A simpler way to plan a dinner-party menu
One main dish, a few thoughtful accompaniments and fewer things needing your attention at the same time.
When planning dinner for friends, it is easy to choose each dish separately and realise too late that everything needs the oven, the same pan or your full attention just before serving.
A useful menu works as a whole. Think about when and how you will prepare it, as well as what you would like to eat.
Check with your guests first
Ask about allergies and dietary requirements before settling on the menu. It is much easier to plan around these from the beginning than to improvise a separate meal later.
Pick the main dish, then build around it
Start with one dish you know how to make. Consider what it needs alongside it: perhaps something fresh, something substantial or simply good bread.
You can offer variety without preparing lots of separate dishes. A main with two well-chosen accompaniments often gives you more time to enjoy the evening.
Think through the final half-hour
Read the recipes together and check what needs to happen just before eating. If several dishes need last-minute cooking, simplify one of them.
Choose a starter that is easy to assemble or a dessert you can prepare ahead, following the recipe’s storage instructions. Keep perishable dishes refrigerated until needed.
Use bought elements thoughtfully
A favourite bakery’s bread, a prepared dip or a dessert you love can be part of a generous meal. Decanting, slicing and serving still take time, so include those jobs in your plan.
Plan the serving space
Decide which platter or bowl each dish will use. Check whether everything will fit on the table or whether serving from the kitchen would be easier.
Put out serving spoons before guests arrive. It is a small job that is surprisingly easy to forget.
The aim is a menu you can enjoy making and serving, with enough breathing room to sit down while everyone else is still eating.