determining whether your house has enough room for a sit-down dinner. Your maximum capacity is simply the number of people who can sit around your dining table. Consider these options if you need to accommodate more guests:

• Use skinnier chairs. You can increase the number of guests at your table by renting "party chairs," which are narrower than normal dining-room chairs.
• Add a table. Rent or borrow a folding table that is the same height as your dining table.
• Consider moving furniture. If your rooms are crowded with furniture, clear out easily movable pieces to make room for extra tables.

The seating

To avoid the where-am-I-supposed-to-sit panic and to encourage dinner conversation, set out place cards when entertaining more than four people. Shake up the mix. Don't seat people together who already know each other intimately, especially couples. Place guests near other people that they might enjoy getting to know. Use place cards that fit the decor or theme of the occasion and set them in the middle of the dinner plate.

The food

If you serve appetizers before the meal, appetizer flavors should differ from the main dishes. Garlicky appetizers will not enhance a meal flavored with garlic. Do coordinate your appetizers with dinner, however. When serving an ethnic dinner, start your party with appetizers of the same cuisine.

It's permissible to serve store-bought food at a party; it can make up the entire menu or serve as accompaniment for your homemade specialties. For appetizers, pick up egg rolls at a Chinese take-out or fancy hors d'oeuvres at a delicatessen. A deli is a great source for salads or luncheon meats. For an easy meal ending, buy a fancy dessert at a bakery or a distinctive flavor of ice cream at an ice cream shop. Keep in mind the specialties of the shops in your area and use them to your advantage.

For all but the most formal dinner parties, invite guests into the kitchen to chop, fry, toss, taste, and converse. You'll get plenty of help with food preparation and enjoy sharing recipes and cooking ideas with friends.

If you won't have much time, consider asking friends to share in the cooking load. Various couples could provide a portion of the meal such as appetizers, salad, dessert, or even after-dinner drinks. Offer your recipes or ask them to make their own choices.

A marvelous menu will accommodate guests' dietary restrictions. Plan a few low-fat and vegetarian items, if possible, so that no one will feel left out.

An outdoor dinner

Outdoor grilling parties offer an irresistible come-as-you-are casualness. Here are some tips:

• For a sit-down feast at an outdoor table, keep in mind that the closer to the kitchen the table is, the easier it will be to manage.
• If you don't have enough natural shade at the time of day you're planning to serve, consider setting up umbrellas or a tent.
• You can choose to keep the party completely outdoors or to serve people indoors, then have them take their plates outside to eat.
• No matter what the plan, be prepared to move the party inside in bad weather.