Welcome to this carefully curated collection of three course menu ideas! I well understand that the prospect of hosting a dinner party can seem daunting, but with the right plan it can be exciting instead. Follow the tips below and make your life as easy as possible. Firstly, choose a menu that suits your occasion and your guests. Secondly, mix and match courses from different menus, if you wish, to whatever works best for you. Finally, follow the simple, step by step guides to make each delicious recipe to minimise the stress and to maximise enjoyment. What’s most important is to create the conditions to let cherished memories grow. To savour the time with friends and family and feel the satisfaction of the smiles on your guests faces. Dive on in and get planning to host like a boss.
Planning
PLAN AHEAD – Make a coffee, pour a drink, sit down and make a plan. Check out the menus, invite your guests and plan away
SERVING ITEMS – Choose what you’re going to use way ahead of time. Make sure you have access to all the equipment and ingredients you’ll need. Ensure you have the necessary cutlery, tableware and glasses for each course. So much easier than washing up mid party
TABLE SETTING – Plain and simple or over the top decorative, the choice is yours. Lay the table in advance and consider the lighting too
PREP IN ADVANCE – Prepare as much of the food as possible the day before or well before your guests arrive but have easy access to drinks too. Wine in the fridge, corkscrew found from the bottom of that cutlery drawer, cocktail shaker washed, anything you’ll need, locate it in advance
MENU SELECTION – Consider any dietary restrictions or preferences of your guests before you choose the final menu. Try the recipes before you serve them to guests. You might want to adjust something to put your own twist on it or you might want to check cook times on your own equipment but either way, the more familiar you are with your recipes, the smoother your night will go
PAIR WINES – If you’re serving wine then consider pairing with each course. This is easily done at a site like thewinesociety.com. When I’m hosting, I’ll have a couple of wines in mind for when my guests inevitably ask ‘Can I bring anything?’, that’s not just my friends right?
TIMING IS KEY – Plan your timings for your evening by writing a prep and cook schedule. Top chefs will do this to plan a service so why shouldn’t you! Start with the time you want service to start and plan backwards with cooking and prep times. Mine usually starts the day before with prep and some cooking but whatever works for you. Always give yourself more time than you think, keep your plan manageable
ENLIST HELP – Why should you do all the work! Enlist the help of your guests and make it part of the evening. On certain occasions, I’ve been known to throw 5 course dinner parties for 6 people and I ‘make’ one guest help me with the finishing and plating of each course. Just judge your helpers by ability and chose the course accordingly
RELAX & ENJOY – The most important part! Whilst of course, you want to provide the best food you can, it’s the atmosphere of the evening that will lead to its success. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be an amazing evening so even if you’re like the swan of the lake, graceful on top but paddling like fury underneath, rest assured that your guests will appreciate your effort and will want you to enjoy the evening as much as they do
What are you still doing reading this? Check out the food. And good luck!
The Winter Warmer
Perfect for that chilly evening at home! A traditional homemade oxtail soup, a luxurious lamb ragu and a classic British bread and butter pudding with a chocolate twist.
A Taste Of Luxury
A meat free treat for veggies and non veggies alike. Start with a deep, rich roasted tomato soup, then a spectacular mushroom and chestnut bolognese and luxuriate in a spectacular salted caramel millionaires tart to finish
Nicey Spicy
Tingle your taste buds with a thai butternut squash soup starter and follow with a spicy spaghetti all’ arrabbiata. To finish? Try this delicious coffee semifreddo, a soft frozen treat with a hit of espresso
Classic Elegance
A spectacular haddock and green leaf soup to start your meal in style. Follow with the majestic combination of a one pot chicken and chorizo stew and the absolute luxury of a classic creme caramel
Earth Notes
A super simple yet classic watercress and rocket soup. A luscious, deep mushroom and marsala ragu and finish with a flourish, the umami packed miso chocolate brownies, a dessert with a twist
The Unexpected
The delight of the unexpected! Begin with the earthy flavours of pear, parsnip and stilton soup and follow with the amazing depth and simplicity of miracle chicken. To finish? How about a tahini chocolate chip blondie for a unique umami packed chocolate treat
The Comfort
A starter of rich, luxurious french onion soup. A main of a zingy lemon and chicken pasta and finish with a delicious homemade chocolate ice cream
