{"id":1020,"date":"2022-03-27T20:46:21","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T02:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/?p=1020"},"modified":"2022-04-11T12:15:31","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T18:15:31","slug":"how-to-host-a-dinner-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/?p=1020","title":{"rendered":"How to host a dinner party"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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This is my first official blog post and while I plan on eventually answering the question How to Host a Dinner Party, I wanted to give a brief overview of what I plan to do on this site.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The previous posts (all since deleted) were lame test attempts while I slogged my way through the WordPress and Elementor learning curves.  <\/span>I\u2019m finally at a point where I think I can start writing.  <\/span>My stretch goal is to publish 30 posts per month because that\u2019s what some SEO guru said I should do to achieve maximum success.  <\/span>Given the fact that I\u2019m a complete neophyte in this regard, have a normal 9-5 job, and a family,  <\/span>meeting that goal will be a major stretch.  <\/span>Anyway, here goes.  <\/span>Fingers are poised and ready to compose epic prose. <\/span><\/p>\n

This blog, GarageKitchenReport is dedicated to all things around the house and my own personal betterment: <\/span><\/p>\n

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  • GARAGE<\/b>: tools and gadgets, projects, home improvement and product reviews<\/li>\n
  • KITCHEN<\/b>: cooking, cooking tools, gadgets, recipes and yes, product reviews<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Success and Failures for the above will all be captured and documented.  <\/span>As I write however,  <\/span>I feel that GKR can be so much more.  <\/span>Thus, I also plan on writing about things that guys like me experience every day.  <\/span>No topic will be taboo.  <\/span>That is unless I\u2019m flagged by some sinister algorithm that notices my transgressions, and obliterates any meager progress that I\u2019ve made thus far.  <\/span>I will keep myself on this lane and moving down the track.  <\/span><\/p>\n

    We had a small dinner party last night for 6.  <\/span>I normally do all of the cooking and logistics has always been a major challenge.  <\/span>The act of cooking comes fairly easy to me but it\u2019s the planning that is my achilles heel. My menu was simple and I started a few days early.  <\/span>Costco is my friend and I was able to source about 95% of the ingredients. Luckily,  <\/span>I only had to worry about the main course.  <\/span>Depending on the invitees,  <\/span>delegation of appetizers, first courses, drinks, or dessert can be foisted off on someone else.  <\/span>Last night,  <\/span>one couple brought apps and the other brought dessert.  <\/span>My responsibility was the main course.  <\/span>I chose Beef Bourguignon.  <\/span><\/p>\n

    Planning on a gathering for 6 or 30 pretty much works out the same way for me. Below is how my wife and I usually roll\u2026<\/p>\n

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    1. Start planing on the menu several days earlier. Don\u2019t bite off more than you can chew. Research and be sure that you FULLY understand what you\u2019re getting yourself into.  <\/span>My rule of thumb is don\u2019t try anything that you\u2019ve never done before.  <\/span>For example, Beef Bourguignon\u2026 I must have tried this dish 20 times in the past and was always disappointed in the result.  <\/span>I only made it for the family and didn\u2019t bother to serve it to guests because it was always dry.  <\/span>I had it nailed this time and was very happy with the result. More on that in another post..<\/li>\n
    2. With the menu planing complete, run a quick inventory of what you have on hand and what you need to buy at the store.<\/li>\n
    3. Start a list.  <\/span>Writing one out with paper and pen works but I\u2019ve come to rely on technology.  <\/span>One of my favorites is the Notepad app on my phone but if you really want to kick it up a few notches,  <\/span>check out Evernote.  <\/span>I like it because you can sync it across several devices and update the changes in real time.<\/li>\n
    4. Logistics:  <\/span>Plan on what you need for a successful evening.  <\/span>Do you have enough dishes, glasses, and utensils?  <\/span>If not,  <\/span>get some. Serving salad?  <\/span>Do you need salad plates and forks?  <\/span>Setting the table early is key and allows you to focus on the main event, the food. <\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Is your house a mess?  <\/span>Do you need to clean the yard? Start early\u2026 Like a few days early.  <\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Shop.  <\/span>Buy everything you need and plan your route if you have to visit more than a few stores. Dispatching teenagers to the store to pick up last minute ingredients is a life saver for us.<\/li>\n
    7. Timing\u2026 Determine what time you will start the meal,  <\/span>figure out how long it will take to prepare, and then work backwards.  <\/span>There\u2019s nothing worse than hungry guests waiting around while you dice carrots.  <\/span>It also infuriates my wife to no end. For this, I suggest a time sheet or flow chart and put if on your fridge.<\/li>\n
    8. Speaking of carrots,  <\/span>prepare your ingredients well before you start cooking.  <\/span>This is known as mis en place in French culinary circles.  <\/span>It basically means gather and prepare everything in advance.  <\/span>Chop, dice, grate, and cube everything then set it aside in containers until you\u2019re ready to use them.  <\/span>Trust me on this. It will make your life a WHOLE lot easier. <\/span><\/li>\n
    9. Start cooking at the appointed time (Step 7) and have most of it done at least 45 minutes before your guests arrive.  <\/span>If you have your mis el place all ready to go, it should be much easier. <\/span><\/li>\n
    10. Take a shower, get some music set up and relax on the couch for 10-15 minutes.  <\/span>If you drink,  <\/span>now is the time.  <\/span>Avoid drinking while you cook.  <\/span>I ruined many a meal back in my drinking days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      That\u2019s about it.  <\/span>This is all common sense but it amazes me when we go to a party and see the hosts running around in the kitchen hissing oaths at each other.<\/p>\n

      First blog post done!<\/p>\n

      Peace out Folks!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      This is my first official blog post and while I plan on eventually answering the question How to Host a Dinner Party, I wanted to give a brief overview of what I plan to do on this site.   The previous posts (all since deleted) were lame test attempts while I slogged my way through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-favorites","category-kitchen"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1020"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1035,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020\/revisions\/1035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garagekitchenreport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}