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RECENTLY, my boyfriend Jimmy’s friend and his
lovely Thai wife invited us to their beautiful home in Alabang for
dinner. Initially, I thought that it was just going to be a dinner
party with many guests but when we arrived, the table set up was
only for six persons. We were treated to a sumptuous gastronomic
experience that is truly Thai.
I couldn’t help but rave about
how perfect everything was planned, from the music to the setup,
from the choicest appetizers to the most delightful desserts. I
observed how it was laid out, and I was so impressed, prodding my
boyfriend and I to plan to host our own intimate dinner for our
closest couple friends.
If you are thinking of hosting an
intimate dinner for your family or friends, and don’t know where
to start, here are some tips that I personally took note of and
pieces of advise and suggestions from the hostess who was generous
to share some of her brilliant ideas. Here goes:
1. Pick a theme. It is always a
good start to have a theme in mind because from there, you can get
to plan the menu, the décor and the guests you want to invite.
2. Plan ahead. The best parties
are those that are carefully thought out and planned early on. Doing
research is careful planning. Example: if you are thinking Greek or
Indian, then you must research on where to find the ingredients. Are
there stores in the metro that have the spices you are looking for?
Also, think of dishes that are realistic to prepare, in terms of
what ingredients are available in the market. Another thing to
consider is if the fruits or veggies are in season, although there
are Deli’s like Santi’s or Terrie’s selection that carry what
you may just be looking for.
3. Be resourceful and creative.
Think of unique ways to liven up the décor or the table setup.
Instead of cards, why not use stones? Pick stones in your backyard
or neighborhood, smoothen out the edges, paint a uniform color or a
different color for each, then label with the name of the guest, and
voila! What a nice alternative to place cards, and then later on use
them as paperweight or book ends if you please.
4. Choose an interesting
appetizer. It’s always good to start right. Our Thai host
introduced this appetizer I have never tried in any Thai restaurant
that I’ve been to and it turns out that it is an original recipe
from the hostess’s grandmother. Cookbooks, cooking shows or online
sites such as epicurious.com for sure will offer you many choices.
5. Brief your househelp. Orient
them properly on the different table appointments, (i.e. flatware,
stemware, silverware). Teach them how to serve the soup, the dishes
and the dessert. Her staff looked confident and pleasant. They knew
exactly what they were tasked to do and they knew how to explain how
a certain dish was cooked when asked.
6. Know where to sit your guests
on the dining table. Ideally, the host and the hostess do not sit
together nor do they sit facing each other. The host sits beside the
female guest of honor, while the hostess sits beside or across the
male guest of honor, if there is one. Couples should never be
together at the Dinner table, to allow them to mingle with the other
guests.
7. Allow free-flowing
conversation. Along with the excellent pairing of food and drinks,
dinner is made better if there is an interesting flow of
conversation among the guests. The hosts should see to it that
everyone is introduced to each other and becomes comfortable with
each other.
8. See your guests to the door.
Our hosts gave us the hand-painted stones as souvenirs as they were
walking us out. They made sure we felt very comfortable until it was
time to leave and we truly appreciated their gesture the entire
evening. Your guests will never forget your hospitality and will be
inspired to do the same next time.
For office, school and
individual sessions, e-mail: paching_betita@yahoo.com
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