7 Ultimate Tips For Hosting a Memorable Meal at Home

Hosting season is upon us and I am sharing 7 ultimate tips for hosting a memorable meal at home that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

First off, I am not going to sit here and tell you that I am the ultimate hostess or that I am known for my grand dinner parties. (Although my daughters sweet 16 great Gatsby themed murder mystery dinner party might prove otherwise.)

Rather, I am a lady, who likes to improve my skills in different areas, and who seeks to do better when possible. For this, I am also someone who has spent a lot of time on this topic and I think frankly that’s where these skills get honed. In thinking, practicing and having them on our radar so to speak. We can start to adopt ideas and find ways to improve upon and in this instance, that is in the skill of receiving people into our homes.

With this becoming more and more important to me over the years, I have been able to create my very own signature moves. The ones I know to do each and every time. The ones that make me feel much more comfortable in being the host.

As an introvert, this is huge. I am comfortable with small groups of people I know and a bit panicked when I am to pull off a toast to a room full of people. But whether you are on the shy side or a complete extravert it really doesn’t matter.

Because the thing is, its not about personality type or whether you have the best home to host in. Its about your skillset, your manners, and having the right etiquette to be a good hostess. The thing I probably love most about homemaking is that you get to improve continuously and there is no arrival. Meaning, we are always sharpening our skillsets and the home is a space to grow in. 

So while we aren’t talking about homemaking in terms of keeping a space, we are touching on sharing it with others. And honestly, this might just be one of the most life giving aspects to cultivate within our four walls.

Host Lunch With Me

So lets talk about this. This past week I hosted a friend for lunch to celebrate her birthday which you can watch in the video. I have been doing this since Covid and truly I see no end in sight. I reluctantly did it the first time and to my surprise found I had the ability to not only make the guest of honor feel that much more special. But I had complete control over the ambiance, menu and all the little details in between. I think this is the true magic of it, we get to create an enjoyable experience for others. This to me is the mindset of a good hostess/host.

Menu

The very first thing I plan when hosting anything is the food. I have said this so many times I feel like a broken record. But it’s that important so I’ll say it again. Plan a simple menu that you can make ahead of time or buy a few things pre-made and only make one or two side dishes yourself. I think the worst thing you can do is try out a new recipe you’ve never made before or plan complicated courses to serve. There is always something bound to go wrong in these instances and why add more pressure to an event we are feeling a little anxious about anyway, are you with me?

Like I mentioned before, buying a few pre-made things helps save time and energy, and not to mention relieves some of the pressure. Place the items in a pretty bowl or dish and no one will know the difference (unless you tell them of course). On the flip side, if you are like me, you do like to do the cooking. Here are a few of my favorite crowd pleasing dishes to serve for a simple fuss free menu.

Main Course Ideas

• Eggplant and Potato Curry
• Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
• Creamy Vegetable Soup
• Whole Bird Salt Crusted Chicken
• Classic Sausage and Shrimp Boil

Desserts

• Fresh Lemon Tart
• Old Fashioned Peach Cobbler
• No Bake Salted Dark Chocolate Tart
• Skillet Caramelize Peaches
• Easy Key Lime Pie

Dietary Restrictions

On the food note, when planning a menu, it is important to consider any dietary needs or food allergies your guests might have. Nothing is worse than serving food people can’t eat at a luncheon. Believe me. I had a dinner party a couple of years back, I did ask my guests about their allergies before planning the menu BUT what I didn’t realize was the soybean allergy of this particular guest extended to the soy candle that sat burning in the same room. Needless to say, I had a watery eyed guest thinking I had poisoned him with my food until it was realized the candle was the culprit. Not my finest moment.

To avoid this you can ask ahead of time or if you know your guests well enough, you may already know. Be mindful of this and you will avoid the awkwardness that comes with a guest not eating at a meal you served. (And if your guest says soy, save the candles for another time.)

Another thing I like to do is offer a non alcoholic beverage. If there is to be champagne, I also grab an apple cider for those not wanting to drink alcohol but still wanting to toast. For brunches I do a mock mimosa and use mineral water instead of champagne. It’s a considerate way to allow your guests to still enjoy a fun drink and not feel left out. 

Ambiance

Probably the best and most fun part of hosting at home is the ability to create an ambiance around the meal you serve. Things like whether you eat outside or in, the music that is to be played, how you dress the table are all part of creating an ambiance. I like to think about how I want my guests to feel. For example, is this an intimate setting with candles and soft dinner music or do I want more of a festive environment with salsa music and margaritas?

