Hosting a luxury dinner party is an opportunity to gather family and friends for an evening of fun, show your luxury home and showcase your culinary skills – and with a few weeks of summer still remaining, there couldn’t be a better time to do it. With the weather on your side, dining al fresco is still on the agenda, and the freshest seasonal produce is in abundance, which makes it all the more fun to get cooking.
If you already have a date in the diary to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a social gathering to make the most of the last of these long, light evenings, and you’re struggling for inspiration, then here we explore six delicious ideas for a luxury dinner party.
Serve canapés in spoons
Canapés set the tone for every dinner party, and will give your guests a delicious taste of what’s to come. One of the most impressive ways to serve them? In spoons. Little canapés in spoons passed around on trays alongside a glass or two of champagne ensure that everyone receives a warm welcome whilst encouraging them to circulate and make conversation before dinner.
Canapés are intricate and can be difficult to prepare, but they’re entirely doable by following a great recipe closely. Plus, if executed correctly, they’ll be a real crowd pleaser.
Impress with miniature treats
In a similar vein, tiny one-bite appetisers always go down a treat, and are certain to wow your guests. These little eats are perfect for serving just as your guests sit down for dinner as an amuse-bouche, and will create talking points and excitement before the main event. They could be something as simple as roasted nuts, or you could attempt a spinach and feta tart soleil if you’re feeling more adventurous, for a meat-free option that suits almost everyone.
Don’t under-estimate stuffed vegetables
Once you move on to the bigger courses, creative ideas can help to keep things interesting and ensure that each one is as impressive as the last. Stuffed vegetables are a tasty accompaniment for just about anything, particularly the type of Mediterranean dishes typically served during summer. And, as the year goes on, they also make excellent winter warmers for a cosy indoor dinner party, so a great party trick to have up your sleeve.
One of the best vegetables to stuff is butternut squash, which has plenty of room for any filling you fancy, but you could also try using bell peppers or courgettes. As for the stuffing, don’t be afraid to get creative – rice, herbs and cheese is always a safe bet, but look up some recipes online to see what excites you the most.
Remember that presentation is everything
Even the most delicious dishes can be detracted from by poor presentation. If it looks a mess, then it sets a low expectation amongst your guests when it comes to the taste, so take your time and assemble each plate with the care and attention it deserves. Pride yourself on an excellent presentation, and give yourself a helping hand by using quality equipment to prepare each element. One way to do this is through quality frying pans, which will prevent your food from sticking to the pan and ensure your dishes come out perfectly cooked and formed.
Recreate five-star hotel recipes
If you’re looking to pull out all the stops to blow your guests away, then elevate your luxury dinner party by deploying some extra sophisticated recipes from the world’s top celebrity chefs. Choosing a recipe that is fresh out of the fine kitchen of a five-star hotel will ensure an amazing feast is inevitable. Just make sure you practice them in advance to perfect them, as some can be rather complicated.
Compile a creative drinks menu
Rather than just serving bottles of beer and glasses of wine at your dinner party, make the evening feel a little more sophisticated by providing a creative drinks menu. Try making your own cocktails with fresh fruit, or hire a professional mixologist and bartender for the evening to take care of all your drinks requirements, leaving you free to concentrate on getting the food right and having fun.
Hosting a luxury dinner party, fine dining style, can be both exciting and daunting, but armed with these easy tips, you’ll be all set to throw a classy dinner party for yourself and your friends that will keep everyone talking for weeks to come.
