How To Host A Catered Dinner Party

I get together with friends on a regular basis. While we often go out to dinner, a friend recently suggested we hire a private chef to come to her house and cook for us. It sounded like a fabulous idea, albeit an extravagant one. Worries aside, we hired Michelle Baker, formerly of A Voce in New York City, to prepare a four-course, Italian-inspired meal.

 

It's Cost-Effective

When you have a large enough group (like four couples), dining out can be costly. That's why hiring a private chef is so great. Our home-cooked dinner for eight, including groceries, was much less expensive than going to a restaurant equal to our chef's skills.

 

Interact With Your Chef (and Learn Something)

 

Forget the Stress: Enjoy Your Own Party

Where I might have been sweating and frazzled over the cooking, our chefs worked cleanly and efficiently. They took their time preparing mise-en-place, French for having everything in place. No forgotten ingredients, or last-minute chopping — every host or hostess' nightmare.

Hosting a private chef-catered dinner still requires the usual house-cleaning and table setting, but once that initial preparation is over, you and your guests or co-conspirators are able to relax and enjoy an expertly prepared meal at a leisurely pace with all the comforts of home.

 

Want to host a catered dinner party in your own home? 

Click here to see How to Host a Catered Dinner Party Slideshow.

Click here to see An Italian-Inspired Dinner for Eight.