Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:34     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


You can do it! It’s all about menu planning. And caftans. And dim lighting.

Also there is a great company called Party Hands where you can hire one or a few lovely people to help.


Yeah, PP! What the posters are saying is that if you're rich and have a fully-stocked kitchen, no limits to spending on quality drinks, premade luxury desserts or main courses, and hire staff, it's really easy, and how stupid do you have to be to not want to do this?!!

You're not allowed to be poor, socially-anxious or executive functioning-challenged. It's so easy!!!

Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:25     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


…nope. Don’t you know how to make things ahead? Many main dishes like coq au vin can be made ahead; so can basically any appetizer or dessert

Let me guess, you think you have to make every little thing from scratch? Even Ina Garten says you should focus on making one or two things, and fill in with good-quality store bought instead of working yourself into a froth.

As in cocktail hour can be a pitcher of homemade sangria (made the day before) and some good-quality cheese and Marcona almonds. Soup can be made ahead, and so can salad (lightly dress before serving, no big deal). Pre-marinated salmon can cook during first course, served along with asparagus and roasted potatoes, no big deal. Then a beautiful dessert from the best bakery in town.

Like, this isn’t rocket science.



+1. Or, if you’re like me and love baking, reverse this by making a show stopper dessert and buy the dinner at Whole Foods
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:23     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


…nope. Don’t you know how to make things ahead? Many main dishes like coq au vin can be made ahead; so can basically any appetizer or dessert

Let me guess, you think you have to make every little thing from scratch? Even Ina Garten says you should focus on making one or two things, and fill in with good-quality store bought instead of working yourself into a froth.

As in cocktail hour can be a pitcher of homemade sangria (made the day before) and some good-quality cheese and Marcona almonds. Soup can be made ahead, and so can salad (lightly dress before serving, no big deal). Pre-marinated salmon can cook during first course, served along with asparagus and roasted potatoes, no big deal. Then a beautiful dessert from the best bakery in town.

Like, this isn’t rocket science.


+1 Great answer!
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:22     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


And, see, I love doing all of that. It gives me such pleasure to have people over. I love the dressing up part the most but the second most thing that I love is the planning...who we will invite, what we will serve, how we'll set the table, all of it. I even love coming down the next morning after the party and discovering that we didn't do the greatest clean-up job and there is a random drinks glass still on a side table or someone left their purse, you know what I mean. Anyway, different strokes for different folks but I am ready to bring it on again!
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:22     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


You can do it! It’s all about menu planning. And caftans. And dim lighting.

Also there is a great company called Party Hands where you can hire one or a few lovely people to help.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:20     Subject: Re:Formal Dinner Party
I’m so ready to throw a dinner party again but my pandemic baby makes it harder.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:19     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work


…nope. Don’t you know how to make things ahead? Many main dishes like coq au vin can be made ahead; so can basically any appetizer or dessert

Let me guess, you think you have to make every little thing from scratch? Even Ina Garten says you should focus on making one or two things, and fill in with good-quality store bought instead of working yourself into a froth.

As in cocktail hour can be a pitcher of homemade sangria (made the day before) and some good-quality cheese and Marcona almonds. Soup can be made ahead, and so can salad (lightly dress before serving, no big deal). Pre-marinated salmon can cook during first course, served along with asparagus and roasted potatoes, no big deal. Then a beautiful dessert from the best bakery in town.

Like, this isn’t rocket science.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:09     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
I don’t have household staff- so no.

Otherwise it is too hard to be formal, both in dress and dining, when you are the one doing all the cooking, plating, serving, cleaning and cleaning up- oh and being hostess and socializing and being pleasant while looking like you aren’t busy doing a bunch of work
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 21:01     Subject: Re:Formal Dinner Party
Anonymous wrote:Yes, pre-Covid we did a lot of formal and informal hosting. I loooooooove it when we have formal dinners. Three or four other couples, we're all dressed up, drinks and appetizers in the living room, we move to the dining room for a formal served (sometimes our kids as directed by me in the kitchen and sometimes our housekeeper) dinners, etc. I can't wait until we can start doing it all again!


O0 here. Love this! This is exactly what I meant. I have casual dinners with friends but I love doing appetizers.with fun cocktails and then a multi course meal paired with wine.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 20:51     Subject: Re:Formal Dinner Party
Yes, pre-Covid we did a lot of formal and informal hosting. I loooooooove it when we have formal dinners. Three or four other couples, we're all dressed up, drinks and appetizers in the living room, we move to the dining room for a formal served (sometimes our kids as directed by me in the kitchen and sometimes our housekeeper) dinners, etc. I can't wait until we can start doing it all again!
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 18:01     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
We eat great food in our dining room with a nicely-set table, but I wouldn’t call them “formal” dinner parties. At my house, it’s dinner with friends.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 18:01     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Yes. Did pre covid and will post. Love it. Usually have one or two other couples over.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 17:56     Subject: Formal Dinner Party

Our dining room is used three times a day for meals. Sadly, no hosting any time soon because I have an asocial husband who pounced on the pandemic to pretext we couldn't have anyone over unless cases were very low. Naturally, "very low" means something quite impossible.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 17:43     Subject: Re:Formal Dinner Party
I love them too OP and I expect a roaring comeback in the post-Covid days of spring. Do it!
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2022 17:39     Subject: Formal Dinner Party
Anyone still throw formal dinner parties? I love hosting and throwing adult dinner parties and actually using my dining room but I rarely see others do it. I don't mind because people host in different ways but I just wish they were more popular.