۴ý

Lifestyle

    • Throwing a dinner party is a way to connect. Rookies, don't be intimidated

    Stoneware salad plates with a damask pattern that can be matched with blue or other plates. Having dishes that can be used for any type of dinner party means you don't need to buy or store too many. (Williams-Sonoma via AP) Stoneware salad plates with a damask pattern that can be matched with blue or other plates. Having dishes that can be used for any type of dinner party means you don't need to buy or store too many. (Williams-Sonoma via AP)
    Share

    When Sarah Bellinger, a Gen Z public relations executive, decided to throw her first dinner party, she invited just five friends and served her go-to recipe: a creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.

    “I wasn’t nervous, because it was just a small group of my closest friends, but I was definitely very excited. It felt like the most adult thing I did all month," said Bellinger, who lives in East Hartford, Conn.

    The evening was a success, she says, and the cooking was easy, though there was a little more chopping prep than she’d anticipated. “I realized I probably should have done that before they came, but I used that hindsight for the next time I did a dinner," she said.

    Or take the case of Anita Michaud, 25, who moved to Brooklyn Heights, New York, in 2021 for work. It was a challenge to find new friends. So she started advertising her idea for a "Dinner With Friends" on social media. The eight– to 10-person themed events held in hosts' homes now have wait lists in the hundreds.

    Throwing a dinner party — anything from a pot of chili to a multi-course feast — is a great way to build social connections, at a time when that can be hard to do. There’s something about preparing and sharing a meal that bonds people.

    If you’re just starting out, have no fear

    You might not be ready for Michaud's level of dinner partying, but with some simple planning and a little effort, hosting your first group nosh needn’t be daunting.

    Remember: You’re inviting friends — they already like you. You’re doing it in your own place; you know your way around. And you’re not trying to be Gatsby — it’s supper with your besties. Just take it easy.

    Some ways to do that:

    Set the Scene

    Even without a proper dining table, you can host small groups around a counter, or even a large coffee table. Don’t worry about matching glasses and plates; we’re living in a more freewheeling era, where motley styles and mix ‘n’ match make as stylish a table setting as a full set of crockery.

    Don’t have enough proper plates and utensils? There are cool, new, compostable alternatives to standard disposable plates and cutlery.

    This image provided by Sarah Bellinger shows a table set for a small dinner party with friends on Aug. 25, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn.

    Some well-chosen supermarket flowers and simple candles are really all you need to create ambience. Jessie-Sierra Ross, a food and entertaining blogger in Holyoke, Massachusetts, advises arrangements of three or five — “we’re wired to be attracted to odd-numbered groupings of items.”

    “Music sets the mood,” notes Atlanta-based food blogger Erica Thomas. “I always recommend planning it in advance. A fun tip is to ask your guests to send over two of their favorite songs, then create a playlist. Apple Music and Spotify offer ‘dinner party’ playlists.”

    Have beverages at the ready

    “If you decide to provide cocktails, create a recipe that can be used in batches,” advises Thomas. “That way, your guests can self-serve. When hosting a dinner party, it’s all about elevating. Have a water self-serve station with fruit ice cubes, or lemon and basil. It’s simple but will impress your guests.”

    Ross likes the idea of offering a homemade cocktail to get things rolling as guests arrive. A favorite: grapefruit Aperol spritz.

    She also suggests setting up a spritz bar with all the fixings. “Guests can play at-home mixologist.”

    So, what's for dinner?

    Choose a menu theme, and go with the tried-and-true.

    Real Simple editor Lisa Milbrand suggests picking a favorite place in the world for some sample dishes: Italian lasagna, French crepes, Japanese noodles, Greek orzo, Korean bibimbap, or Chinese dumplings and rice, for example. Or have a little fun with time travel — maybe ’70s-era cheese fondues and casseroles, or sample medieval fare like savory pies, fruits and honeys.

    Michaud’s themes have included a Lebanese-Indian feast that featured hummus, curry, labneh and pistachio almond cake, washed down with a fizzy spiced apple cardamom cocktail. Yum.

    Keep it simple. “Pasta is great because it’s easy to accommodate dietary restrictions — you can use gluten-free noodles, avoid dairy, and choose to include a protein or not. It’s fail-proof," says Thomas.

    “I recommend using a go-to recipe that you know is reliable,” she continued. "Avoid experimenting with new dishes on the day of the event.... If you want to try a new dish, practice it a few weeks in advance to perfect it.”

    Pre-cook as much as you can

    “I’m a firm believer in making as much ahead of time as possible,” says Real Simple’s Jenna Helwig. “My personal dinner-party go-to is either butternut squash lasagna or sausage and broccoli rabe baked rigatoni. I assemble them up to a day ahead, they bake as people arrive, and all I have to do before dinner is toss together a salad with dressing made earlier in the day. Nobody’s ever complained!”

