Dinner parties can be fun to organise, but also very stressful. This is why many party holders hire in planners and caterers to take some weight off their shoulders. Food is a major part of an event such as this and needs to be done right in order to avoid disappointed guests.
It is up to you how many courses you would like to serve, but generally a minimum would be a starter, main course and dessert. You can opt for cold starters or hot starters, depending on which you prefer. If it’s summer, cold starters may be a better option anyway.
When choosing cold starters for dinner party events, do take into consideration what guests will want to eat and if any dietary requirements have to be considered. Go for a popular choice and something that is not too filling or it may ruin the main course as people will feel too full.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask the caterer before confirming the service with them. There are so many different caterers available all over the UK so doing your research in order to find the right one for your party is important.
Find a few in your local area using a search engine and compare these against each other in order to find the best value for money. You should not need to spend over the odds on a service as you may find the same quality for a cheaper price elsewhere.
This is not to say that the cheapest option is the best though, as they may be cutting corners somewhere in order to save on costs. Be sure to check out previous client’s testimonials and ask around for recommendations from others who have hired a caterer in the past.
Cold starters can come in a variety of dishes. If you have vegetarians at your party, you may want to do a separate dish for them, such as a salad for example. Otherwise, salmon, prawn and crab dishes make for great cold starters, while meat dishes could include sausages, beef or pork.
Starters can be great cold, but obviously they will still need to be cooked properly, especially when containing meat, so hire a professional catering company to deal with this for you.
Some caterers will also provide waiting staff in order to serve your guests and allow you to socialise with them without having to keep getting up. They may also have other services available to opt for, such as an open plan cooking area so guests can watch their food being prepared by the chefs. Seasonal cuisine and themed nights may also be available for your dinner party, so check out the options available to see if there’s anything you’d like to go for.