Planning a Party at Home - What's Your Party Style?

Buffet
Buffet style is one of the best ways to entertain any size group, especially a large crowd.  

• Perfect for any type of food, any time of day and occasion, casual or formal

• If you have the room, use separate tables for separate foods such as a meat and seafood table or a desserts only table.  

Set-up a Picture Perfect Buffet

• Offer one course at a time or bring dishes out in stages - room temperature foods first, cold foods, hot foods last

• Place utensils, napkins, salt, pepper, condiments and beverageson a separate table or at the end of the buffet table with adequate space for guests to briefly park their filled plates.  

Sit-Down Service 
A dinner party is a special event; a time to create closeness and make new friends

• For easy menu planning and less effort, dinner parties are more suitable for no more then 6-8 guests

• A dinner party menu allows you more creative control

• Create more stunning presentations and control food portions

• Pre-planning and a make ahead menu are critical.  
  

Long ago a formal sit-down dinner party involved numerous courses, elaborate crystal and silverware, free flowing wine, brandy, cigars and drawing rooms.  Today a formal celebration needn't be pretentious nor intimidating.  It can be quite fun!  

• Pull out the stops, use your "good china" and your most precious serving pieces (or buy or borrow some)

• Time for handwritten invitations, high fashion, espresso and your best behavior

• The best time to show off your most remarkable culinary skills. 
  

Cocktail Party
Perfect for limited space and a limited budget.  On a cocktail party menu, present one or two substantial appetizersand one or two that are easier and less filling.  Avoid food that is messy, too big or too hot.  

Hosting a Cocktail Party
Guide to serving alcohol

Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch
A breakfast or brunch menu is fantastic for a church fundraiser, baby shower or early business meeting.   With adequate space, they can be casually hosted right from your home kitchen.  Make use of your breakfast bars and cooking islands.  Coffee, espresso, cappuccino and even light wines or spiritzers are good beverages to offer. 

• Light and delightful.  Breakfast foods do not have to be substantial unless it is a special holiday starter

• Go beyond bacon and eggs. Add melon and prosciutto, sautéed mushrooms on toast and fresh brioche and marmalade. 

Brunch menus can be served from mid-morning to early afternoon and tend to be a little more filling 

• Try made to order omelets, sliced ripe tomatoes, crisp green salads, hot buttery potatoes, tropical fruit in wine and artisan breads

• Top off with a light Bloody Mary or Mimosa. 
  

Lunch menus can feature even more substantial edibles. Some people are accustomed to a hearty lunch in lieu of a light supper or dinner.  

Entertaining Outdoors 
A wonderful change if the weather is perfect. The atmosphere is casual and the food is simple and uniquely flavored.  Not all of your guests may enjoy the great outdoors so you might consider an indoor-outdoor combination such as the main course prepared outdoors on a grill and brought indoors to enjoy with the rest of the outdoor party menu.

More Planning a Party

For a potluck menu, make requests of your guests at least two weeks ahead of time. Consider each person's particular cooking abilities.  Potlucks also decrease your responsibilities as a host and leave you more time to enjoy the fun