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It sounded like such a great idea when you suggested it. You were fresh from the gym, the sun was shining and your business deal finally came through. You were in high spirits. Inviting 8 of your work colleagues for a dinner party at your house seemed to be the best course of action. You wanted to seem popular, and able to host. You thought you might be able to tip the scales in favor of your promotion by inviting your boss and their spouse on top.
But now you’re shaking with fear. This is the first dinner party you’ve ever thrown. You’ve realized you’re not even that great of a cook and worse yet, have to pay for that replaced burst tire at the local mechanics. How do you navigate this situation with minimal cost, and still impress your cohorts?
Can it be done?
It absolutely can be done, and it can be done in style. Never fear, because we’re here to provide you with the best methods for making it through this battle of wits, and emerging victorious. That promotion is yours, baby.
Alcohol, And Plenty Of It
This is your time to employ the best social lubricant known to man: alcohol. Copious amounts of this stuff will make the atmosphere a little less awkward at first, as most work gatherings outside of work tend to be. You might be worrying about the cost of providing this, but you needn’t. Making a couple of large jugs of punch or another type of cocktail should satisfy most guests, and you can always whip up more if needs be.
Another great item to purchase here is the best cheap red wine you can find. Wine has a higher alcohol content and turns out relatively budget-friendly because of that. Most people feel slightly buzzed after a couple of glasses of red, and if your guests are courteous, they probably won’t expect more from you, nor want to partake of more in an effort to save face.
Buy In Bulk
All of the food items you’ll use you might be able to buy in bulk from your local wholesalers and therefore provide yourself with nutritious meals in the weeks to come. You needn’t splash out on specialty items, instead creating your own dishes with love and heart is what counts here. You’d be surprised how far certain ingredients such as rice and toasted baguettes will go.
Have A Lunch Party
If the three-course meal doesn’t sound appealing to you as a host, why not ask your guests to come on a weekend lunchtime? The expectations of what food there’ll be will be dramatically reduced because your guests won’t be expecting a full spread. You’ll be able to get away with ‘nibbles’ and snacks for everyone. You may even get away with providing lesser quantities of alcohol because most people prefer drinking in the evening than at lunchtime.
Make Simple Appetizers That Go Far
You needn’t make too much of an investment with your starters. Make plenty of small but cost-effective dishes such as avocado tomato bruschetta with olives, lemongrass prawns with black bean salsa or lamb kibbehs with couscous. The best part is, you can either prepare these beforehand or buy them frozen, further reducing the impact on your wallet.
Prepare a big bowl of salad that the guests can portion for themselves, and bread and hummus dips make for a great snack to pad between meals.
Host A Barbecue
You might be worried about the cost of this because meat is usually expensive. You’d be surprised. You can get quality meat from the best sources with little difficulty. Go to your local butchers and ask if they have a ‘barbecue pack’ available. Feel free to ask your close work colleagues to bring buns and hey presto, you have a simple way to fill everyone’s stomachs. All you’ll need to provide is some dip, napkins and paper plates, and you should be good to go. Just be sure that if you invite a vegetarian, they are catered for with either Quorn or vegetarian burgers. Give them a couple of options to choose from so they don’t feel left out.
Provide Fun Entertainment
A little music, a few non-cheesy party games (if that is possible,) and stimulating discussion contributes more to a fun dinner party environment than just the quality of food. Don’t skimp out too much, but also don’t worry about providing a Michelin star experience. Just provide them with real, honest meals and show genuine interest in what your guests have to say. Ask plenty of questions and find more out about them to really contribute to the positivity of your atmosphere.
With these tips in mind, you’ll surely be successful.
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