Dinner is one of the most important meals in a day. Even mothers find it difficult to plan for it every day for their family. What if you need to feed a crowd? It surely is more stressful. You also need to make sure you have a good time and place for your dinner or party. Another option would be to have professional food handlers take care of everything. It will surely make things easier.
Regardless of the location, they can help you. Even at sea, such as in an oil rig, you can hire offshore catering companies to prepare food for you and your companions. But it is still very rewarding to prepare the food yourself, so here are five easy ways to serve great food for a big number of guests for dinner:
Know Your Guests
Ask your guests what dishes they like or if they have any food allergy. The better you understand your guests, the more they will like the recipes you can think of. This will also help you prepare your shopping list. Remember to always think about the majority of your guests and not feel bad if one or two do not like your dish.
Consider Your Budget
Knowing your budget will help you determine which items you need to spend more or less. But you need to remind yourself that you don’t have to spend a fortune. Some major factors that affect it are the ingredients, table setting, venue, and the number of guests itself. You should check for alternatives if you think an ingredient is expensive or out of season. You can always think out of the box.
Presentation is Key
Try to think about the vibrant natural colors of the different foods you will incorporate in your menu. It helps in feeding the mind before your guests enjoy the food. Your table setting is also important. Try to get the best linen and dinnerware that will focus attention on the food itself. Your best options would be neutral tones like white, gray, or beige. If you want to add drama, you can also add some tiny trinkets and decors.
Complement the Flavors
The variety of dishes should always complement the flavor of each other. You are basically like a storyteller who gives meaning to the dishes through the different tastes. As much as possible, try to end it with a sweet note. Everyone loves a happy ending. Adventurous palates will love it if you can play around with some herbs, spices, or condiments.
Keep the Freshness
After you have done your shopping, try to precook or cure some of the ingredients so that you can retain or enhance the flavor. The freshness of the food can affect the flavor of your dishes, so you have to buy ingredients that spoil easily on the same day as your dinner party. You can also use specialized storage containers, which come in different materials, shapes, sizes and features. You may also use them as containers for leftovers or for guests who wish to take home some food.
There are countless ways to make your dinner party extra special, but it all boils down to the satisfaction of your guests. These tips are easy enough to make any dinner preparation hassle-free.