 Think about how you want your guest to feel and base it off the meal theme to make it all cohesive. This makes for a memorable lunch or dinner setting. For me, I like to think about comfort and whether my guests will be comfortable in whatever environment I am creating.

I aim for a cozy environment with a little bit a dressed up feel so that my guests feel special, like they are being treated for the afternoon or evening. In this instance, it is the little things, the small details that make all the difference. A few fresh flowers on the dining table, cloth napkins, candles, a table cloth and good lighting. These sorts of things enhance the dining experience and are a simple way to dress up even the most casual settings. 

Always use what you have when you have it since nothing needs to match. I find a mismatched table setting enhances the coziness. In the video, I use a sheet and a scrap of leftover fabric to create a charming table setting. Check it out if you are needing inspiration along with these 11 Old Fashioned Entertaining Tips For Maximum Charm.

​Guest List

Create a guest list that makes sense even if you are not having a formal dinner, you still need to consider your guest list. I once went to a birthday dinner at a friends and found myself sitting next to a person I had a bad experience with when I hired him to do work and the work was not up to par. We had a disagreement and I asked him to finish his work and go. It was that bad and here at this party, we sat awkwardly eating our meals and avoiding one another’s eye level. It was one of the most uncomfortable times I have had at a party. 

When making a guest list, make sure the people on your list make sense. They don’t have to know each other but they should be likely to get along, have something in common and at the vary least, not have any past bad experiences with one another. Otherwise, you can expect to be remembered for the wrong reasons. 

Serve The Food On Time

We all lead very busy lives and it is important that we consider this when we plan. Some of us have three hours to sit at a meal and others just don’t. So plan the start and end time accordingly. For example, if I ask guests to come over to my home for a 1 o’clock lunch. I need to serve lunch within that first hour or even first half hour of their arrival.

Guests arriving at a start time will expect to be fed and finished by a certain time so they can plan day care, pet care or work etc. Avoid having people sit around waiting to be fed. Have the meal ready or near ready when they arrive. This way they can eat and engage in the gathering and not feel uncomfortable having to leave too early or worse, leave a meal invitation hungry.

Think Ahead

I consider myself a thoughtful person in general so when it comes to hosting a meal, I think about what a guest would need during their meal. Both before or after to be comfortable or to enjoy themselves more. Small things like, access to more sauce, salt or pepper, knowing where to sit or where they can place their coat or purse. It is these small details that make all the difference. When you make a person feel welcome, and comfortable they are more at ease. Which makes them have a better time and will increase the good energy in the room.

A good time to do all the small things is prior to their arrival. So its a good idea to do a once over before the guests arrive. Check to see everyone has what they need at their place settings. Ensure you have condiments, napkins, and the drink station stocked and ready to go. This is not only a great way to be a good hostess when hosting a meal but its a great way to take the pressure off of you. When guests have what they need, there’s less of you needing to be so attentive. 

Family Style Vs. Serving Your Guests

Ok this one I go back and fourth on. But it does make sense. I learned from a French aristocrat on Instagram that serving a plated meal at a dinner party or pre cutting a pie or cake was a frowned on. The reason she gave was of course, we don’t know how much each person will want to eat. Some may want a large slice of dessert and others not. Same goes with the meal. She suggested serving it family style or even buffet style so that your guests could serve themselves as a general rule.

I go back and fourth with this because I really like to plate my food and create a nice presentation. But now I have her sort of in the back of my head and I don’t do it as often I used to. I think its appropriate in more intimate settings with close friends and if you opt to plate your food I would say go with the less is more idea. Don’t pile it on the plate but serve a conservative amount and allow the guest to have access to more if they should want it. 

Final Thoughts

Whether you are new to hosting meals at home or here wanting to add to your skillset, these 7 tips have helped me relax around the dinner table knowing I have taken thoughtful actions towards my guests from the start. These are the ultimate tips to me because they take the heavy lifting so to speak, out of the meal itself. They cover any issues your guests might have with food or even each other and keep things simple with one of the biggest challenges of hosting a meal altogether, the menu.

I find these tips work for any sort of gathering from a lunch party to a formal dinner party and for me are the perfect way to start my planning. Ultimately, it’s about enjoying good food, quality time and being able as a good host, to enjoy the company of your guests. Any seasoned host will tell you, that a memorable dinner party relies heavily on thinking ahead and not spending too much time fussing over the dirty dishes.

And on that note, the next time you host, empty the dishwasher beforehand so that clean up is a just a matter of loading and running. 

Happy Hosting!

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