The Sucessful Dinner Party

By Kim LaBarbera


Easy Party Fix - its             water cooler.                 
What isn't right with this                                     
picture?                                                       
I used to serve delicious        The small and simple of it..  
dinners with wonderful           When you replace dinnerware,  
desserts; yes, I had checked     do it one section at a time.  
around and, they were            Big hint! Change your wine    
wonderful. However, I knew,      glasses first, then replace   
that there was something         your water and soda glasses.  
missing. After I began working   Wine glasses come first,      
in Food Service, I had           because people generally feel
learned that it's the little     that wine is more important   
things, that complete the big    than water and soda, because  
picture.                         it is more expensive.         
                                 Remember, people see your     
                                 glasses first, when           
It's not so hard                 approaching the dinner table.
For instance, the use of         They will feel confident in   
doilies placed on a dessert      the meal that you prepare when
plate when serving a fine        they see sparkling new        
piece of cake. How about light   glasses.                      
colored napkins, plain, or                                     
with a gentle pattern? Did you                                 
know that people, generally      For the long run              
feel that colored napkins, are   When you can further update   
more relaxing than white         you dinnerware, change your   
napkins? Especially pastel       eating utensils. These step by
colors.                          step changes do not have to   
                                 be expensive, they can be the
                                 price of your regular         
Wow, it is painless!             dishware. The secret is not to
Here are some simple             use them every day. You will  
suggestions;                     always have that that clean,  
Chill your glasses about one     finished look, right on hand.
half hour before your guests     To add a professional         
arrive.                          appearance to your dinner     
You may want to use a carafe     table, spruce up the place    
instead of a plain pitcher.      settings and server ware.     
There is less chance of          Salad bowls that are made of  
spillage and, it takes up less   new wood, crystal is always   
room on the table. Speaking      preferred make your guests    
of spillage, wrap a napkin       feel important, because you   
neatly around your wine          put alot of thought into the  
bottle, covering the neck, so    salad. Sparkling clean serving
that it will catch the over      trays, make a big difference. 
pour.                            Don't forget that you can     
                                 dress anything up, by lining  
                                 it with a cloth napkin.       
Some quick appetizer ideas!                                    
Did you know that a                                            
combination of finely chopped:   Place mats made of a wicker   
garlic, fresh parsley, and       or cloth material are very    
mushrooms mixed with bread       nice. Don't forget coasters,  
crumbs, butter,                  if you decide not to use a    
and romano cheese, can           light colored table cloth     
quickly be stuffed into          dark colored table cloths     
stemless mushrooms and baked     really only work in Italian  
at a low temperature until       restaurants.                  
golden brown?                                                  
Okay, it's in the form of a                                    
run on sentence, but I am        As for a center piece, fresh  
trying to prove a point...       cut flowers in a nicely       
How about some soft spread       decorated vase, are always    
cream cheese with fresh lox,     good. However, the vase has to
beaten for about a minute?       be taken out of the room when 
Serve it with bread sticks,      it is time to serve the meal, 
or water crackers. It is         because the fragrance will    
usually better for a lunch       distract the palate.          
buffet, but it will work in a                                  
pinch.                                                         
If it is important that you      This is very important to     
make a good impression, plan     remember: When serving food,  
for surprise problems,           do not choose quality over    
otherwise, problems will pop     quantity. There is nothing    
up. I am a firm believer in      worse than trying to impress  
Murphy's Law.                    someone and just when you've  
                                 pulled it off, you run out of
                                 food. Don't get me wrong, make
These are simple adjustments,    sure the food is impressive   
but many people I have spoken    enough and has quality taste,
with, complain that              but also make sure there is   
entertaining can cost alot of    enough of it. Your guests may
money. Well, I say no. Start     try to comfort you and say    
out small and simple. What I     that it's alright, if you run
mean is, invite people that      out of food, but it's not,    
you feel very comfortable        i.e. make your guests want to 
with, i.e., people that you      come back.                    
don't have to impress, and                                     
wont be talking to the others                                  
about your dinner, at the                                      

About the author:
Article written by Kim LaBarbera
She has worked in the food service
industry for twenty years, including Craft Service. Her selection of desserts and coffee can be found at: http://www.delightfulbiteful.com


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