Continuing with the concept of dinner parties, today we offer 3 ideas to inspire outdoor dinner parties and make them successful.
If you're VERY busy, choose some type of outdoor cooking and make that your dinner party
For people who are VERY busy, especially if you have children, this type of outdoor dinner party makes sense because there's less to prepare and have ready before the party starts. Choose simple food like grilled sausages or hamburgers and grilled vegetables, prepare (or buy) a salad and dessert, appetizers if you're feeling ambitious, and you're set. Even involve your guests in the grilling, if they're the type--people love interactive cooking parties these days.
But here's the key: make the outdoor dinner party environment as festive as possible with colorful plates or glasses, a table runner or outdoor tablecloth, votives, some nice beverages (non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic)...People that try to do an outdoor dinner with any old white disposable plates and foam glasses, or a plastic table and no table covering or any decoration--well, it looks bad and that will simply not be a successful party. We have clients who are VERY BUSY professionals with small children and who keep nice melamine outdoorware that they use regularly, and their outdoor parties are very successful (BTW, buying a set like this inspires you to do more outdoor dining!). You don't have to buy an outdoorware set but do look for best-quality paperware at least, a tablecloth or runner, flowers, votives, something. THEN your outdoor dinner party will be a success, not a miss.
If you have more time, you can choose theme concepts or even go fancy
So cool outdoor dinner parties can revolve around themes like Texas BBQ, paella, France, Italy, Mexico, Tiki, seafood feasts, etc.--or how about an outdoor dinner party for a holiday like Halloween or Thanksgiving (weather permitting, of course)? A birthday, promotion, or celebrating retirement outdoor dinner party?
And if you have time, a bit fancier outdoor party will be memorable. Several years ago we found a book on picnics with one chapter devoted to outdoor dinner parties--a beef or pork tenderloin served room temp with a seafood mousse, lovely cold marinated vegetables, and mini desserts or fruit and cheese plus nice outdoorware, real glasses, nice wines, maybe candles. A bit more work, but if you have time so enjoyable to dine outdoors this way!
If you aren't crazy busy but don't have tons of extra time, do dinner but outside
Why not give a dinner party and just carry the food and eat it outside? This won't be more work than a regular indoor dinner party. The technique would be either to serve from the kitchen and have guests carry their plates outside or have helpers or servers carry served plates to guests seated outside. Or if it's casual even serve family style at an outdoor table.
What's great about this is that guests, and you, get to enjoy the food AND the weather. So do the dinner party you were planning on doing, but if the weather will be nice eat outside, and we guarantee people will like it. If you don't want to fuss too much with the outdoor table just put some flowers or a hurricane lamp with a candle on the outside table.
Clear a space in the kitchen for used plates and have people take their plates inside, or have helpers clear the plates. Put everything in the dishwasher if real plates and forget it until the next day, and enjoy a leisurely evening with your guests outdoors.
Warmly,
Kristina
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com
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