    Consider focusing your efforts on one or two dishes, what Ross calls stars of the show.

    “It could be a beautiful piece of beef tenderloin or a decadent flourless chocolate cake. Choose recipes that create maximum impact at the table for everyone to enjoy, then choose less time-intensive recipes for the rest of the menu,” she says.

    Another great option, especially for your picky eaters: an assemble-your-own dinner. Think custom pizzas, salads, sandwiches or tacos.

    Finally, “plan your menu by thinking seasonally,” advises Ross. See what’s fresh and in season for the best prices and quality. Got a good fish market near you? Baked, buttered cod takes only 20 minutes. Berries in season? Berry bowls with coconut whipped cream could be a nice finish.

    Bellinger has found a not-so-secret weapon. “One of my favorite tools is my Instapot! It’s so easy to pop everything in and hit the button before friends come, so I can actually enjoy the party instead of cooking the whole time.”

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    Canada

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that – and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the ‘Fellow in Yellow.’

    • British Columbia's highest court has weighed in on a dispute over an inflatable hot tub a couple set up on their condo's patio – potentially bringing a close to the years-long conflict.

    • A Vancouver couple who live across the street from McBride Park on the city's west side say they repeatedly told the city a tree on the southern edge of the park posed a danger – but nothing was done.

    • The search for a man who went missing amid last weekend’s atmospheric river in Coquitlam, B.C., has entered its third day.

    • TTC staff are recommending that the transit service ban lithium-ion-powered mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes through the winter months due to the risk of fire in adverse conditions such as salty roads.

    • Police have released video footage of a recent home invasion in Richmond Hill as they search for three outstanding suspects who they say may have returned to the residence the following day to take another vehicle.

    • A driver has been seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the QEW that led to the closure of all but one eastbound lane of traffic during rush hour on Tuesday.

    • Police have identified the victim of a deadly shooting late last week in northeast Calgary.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • A new study suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Former volunteers with Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC) are working to track cats they say are either dead or missing after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records surfaced in recent months.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    • A Montreal borough and Muslim leader are pushing back against the head of the Parti Québécois after he accused a local library of promoting a "religious invasion" by posting a photo of a young girl wearing a hijab for a storytime event.

    • Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.

    • Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) custodians have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike.

    • Homeowners may have to choose tricks over treats this year, as the price of candy leaves some Edmonton residents feeling the pinch.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is crossing the floor and joining the Progressive Conservatives.

    • Crews responded to a propane leak in Upper Tantallon, N.S., on Tuesday night.

    • Folks making the trek to and from Thompson along Highway 6 are once again without a bathroom break… at least for now.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • Saturday's matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders could determine if they clinch the West Division title, however the results from Winnipeg's game earlier in the day could make their matchup meaningless.

    • Two holes found in the window of a Saskatchewan Party campaign office were not caused by a gun, Regina police have reported.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    • Videos of a meteor shower seen across southwestern Ontario have been popping up across social media since Monday night.

    • A Saskatoon family is voicing concerns after paying twice as much PST as expected on a recently purchased truck.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Now that the jury has begun deliberating in the Sudbury murder trial of Felicity Altiman, here are some of the interesting courtroom moments they didn't get to hear.

    • Greater Sudbury has ended the employment of CAO Ed Archer, Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced suddenly Tuesday evening

    • After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    • On the stand of a London courthouse on Tuesday, Rachel Johnson described how a fun bush bash birthday party on July 30, 2021 turned deadly.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie’s south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • A 35-year-old man from Etobicoke is facing impaired driving charges after a crash involving a Ministry of Transportation vehicle parked along Highway 11 south.

    • A fire that caused $2.5 million damage at a newly constructed house in Adjala-Tosorontio early Tuesday morning is being investigated as suspicious.

    • If you live in Windsor, Ont. and get a knock at the door from a political canvasser, it might be surprising since there’s no election on the horizon at the municipal, provincial or federal level. But across the border, that's not the case.

    • ‘Vampire Zombies…from Space!’ and ‘Thundersnake’, two films that are showing at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), were both shot across the city and in the County of Essex.

    • Before the Town of Essex adopts it's new Master Plan for Land Use, staff will work to identify best proper use for future developments across the municipality.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • Premier and NDP Leader David Eby says he's been told by the B.C. Green Party that it's too early to begin talks about a minority government agreement after the weekend's still-undecided provincial election.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • Alberta is offering infrastructure funding to help municipalities accommodate recent population growth. The province has added a little over 500,000 people over five years, putting pressure on public services.

    • The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won’t fix the systemic problems in the workplace.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at ۴ý. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow ۴ý