The secret to a relaxed dinner party is doing most of the work before anyone arrives. This dinner party checklist covers planning, shopping, the table and a day-of timeline — reuse it every time you host.
How far ahead should I prepare for a dinner party?
Plan the menu a week ahead, shop and make anything that keeps the day before, and leave only the final cooking for the evening. Make-ahead dishes are a host’s best friend.
How do I time all the dishes to be ready together?
Write a timeline backward from when you want to eat, noting when each dish goes into the oven or onto the stove. It’s the first item on the day-of list for a reason.