7 easy ways to take the stress out of your dinner parties

For some reason, dinner parties are no longer considered fashionable. Maybe because we couldn’t be bothered. After all it is an effort to put out polished silverware, ironed pristine-white linen napkins, and your prettiest china and sparkling glassware. Then there’s the pressure of it all being Insta-worthy. Maybe the ogre of our recent past – the pandemic – has been a killjoy. Or are the innumerable deals on food delivery apps to be blamed? Maybe it is a sum of all these parts. Maybe it time to ‘plan’ some spontaneity, a casual night where fun, food and friends come together, minus the stress of protocol and perfection. Remember, you are not hosting Michelin Guide inspectors, but friends and family who enjoy being with you, and vice versa.

To get started, here are tips on how to salvage this dying form of social interaction:

Bits and pieces make for a perfect start: Pretty canapes look nice on a five-star hotel’s brunch offering, but not worth if they require hours of slaving over. So don’t be ashamed of dishing out store-bought dips and breads coupled with cold cuts, infused oils and salties such as biscuits and crisps on a platter. Let your guests forage through the options while they mingle around. Now that’s a perfect start-er, pun intended. PS: For extra fun, invest in a fondue set and watch adults turn into kids as they double dip their snack into free-flowing sauce.

Of cheats and short-cuts: Remember you have invited loved ones who do not judge, so there is no stress of having to prepare a three-course meal. Instead consider giving some love to store-bought foods – think deli salad with your signature dressing, or that ready loaf cake which would be perfect in your trifle pudding recipe, or pieces of rotisserie meat in your luscious curry. Truly, the hypermarket food section is the limit. You just need to explore.

Count on your casserole: Own your traybakes, casseroles and one-pot game. These are sure-shot win-wins: They can be made ahead of time, go straight from the oven/stove to the table, do not require too many accompaniments and, most importantly, less to wash up later on. And did I mention that they are instant crowd-pleasers? Provided done right, of course.

Build your own: From tacos and wraps to sliders and sushi, it is all about letting your guests have fun assembling their food while you focus on socialising. Just fill up bowls with all the ingredients and watch your guests graze through it all. For extra zing, think a pani puri or a chaat section. You can’t go wrong with this. For dessert, an ice cream counter with a variety of toppings is a fool-proof way to get your guests smiling.

Game-changers: Just like those birthday parties when we were young, good music and a whole lot of games still remain the secret to a night of unforgettable fun. So borrow your kids’ board games or get a karaoke set and watch your guests turn into over-competitive/giggly 8-year-olds.

Shame be damned: If your guests offer to bring something, say yes. If you don’t have the time to make that last-minute run to the shop, ask. If a guest offers to help you clean up afterwards, say yes and if there is a lot of leftovers, ask if anyone would be interested in a doggy bag. There is nothing to feel guilty, embarassed or ashamed of. Remember to return the favour when they invite you over.

And if all fails, have your neighbourhood pizzeria on speed dial. Problem solved.