Planning Parties is Fun!

Believe it or not, you can have fun planning parties! If you love food and love having friends over, then read more about how to have a good time planning your next event or gathering from this great article by a fellow lover of food, fun and parties.

Party Planning is Fun!
by Debra Haydel

Party planning is about a lot of things. It is about the atmosphere, the purpose, the theme and the decor. And next to the friends and loved ones you have gathered together, sometimes a great party is all about the food!

Entertaining at home is an opportunity to create a relaxed, fun and indulgent experience for you and those you care about.

Cooking good food is a very personal expression, a way of communicating appreciation and love.

To-do lists are the first tool of the party planner. The top of your party planning list should read: RELAX. You are the host. Nothing exceptional is expected of you but to be yourself.

Host the kind of party you like going to and be flexible and spontaneous. Be prepared to improvise and most importantly have fun.

Table Topics Conversation Cards

First Things First
When planning parties, there are a few things to consider when making decisions on your menu. Whether you're giving a full blown extravaganza or an informal TGIF get-together, take a moment to ponder each of the following points. Consider how each might effect your party menu planning choices.

The People
The first thing to consider when party menu planning is your guests. Who are they? Are they stuck on simple home cooking or are they accustomed to dramatic gourmet cuisine? Are they your regular crowd? If so they may expect your "house specialty". If they are open to experimentation you will probably choose something new and different each time you entertain this adventurous group.

Make sure to check if anyone has allergies or is a strict vegetarian or vegan. You may want to prepare appropriate dishes or just plan to do that anyway. The number of people will be set by the following:

The Purpose
The only real reason to have a party is to have a good time. A party is its own excuse but are usually more fun if there's a reason to have them. Is the party a baby shower luncheon for your best friend? Then you might serve all "baby" foods like baby greens, baby artichokes, baby back ribs---you get the idea. An adult pajama party or a bachelorette party may be the time for "sexy" foods like oysters on the half shell, avocado and lobster salad and dark chocolate mousse. A dinner party for you or your husbands' new boss may require gourmet delicacies and stylish presentation. There's more...

To continue reading more about planning parties and how to have fun doing it, go to Chef Menus, where my friend Debra, has all the information on how to create fun and interesting menus for your next gathering.

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