In just over a month, indoor gatherings of up to six people (or two households) will be permitted once again. Then, a little over a month later, on June 21st, all restrictions on social contact look likely to be lifted; and keen dinner party hosts all over the country can’t wait!
These house-proud, cooking-mad hosts have been honing their skills during the latest lockdown, investing in new crockery, trying out new kitchen gadgets and acing their online sommelier courses, all in anticipation of this moment.
To make every second count, from the first canape to the farewell drink, read on; here are 5 tips for hosting the perfect dinner party in June.
FIRSTLY, CHECK CURRENT RESTRICTIONS
The most essential tip for hosting a fabulous dinner party in June is to check that it’s actually allowed to go ahead at all and is not in breach of any current coronavirus guidelines, restrictions or laws. There’s nothing glamorous or ‘underground’ about hosting an illicit soiree, and doing so could endanger your guests and incur you a financial punishment.
Should the UK’s vaccine rollout continue at pace and coronavirus case numbers remain low, then June 21st is the key date when dinner parties of above six will be permitted. To keep up to date with current government guidelines, check out their dedicated ‘Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do’ page.
If in any doubt of what feels most cautious and responsible, hosting outside is generally considered a safer bet.
MAKE USE OF WHAT’S IN SEASON…
With all those caveats now in place, it’s time to decide on a menu. After such an extended period stuck indoors, dining out on comfort food and takeaways, it seems prescient – hopeful, even – to celebrate the Summer seasons with your menu. Fortunately, Britain is blessed with some fabulous seasonal produce in June, with light, green vegetables, plentiful shellfish and the sweetest of fruits all at their finest.
Creating a menu around the UK’s freshest Summer produce, then, seems to write itself; artichokes, asparagus, broad beans, peas, fennel, Jersey Royals, runner beans…how good does that all sound? Throw in some locally caught whole fish, grilled to perfection, or a whole joint of meat for the carnivores in the group, and your dinner party menu feels almost poetic. It certainly sings of better times ahead, don’t you think?
For dessert, British fruit is arguably at its peak in June, with strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries and even elderflower all on song. In fact, even your drinks can be inspired by the seasons…
…AND THAT INCLUDES THE DRINKS
Alongside food, most people have quite specific tastes when it comes to drinks. Whether alcoholic or not, it always makes sense to provide a range of refreshments for people to choose from, and who can resist some carefully crafted cocktails and mocktails using that seasonal British fruit we just mentioned? The BBC has a great roundup of Summer cocktail recipes here; do check it out.
The wine you serve – non-alcoholic versions included – should ideally pair thoughtfully with the food on offer. Knowing how to pair your wine with the food, as well as the correct temperature to serve it and even which glasses to use, are all complete catnip to foodies.
CREATE A VARIED MENU
Of course, aside from servings of plenty of seasonal produce, the menu needs to make sense, with a rhythm and nuance all of its own.
We’ve all seen that episode of Come Dine With Me or Dinner Date, where a well-meaning host serves a Thai starter followed by a roast dinner with chocolate filled tacos to finish. Or worse, three courses of chicken, including dessert! Honestly, there’s an episode…
To impress those foodie friends of yours and truly stake your claim as being the host with the most, it’s essential that you maintain some synergy between courses. This is most easily (and deliciously) realised by sticking to the cuisine of one country or even one region for the entire menu.
As the party experts at Poptop so sagely advise, you should also strive for a balanced rhythm to your menu. If your starter is protein-heavy, make sure that the main course is a little lighter. Should the dessert contain lashings of cream, the other courses should be less dependant on fat to carry flavour.
Alternatively, you could allow a looser style of dinner party, with finger food and few sharing plates, allowing people to help themselves. Buffet-style arrangements are great for this, enabling you to save time and money while still offering a range of food diverse enough to cater to all whims and wants.
DECORATE THE TABLE
Hey, let’s wring this seasonal theme out for all its worth, shall we? Setting your table with seasonal flowers which are at their best and brightest during June can be a great way to add a special touch to your dinner party.
Summer sees Marigolds, Sunflowers, Iris and Aster looking particularly spectacular. Bringing the scents of Summer, these seasonal flowers are the perfect way to synergise that theme we keep pushing!
SET A BEAUTIFUL TABLE
People don’t expect a full-on luxury experience with starched white table cloths, Royal Copenhagen crockery and the latest Murano glasses when they go to a dinner party – in fact, that can be pretty awkward.
But that shouldn’t mean you can’t create a ‘high end’ atmosphere, and one of the quickest routes to doing just that is through an elegant table setting.
Alongside the floral decorations on your table, you also have to think about the plates, glasses, and cutlery being used. If you have special sets of these items, it can be worth bringing them out to give everyone a fine dining-esque experience. It’s always worth thinking about as many options as possible with this, with tumblers being good for soft drinks, and carefully chosen wine glasses and flutes being best for wine and champagne.
Check out these tips on how to create the IDEAL wine bar experience at home for some fascinating insights into choosing the right glassware to show off your wine.
Now we’ve equipped you with all the know-how you need for a fantastic dinner party, can we assume that our invitation’s in the post?