Richard Haworth has come up with a top ten of must have items to complete the perfect Christmas dinner party. These tips are designed to give ideas for first time dinner hosts or for anyone who is looking to spice up their same old Christmas dinner. Here are classic and basic tips just to give you an idea of what most people expect from a dinner party.
Richard Haworth has come up with a top ten of must have items to
complete the perfect Christmas dinner party. These tips are designed to
give ideas for first time dinner hosts or for anyone who is looking to
spice up their same old Christmas dinner. Here are classic and basic
tips just to give you an idea of what most people expect from a dinner
party. You can integrate your own ideas with ours, to help give you the
perfect balance in creating and setting the perfect atmosphere for you
and your guests, making it a Christmas to remember.
The
Perfect way to make your table complete starts with your table linen.
Do not forget to buy stylish linen, a classic design. Why not try Our Signature range?
With a luxurious cotton soft feel and a range of vibrant colours, it
makes it the ideal table linen to compliment great food and company
with very little effort.
A set of 6 Luxury wine glasses – try
and make them unique but do not spend too much money. Why not look for
a plan design with a little colour added to it. Classic but enough to
make it different for a special occasion just like Christmas (number
depending on the amount of guests).
Candles...candles can
really set the tone of a dinner party, many people think candles mean
romance – not true, and candles can create a relaxing soft tone, so you
can sit back and relax with your party. (Why not try two large candles
put in two larger see through plain glass vases, for the centre of the
table – it will reflect the light but also protect your table).
Table mats
– these are essential in making not only your table look very nice and
pretty for guests but protecting the table against spillages- hot
plates and scratches – however old your table is, you should still
protect it. Pick a colour that is for the occasion, so try a gold,
silver or red, depending on what colour your linen is. If your linen is
white, why not try a bright red or gold, vice versa if your linen is a
bright colour; pick a non bright colour, like plain black or silver.
Avoid flowery patterns; they can confuse the style of your table
accessories.
Matching cutlery, nothing can look nicer then a
matching set of knives, forks and spoons. This can be achieved cheaply
and cheerfully, it does not cost the world to have a set of plan
cutlery, so again have a good look round, it can really bring a little
class to the table at a little price.
Matching Plates, it
really does look nice to have a matching set- I am not suggesting you
go and buy a whole new set but keep it plain and simple- if you have
plane white plates- use all white, that way if you need any extra
plates for extra people, you can buy cheap spares at a low cost. White
is also clean and fresh and makes whatever you’re cooking for dinner
look more appealing to the eye. It also shows up your table linen and
table accessories without clashing.
Make sure you don’t spend
more than your budget – sometimes the excitement of holding a dinner
party can make your mind run overtime and it is very easy to get
carried away – but remember it is about having fun and enjoying your
friends, family or co-workers company and a huge bill afterwards will
make sure you don’t enjoy it. Dinner parties can be lots of fun and
very affordable – just remember that.
Do not forget to add a
little sparkle to your table, why not chose a little centre piece in
the middle of your candles, something simple, yet a little sparkly. If
you have any left over Christmas tree bobbles, why not get a glass ball
and fill it up with bobbles, all the same colour but different styles,
for example three silver and then three silver glitter ones. It just
adds a little Christmas to your table.
Food - make sure you
cater for everyone’s needs, so before the party why not ask all the
guests that will be attending, a list of yes and no foods, with their
reactions why not try and match the best suited food for you all, if
you are having a classic Christmas dinner, keep it simple and
traditional. Don’t spend too much time cooking; you also need to enjoy
the day. (Far too many people try to make extravagant meals and it can
really end in disaster unless your very good at it).
Make sure
you don’t spend too much time cooking and not spending any time with
your guests and enjoy Christmas. Make sure you cater for their needs
in drink wise, offer water on the table - this will help save you time,
so you guests can pour their own drinks. Offer a range of non
alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic, such as juices or alcoholic free
cocktails - again this depends on your guests. Also remember to keep
them entertained, so that if you need to nip and check on the food, you
can without your guests getting bored.
It really is
simple but most of all make sure you enjoy your Christmas dinner party-
if you enjoy it your guests will definitely follow.
Richard Haworth is the market leader supplying hotel linens to the hospitality sector. View our online linen guide for useful tips and examples on how best to care for your linens. We supply hotel towels, hotel bedding and restaurant tablecloths and chef aprons to hotels ranging from luxury 5 star to the economy sector.
