“Dinner parties” may be a term reserved for more formal affairs in the home that center around presenting your guests with a fancy spread in a sit-down setting. However, the more casual approach today to having friends or family over for dinner without the sit-down dinner preparation can be as uncomplicated as throwing casual themes into the mix.
Takeout is a great place to start for fast, simple dinners that can still be presented with some personalized flare. The trick is to carry out your theme in the details. By stocking up on some party supplies in the right categories, you can always have some affordable tools at your disposal to whip together a gathering. When you think takeout, two applicable themes to consider are Chinese and Italian food options, which can be served up with ease.
Whether you order from your favorite Chinese restaurant or attempt your own tasty versions at home, you can still serve your dishes very authentically. For a small get-together or movie night, why get out the plates when you can serve right out of Chinese takeout cartons? They are available at party supply stores, so you can have your own inventory at home. Let dinner guests scoop their selections from white serving bowls right into their own takeout cartons, and set up your spread around the coffee table instead of the dining table to bring the casual dining level down to the floor. Offer a large bowl of fortune cookies, and incorporate the simplest of décor with chopsticks arranged in a collection of small, clear glass bud vases. To take it a step further, add a few paper lanterns to your setting in varying sizes. Once folded flat, they can be stored away for future use.
Carryout pizza can be jazzed up to party level with a little atmosphere. Serve iced-down glass bottle soft drinks out of a large bucket or serving bowl. Remove the pizzas from their boxes and serve buffet style on serving trays and even cake stands to vary their heights. Offer breadsticks and marinara sauce for dipping, plus add-ons like parmesan cheese, red pepper, and ranch-style dip in their own small serving bowls as well. Skip the big dishes by offering red paper plates and red-and-white checkered paper dinner napkins. To take it a step further, play an Italian dinner night CD for background music or dine alfresco on the back patio for a twist on a summer night picnic.
“Supper from a sack” doesn’t have to be as bland as that sounds. Play up a meal’s theme to create an atmosphere fit for inviting guests over. And don’t feel guilty about the leaving the cooking to the pros; you are merely in charge of setting it up and pulling it off with your design in mind.
DesigninMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star Sunday, May 1st.
