Hosting Like A Pro

And how to not overthink it.

It is the time of year when parties are happening on every corner, and we feel the urge to host a celebration for our friends.

It can feel overwhelming at times, so I wanted to share my tips as a dinner club host who has hosted over 30 events.

1. Become a planner

This was probably the hardest one for me as someone who loves to do everything last-minute. If your party is in two weeks, sit down and write each dish and drink you are making, have a folder or Google doc with each recipe scaled to what you need, and make your shopping list. Prepping is so important for a big event! Think through your menu and make sure you aren’t cooking 4 things that all need the stove last minute because it could cause a bottleneck and you won’t be able to mingle with guests. Try finding alternative ways to cook your dishes, like roasting, sous vide, or par-cooking. Plan out the day of prep and the day of your event with ample time to complete each item. Label the dishes used, set the table, chop the veggies; this can all be done the day before.

2. Make a menu you can cook

If you are cooking, be sure to make dishes that are within your skill set or trial the recipe beforehand so you are comfortable cooking it. When I create a menu, I like to look at items that can be prepped before. For bread or rolls, bake them in the morning and throw them in the warm oven 10 minutes before dinner, which saves you the stress of chaos. Blanch veggies the morning of and reheat with your sauce at dinner time. Have salads prepped and ready to toss with everything labeled. Make the gravy early and warm it at dinnertime. Keep it manageable, but with organization, you can still wow your guests.

3. Decor Day

If you are decorating for this party, plan what you want to have, and if you have time, do it two days before the event. When I host inside dinner clubs, I plan to have all the decorating and flowers done on Thursday, so Friday and Saturday can be for food prep. Unless you are having a huge party, decor and flowers on Friday are a great plan too. If your budget is small, think outside the box for inspiration. I used to go pick pine and juniper branches from fields around town (make sure it is legal where you live first) and come up with ways to make it immersive on a budget. For example, I wanted a party to be like guests were in a forest, but my space wasn’t big enough to fill with trees, and my budget was too small. So instead, I got cheap rolls of black paper, crinkled them to make them more rustic, covered the walls, ceiling, and floor, then put up three Christmas trees. I had a lot of branches in my backyard, and with just a few dim indirect lights, it gave the illusion of a forest, on a budget.

4. Destressing the host

The biggest part of hosting is taking time for yourself to relax and enjoy the event. Start your day slow and enjoy some self-care before you get into the grind of prepping. Remember, your guests will never know if you forget something or mess something up and don’t serve it! I have had multiple times I saw a course in the fridge the next day, and no one ever knew they missed it. Have friends help as people start to show up. Get someone to stir the potatoes or put the rolls in a bowl, and delegate so you can be surrounded by your friends. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy all the work you have put in!

Hosting should be fun! with each dinner party I host it gets easier and more streamlined. You start to foresee situations and plan for ways to mitigate or solve them. Like placing 1-2 extra hand towels in the restroom, or having a tide pen on hand. Each step of the process can be broken down and scheduled so you have a smoother day.

I hope this was helpful for your next big day! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Roger