Dinner Party Buffet

When you invite more than twelve people for dinner it becomes difficult to set a sit down dinner and the best option is to organise a buffet.

Depending on the amount of time that you have for preparing the buffet, you can serve one or two hot main dishes preceded by a selection of cold appetizers and followed by a dessert.

You should try to prepare the most of the dishes in advance and leave for the last moment only what cannot be done before. For example, you can prepare the filling for the sandwiches in advance, but only fill the bread at the last minute.

As a main course I always prefer a dish that I can cook in the oven, like this it will cook while the guest are having the appetizers and I will only have to go and check from time to time with no need of spending my evening in the kitchen.

Here you can find an idea for a dinner party buffet menu. Later I will post the recipes.

Dinner Party Buffet

Mini Chicken Fajitas

Salmon Sandwiches

Sun-dried Tomatoes Whirls

Goat Cheese Salad

Pesto Lasagna

(There was also a Chocolate and Pistachio Cake but it finished before I could take any picture.. hihi)

5 Basic Rules for the Formal Table Setting

When you have guests coming over for dinner, the table setting is as important as the food. For a dinner with friends you should chose an informal setting, simple and, if you like it, with some cute details (like fun napkin rings). For an elegant dinner or for a special occasion you should chose a formal setting. The formal table setting is not as elaborate as it might seem; in fact, you need just to follow 5 simple rules and your table will be faultless!

5 Basic Rules for the Formal Table Setting

1) Put the plates in the order you will use them: the first on the top and the last on the bottom (excluding the one for dessert).

2) The same rule is to be applied to the cutlery: the firsts to be used toward the outside; the lasts to be used toward the inside. Chose the cutlery according to the courses.

3) Set the forks on the left-hand side, the knives and spoon on the right-hand side (cutting edges toward the plate), and the dessert cutlery above.

4) Put the glasses on the upper-right (you take the glass with the right hand) according to size, the smallest (white wine) will go closer and the biggest (water) will go further.

5) The place of the napkin is on the left after the forks, not under them, because you do not need to move the cutlery in order to use the napkin.

Which for what

a) underplate

b) dinner plate

c) soup bowl

d) napkin

e) salad/starter fork

f) fish fork

g) dinner fork

h) bread plate

i) dessert spoon and cake fork

l) dinner knife

m) fish knife

n) spoon

o) water glass

p) red wine goblet

q) white wine goblet