ABOVE: A vase of berry branches and coloured drinking glasses is all that’s needed to create a perfectly simple dinner-party table.My family wasn’t much for dinner parties, so when I moved into my first apartment in my early 20s, I turned to Martha Stewart for guidance. Suddenly I was swimming in tips for creating hand-written invitations and magazine-worthy table settings.
How times have changed. Martha recently demonstrated the fine art of serving macaroni-and-cheese-topped wieners — in store-bought buns.
Just as the Martha machine has tweaked some of its content, I’ve also simplified what goes into a dinner party and have given up those half-baked plans to go full-Martha.
Really, any guest you’d want over for dinner isn’t there for starched linens, matching china or cut crystal but good company and conversation. A dining table isn’t even required as long as everyone has a comfortable seat.
If you’ve got the big challenge of little space for entertaining, consider entertaining buffet style, allowing your guests to serve themselves then take their plates to the living room where they can park their glass of wine or plate on a handy surface.
Set up the buffet by pushing your dining table against one wall to allow for maximum foot traffic. If the table is deep (square or round), start by stacking up a couple of phone books or other thick, flat items near the wall side to create a more easily accessible tiered table. Cover the platforms with a tablecloth or, failing that, a crisp flat bed sheet. If you have a hanging light fixture over the dining table, reposition it on a new ceiling hook above your buffet, or, if that’s not possible, shorten the length so it doesn’t bonk the heads of your dinner guests.
If you don’t even have a dining table, use the most accessible part of the kitchen counter. Line up the items logically starting with plates and ending with any sauces or condiments, and a set of cutlery wrapped in a napkin for each guest. Do break the bank and buy some pretty paper napkins if you don’t have a cloth set; paper towels don’t cut it.
Finally, keep the menu simple. A hearty pasta and a tossed salad is sufficient. Avoid difficult dishes that must be prepared moments before you serve. If you like the idea of courses, add a soup starter or a cheese plate that can be reintroduced at dessert with some fresh fruit.
Make your dinner party a potluck and it just might become a weekly event.
