Hosting a semi-formal dinner party for 10 people, what are good foods to cook and what kind of tablewear?

Question

I have never done this before but i would like to invite friends new and old to my new house so we can have a little fun, they can all meet eachother and enjoy a good time. Should I do a theme? What kind tablewear is the best to get, china, plastic or styrofoam? What are the best foods to cook for such an occasion? THANKS GUYS

Oh! goodness! I forgot to mention answerer #3 that I am a vegetarian! Some of my friends are not so I am trying to find some different recipes.

Answer 1

A lot of this depends on your skills as a cook. Assuming you are not a novice and know your way around a kitchen, I'd suggest a sit down affair with plates and flatware, wine glasses, etc. Set a nice table. I would also suggest a buffet table for snack foods during a cocktail hour. I'm not going to list fifteen miles of recipes. But you can always get good suggestions for recipes on the Food Network website. Here's what I would suggest:

Buffet Table, some combination of these:

Prescuitto wrapped melon;

Shrimp Cocktail;

An olive dip;

Cheeses and fruit plate (grapes and brie are great together)

Caviar (depending on budget, you can do it for twenty bucks or hundreds. It's just a nice touch!)

A vegetable Pate'

DINNER

A tossed salad is fine. I make my own vinegrette, but some bottled vinegrettes work well. I usually put the salad dressing in gravy bowls or whatever so people can put their own on to taste. If you want to get fancy, you can do a spinach salad with hot bacon dressing, or a strawberry based dressing.

A pasta dish is always good. Try this one. Pasta and brie. You dice tomatoes, garlic, brie and butter. Put all of it in a big pasta dish. Cook ziti or ditalini or whatever you like. As a pasta dish, a pound should be enough. Maybe a pound and a half. Drain. While the pasta is still hot, pour it over the brie, butter, tomato mixture and toss until it all melts together. This is great stuff and very easy.

Entrees:

I cant help you with veggie food. Sorry. Some suggestions are Game Hens with rasberry/cabernet reduction (sauce)

Steak Au Poivre

Baked stuffed shrimp

Shrimp skewers

Serve with whatever veggies you want. A suggested side is sweet potato. Everybody eats them at Thanksgiving and forgets them the rest of the year! Big mistake!

For desert, nothing is better than Fresh Strawberries (I put them in a nice wine glass) that have been marinated in brown sugar and marsala wine, topped with a schlag (sp) which is heavy cream, brown sugar and marsala. You whip the mixture but dont whip it into whipped cream. It's more the consistency of a sauce.

Let me know when you are having your party. I'll come over and help ya out!

Answer 2

I totally agree with Maria, go buffet and use good quality disposable plates, I would use real silverware though, you can get a bundle at WalMart for around $10.00 if you don't have enough. Since not everyone knows each other they can mingle and food makes everyone friendlier, have places they can sit and chat and move amongst themselves to meet, etc....
You could do a pasta buffet with a couple different types of noodles, a red sauce and white sauce to choose from, a big tossed salad with a couple choices of dressing (might be good idea to get disposable bowls for that) and some sliced-toasted garlic bread.
If that seems too much, why not have just a bunch of appetizers? You could do chicken wings or strips, little smokies in BBQ sauce, deviled eggs, meatballs, etc...etc.. you can find all kinds of recipes on allrecipes.com

If not buffet you can still serve pasta which is easy and always popular or you could go with fried chicken, potato salad, fresh rolls, etc......

Answer 3

If you could supply a little more info that would be great. For instance, do you want a sit-down dinner or buffet? Are you comfortable in the kitchen?

When I think dinner party, I usually think of a sit-down dinner served either plated or family style. Semi-formal doesn't sound like a buffet to me.

Answer 4

If it is semi formal I would definitely recommend dishes and silverware. I also would serve the food "family" style. Not as formal (or difficult to serve) as plated meals or as informal as a buffet.

I have done a Greek dinner party before. The reason I did it is because I found really cheap cobalt blue glass plates at Wal-mart. It's a mixture of store bought and homemade food. It really is easier than it sounds, and you actually get to enjoy your guests.

I like to have the same flavors running through the dinner but not too many of the same ingredients copied a lot. So this was my menu.

Appetizers:
Dolmades - stuffed grape leaves (I bought these at a local Greek market)
Frozen Spanikopita
Tzatziki with store bought crunch pita. There are easy recipes for this all over the internet. It can also be made in advance.

Dinner
Marinated meat. I generally do a combination of chicken thighs, breast and lamb chops. I recommend cutting the chicken breast in half. I also recommend that you marinate the meat 8 - 12 hours. I also tend to make two batches of the marinade. It is delicious to dip the hot meat into as well. The marinade is easy. I like to grill the meat, but it can be roasted. Cook the chicken about 15 minutes per side and the lamb depending on the thickness how you like it cooked. I like mine medium.

1/2 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 lemons, juiced

Greek Salad - I tend to put the hot peppers, olives, and feta on the side. That way people can add as little or much as they like.

Roasted potatoes - I generally use about 6 large baking potatoes with this marinade. Allow the marinade to sit for about 20 minutes before you use it. It allows you to test for salt and pepper a little better.
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups water
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 cubes chicken bouillon
salt and pepper to taste

Garlic Bread - I fry garlic slices in olive oil removing them before they burn. Baste the bread with the oil and put thin slices of garlic and salt on top.

Dessert
Go to a bakery and buy a mixture of greek pastries.

Oh, and don't forget the Greek wine!

Answer 5

I would serve food buffet style, use Chinet plates and strong plastic ware. Cook Baked Ziti, Sausage and Peppers & Onions, Chicken Piccata. Maybe some cocktail meatballs and/or a cheese platter. Have a big green salad and rolls.
For dessert some small pastries and cookies with coffee/tea.

Answer 6

firstly why should you have fun? who are you? i mean today every tom dick and harry wants to have fun!! why should you have a good time?cant you live without meeting firnds? and why should you eat? just for your "fun' youend up killing poor chicken, hen, pigs, rabbits!!
hope some day these mute animals can have you for dinner as part of their "fun"