Take the Stress Out of
Entertaining – You Deserve It!
Submitted by: Susie McDonell, Catering Unlimited
Most people consider it
either a sign of weakness if they don’t slave away in the kitchen for days
before their dinner party, or they think - why spend the extra money when I can
just do it myself? Well, let me tell you that both of these assumptions
are completely false.
To dispel the first, what your guests really care about is having a good
time. If you are feeling even the slightest bit stressed, your guests
will feel it much more than they will notice if the prime rib was prepared by
you or the smiling, helpful person in the kitchen.
As far as the cost goes, menus can range in price from $15 to $40 per
person. A good rule of thumb is to hire a caterer when you are
having 6 or more people for dinner – more than 15 for hors d’oeuvres or a
barbecue. For beginners and/or those with young children I recommend
hiring help when entertaining for 6 or more.
There are also several
ways to make it look like you did it yourself:
1. Serve a buffet rather than a seated served meal – If the buffet
table is piled with delectable foods it is less obvious than if each course is
brought out of the kitchen served by someone else while you are sitting at the
table – although a served dinner is lovely and I recommend them highly.
2. Give the caterer your own platters ahead of time – If the
serving pieces are from your home, most will assume the food is too.
3. Plan a menu that can be delivered ahead. This will mean you will have to re-heat, serve
and do the cleanup yourself but will be completely freed up beforehand.
4. Hire a bartender – A great bartender will not only take
the responsibility of keeping glasses filled, but can also be an ice breaker as
guests arrive and at the end of the evening when all is said and done, can
retrieve coats, have clean glasses, etc.
Most importantly, entertain with the intention of making sure your guests feel
completely comfortable and are enjoying themselves. If you keep that in
mind, your party is sure to be a success. And be proud of yourself for
realizing that you made the best choice for your already overburdened shoulders.
"It was not only
the best party I've ever thrown, but I didn't lift a finger, no worry, no
stress, no cleanup. I was able to enjoy
my family and friends and create wonderful memories of the event. It's the only party of mine that I actually enjoyed!" Sara Bayland