ENTERTAINING ReDEFINED

ENTERTAINING

To many people Entertaining means putting out your finest china and crystal, and cooking a meal that you’ve cooked many times before.

There are many different ways to entertain, but some things remain true.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE JOIE DE VIVRE!

1. It’s not about fancy or complicated. It’s about fun, graciousness and making your guests feel special and warm.

2. A successful dinner party can mean taking the simplest dish and elevating it to a celebration, or an unforgettable good time.

3. It’s about the entire experience you present to your guests. From welcoming your guests into your home, until you say goodnight.

 Entertaining is all about the enjoyment of food and friends.

Create the unexpected… a surprise element…Presentation is everything.

Take the ordinary and elevate it into a special occasion.

Planning ahead is essential: Here are some journal pages I've designed so that you can easily plan ahead for your dinner party. Contact me sheila@entertainingaddict.com, to order multiple blank outline pages for yourself. (Ten pages for four dollars).

How to accomplish this? 

Create a theme. A theme is an idea, a concept. There is no preferred theme for entertaining. It’s whatever is comfortable for you.

The great thing about a theme is that it helps you to be organized and creative. It gives you a direction for the decor, the menu, the table-setting, the ambience.

Once you create the theme and menu, go ahead and plan your shopping list. Make notes for yourself as you go.

Once the theme and menu are created, plan your table, at least a day ahead. Could even be several days ahead, it wouldn't hurt.

The Table Decor; List your accents, be it flowers, whimsy pieces, thematic elements, candles, serving platters, and serving utensils. Don't leave anything out. Put notes on the items to identify what it will be used for. These tips are so that you can be as confident and relaxed as possible on the day your guests arrive.

The Table Plan; Your inspirations, and tear-sheets. Use place cards if you like. These can be simple cards with a name of the guest, or more theme related, i.e. mini pumpkins with guest names inserted, Christmas ornaments with guest names written on them or little hang tags attached, sea shells painted with guest names, and so many more ideas.
Please email me for more suggestions tailored to your dinner party.

More ideas on themes next post. Also recipes for the dinner recorded in my pages above.

As Always,
xxoo Sheila