Danielle’s Blog

“For the millions of us who live glued to computer keyboards at work and TV monitors at home, food may be more than entertainment. It may be the only sensual experience left.”
Barbara Ehrenreich, author, social critic

“The ultimate aim of civility and good manners is to please: to please one’s guest or to please one’s host. To this end one uses the rules laid down by tradition: of welcome, generosity, affability, cheerfulness and consideration for others. People entertain warmly and joyously. To persuade a friend to stay for lunch is a triumph and a precious honour. To entertain many together is to honor them all mutually. It is equally an honour to be a guest.”
Claudia Roden, food writer. ‘A Book of Middle Eastern Food’ (1968)

“I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.”
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) ‘Othello’

“You cannot instruct people by a book how to entertain…..Success in entertaining is accomplished by magnetism and tact, which combined constitute social genius.”
Ward McAllister, ‘Society As I Have Found It’ (1890)

Here’s some great tips that were posted on the Food Network:

Feeding a lot of people doesn’t have to be difficult. With our tips and recipes, it can be downright fun, whether you’re throwing a casual birthday party for adults, having a housewarming or hosting a big holiday celebration.

First:

• Decide what kind of party works for you and your guests: cocktail, buffet, sit down, etc.
• Plan the menu.
• Draw up the shopping list.
• Take an inventory of pots, pans, dishes, flatware, glasses, napkins and serving utensils and vessels to make sure you have all the equipment you need for cooking and serving.

Quick Tips