Small, Informal Semi-Homemade Dinner Party Menu

[Anonymous]

I’m planning on having a few friends over for dinner next weekend. Given the pandemic, it’s been a while since I’ve hosted a dinner party and I’m blanking on what to serve. Since we have a baby, I’d like to outsource the main course and maybe make a salad or appetizer to complement. Any suggestions on what to serve? No dietary restrictions. I was thinking of ordering pizza and maybe making a salad to go with it but that sounds so boring. Please help!

[Anonymous]

Lasagna is nice. You can get a big pan of lasagna from an Italian market, and it's more grown up than pizza.

Or make a big pot of homemade sauce + pasta + salad. Add meatballs if you want.

[Anonymous]

You could add sliced avocado to your salad with a garlicky, citrusy, vinaigrette.

And +1 with pasta, but I would do a pasta bar with Rao’s marinara, Parmesan cheese, meatballs, basil, etc.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live?

If DC, I’d totally make salad and have a nice dessert (cupcakes, ice cream) and just order some trendy pizza like Timber Pizza Co or one of the many Detroit style places that have sprung up.

[Anonymous]

Pizza and salad is ALWAYS a good idea. I'd do that.

[Anonymous]

A pizza is boring. Can you grill? Or is that too labor intensive?

[Anonymous]

Sonny's and Sidedoor have great Detroit style pizzas.

Make a green salad with interesting things cut up in it - purple carrots, orange tomatoes, beets, parsley, basil, and a homemade simple dressing. And then get some good local strawberries and poundcake and fresh whipped cream.

[Anonymous]

you could do chicken--I like Oohs and Aahs but Nando's is also good--and that's easy to make a salad and some sides and desserts that go well with it.

[Anonymous]

I've never been served pizza at a dinner party before. I would think that it'd be easier for you to prepare chicken or something similar and then buy in the salads etc. Get a couple of spatchcocked chickens (from TJs?) and roast in the oven with whole head of garlic, some halved lemons and some herbs. Get some bagged salad and add a nice dressing. Some nice bread. Maybe some cheese (Whole Foods). Can you get meringue nests? Serve with fresh berries and some whipped cream. Easy and tasty.

[Anonymous]

Moiby Dick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lasagna is nice. You can get a big pan of lasagna from an Italian market, and it's more grown up than pizza.

Or make a big pot of homemade sauce + pasta + salad. Add meatballs if you want.

This, or a pasta dish and chicken dish or something. Those things travel and heat well. Make a salad and dessert, and a cheese platter with olives, nuts etc.

[Anonymous]

Pizza and salad is fine.