Planning the Perfect Party Food

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Food brings people together in a very special way, so having the right foods at your next gathering could be the make or break point at your party. Take this advice and be sure to be prepared the next time you’re playing host and want to make a good impression.

1. Know your Audience
   It’s important to remember, when you’re planning the menu for your party, the food is for your guests first and foremost -not you. Know what kind of crowd will show up, and be sure to take note of the occasion. For instance, it’s probably not wise to serve escargo at a superbowl party, likewise hot wings probably wouldn’t go over tremendously well at a dinner party.
2. Have the Right Tools
   Party supplies are a big part of any gathering. You may have prepared the most terrific dish that suits your party guests perfectly, and has everyone’s mouth watering, however if you have no forks, plates, napkins, and other utensils there’s no point really, as no one will be able to enjoy the food eating with their hands.
3. Try New Things
   Yes, your fudge brownies are amazing; yes, your guests do like eating them; but no, they do not want to eat fudge brownies every single time that they’re over. There’s nothing wrong with having favorites, but it’s important to mix things up and bring something fresh to your party to keep your guests on their toes and coming back for more. 
4. Variety
   Going back to the Superbowl party scenario covered previously, hot wings are probably a good fit for that type of party -however, if there’s nothing else but hot wings there, your guests may become a little bored. It may also be a problem if you serve nothing but hot wings, only to learn that your guests don’t actually like hot wings. Mix up your menu, and offer dishes that compliment one another.
5. Keep It Simple
   It can be easy to get caught up planning your menu and wanting to impress your guests, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, if your dishes take an entire day to prepare, are complicated to serve to a large number of people, or are difficult to eat, maybe think about taking it down a notch. Your menu doesn’t need to be a 5 star restaurant’s caliber to be impressive, keep it simple and allow your guests to enjoy the food without working too hard.
6. Have a Back-Up Plan
   There are always things that you can’t plan for, there is never a “perfect” party. This rule applies to food as well, unexpected things such as allergies, or spilled dishes can occur and as a good hostess, you should be prepared for them. Have a backup dish ready in case of emergency, always.