Hosting dinner for six

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Order out and put it on fancy plates. Done. Fcuk this shit.

This! You don’t want this to be the one type your meal burns or something goes wrong. Especially with work people. If friends, it would be different.

[Anonymous]

1. Why all the pressure to cater? Catered meals are not that great. Also there is a fun in cooking even if you aren’t great at it. Your guests will love whatever you make them.

2. What is wrong with a heavy meal or comfort foods? People don’t go to a diner party to have the same salmon roasted veg they miserably eat at home. It’s a night to indulge!

[Anonymous]

Definitely find out about dietary restrictions. Most of these meals wouldn't work for me as a vegetarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Why all the pressure to cater? Catered meals are not that great. Also there is a fun in cooking even if you aren’t great at it. Your guests will love whatever you make them.

2. What is wrong with a heavy meal or comfort foods? People don’t go to a diner party to have the same salmon roasted veg they miserably eat at home. It’s a night to indulge!

No, work colleagues are not friends. Your idea of indulgence- e.g., mystery baked casserole is unlikely to be their fave. Simply prepared proteins and kindly treated veg is very enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

Pasta bake is great for the soccer team, but I would do something more elevated for grown up work people and their spouses.

Pork tenderloin (Ina garten has a great one wrapped in prosciutto) with potatoes and a veg. Or her Chicken Marbella is good. Or a fish thing in the oven. Something relatively make-ahead so that you can focus on your guests. Do a salad and buy something for dessert (cookie tray, little pastries, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find a 1-pot chicken casserole type dish, that can be prepped in advance, like a coq au vin, or I like this NYT recipe, then couscous (prepped in advance) and a salad (again, prepped in advance, just add dressing before serving)

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017258-braised-chicken-with-lemon-and-olives

Pick up some nice pastries or a cake for dessert.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pasta bake is the best for this.

Find a GREAT recipe for a meat + red sauce and a spinach + white sauce ziti or rigatoni or whatever. Bake each in an attractive not overwhelmingly large dish (like this - https://www.crateandbarrel.com/lucerne-3-quart-casserole-dish/s512853?localedetail=US&source=igodigital&_ga=2.174134306.1451592758.1678809995-1844713733.1678809995&_gac=1.56955224.1678809995.Cj0KCQjwtsCgBhDEARIsAE7RYh16AamRuvs8Ok_0rXSRlMEyRWrsPR9LS3VvfzeaZW61d_yZFXF8gEEaApXWEALw_wcB).

Have parmesan on the side. Make a simple green salad (mixed greens, cucumber, red pepper, grape tomatoes, chives, homemade balsamic and homemade blue cheese dressings on the side or good bottled ones). Crusty fresh bread and butter/olive oil.

Whatever you want for dessert - I'm a huge fan of a brownie and blondie platter with a variety of ice creams, maybe with fruit as well. Wine, sparkling water, etc...

Lol, so baked ziti, salad and garlic bread?

Horrible.

[Anonymous]

I am an average cook and this would stress me out. I would probably cater the main meal from a local restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Great, you stay home by yourself being snooty. Just means there’s more awesome food for us to enjoy. Without you and your judgement.

[Anonymous]

I would do fish- probably salmon- with lemon butter or something else that is not spicy - Roast a veggie/potatoe and make a salad. Go to trader joe's for cheese and fruit for an appetizer and buy a dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find a 1-pot chicken casserole type dish, that can be prepped in advance, like a coq au vin, or I like this NYT recipe, then couscous (prepped in advance) and a salad (again, prepped in advance, just add dressing before serving)

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017258-braised-chicken-with-lemon-and-olives

Pick up some nice pastries or a cake for dessert.

This (above) is an excellent menu idea. If the thought of cooking is too stressful then you could order middle eastern food -- a mix of chicken and beef kababs, some falafel in case anyone is vegetarian, and the rice. You could order the food earlier in the day and warm it up in the oven in aluminum trays before the guests get there. With that perhaps a couple of salads, maybe a mixed greens salad and one with chopped cucumber, tomato, scallions, parsley and dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agreed. Not for work colleagues.

OP, Costco has Salmon with lemon butter that you can just pop in the oven (instructions are included). Their bagged salads are good, and should be sufficient for 6 people. Get some good crusty bread and good quality olive oil/balsamic (I bake mine, so have no recommendations). If you have a Wegmans nearby, they have pre-marinated chicken quarters (or some such) that you can stick in the oven that are very good. Just serve with roasted veggies (Cut veggies up into even sized pieces, toss in olive oil and lots of garlic - you can make this well ahead of time. Add salt right before putting in the oven). Wegmans also has a very nice dessert selection. The little fruit tarts are so very good. If you don't want to go to all this trouble, just order food from your favorite restaurant.

Oh, and find out about food restrictions ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Plebeian here, but what's wrong with baked ziti, a salad, and bread?

I'd probably order though. You could order kebabs, rice, pita and dips. Then make your own cucumber tomato and onion salad and an easy olive oil cake in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agreed. Not for work colleagues.

OP, Costco has Salmon with lemon butter that you can just pop in the oven (instructions are included). Their bagged salads are good, and should be sufficient for 6 people. Get some good crusty bread and good quality olive oil/balsamic (I bake mine, so have no recommendations). If you have a Wegmans nearby, they have pre-marinated chicken quarters (or some such) that you can stick in the oven that are very good. Just serve with roasted veggies (Cut veggies up into even sized pieces, toss in olive oil and lots of garlic - you can make this well ahead of time. Add salt right before putting in the oven). Wegmans also has a very nice dessert selection. The little fruit tarts are so very good. If you don't want to go to all this trouble, just order food from your favorite restaurant.

Oh, and find out about food restrictions ahead of time.

This, but I'd add a rice or grain. And, that way if there is a vegetarian they can eat the veggie adn rice.