Dinner Party
Dinner parties can be casual or extravagant, and they are about putting your best food forward - using your best china, having lots of flowers, candles, the best linen and the finest possible food and beverages. Here of course, the food and the beverages you serve should work in unison to produce a symphony of tastes. It is very important to choose your cocktails very carefully to suit your meals and it might require a little bit of experimenting. The rule of thumb is that creamier cocktails should be served as either an aperitif to line the stomach or with a dessert because of sweetness.
The themes for dinner parties are many and it is difficult to identify the exact cocktails that would go with each theme. However if you are not that sure what to serve with the main meal, you might want to stick to sophisticated simple choices such as the Kir and the Kir Royale - wine and champagne based cocktails, respectively. Never have more than three cocktails at a dinner party, including the original served prior to dinner, because they are meant to accompany the food and not take over the occasion.
The choice of food is enormous - it really is dependent on your skill, the time you have available and the financial situation you are in. You can quite easily buy partially prepared food and just finish it yourself at home or you can make everything from scratch. A basic rule as far as food is concerned is that you should choose a cuisine style you want to serve, such as Asian or Italian, as it is difficult to combine international flavors well. It will also be your guide for cocktails. Here are a few suggestions.
Asian Cuisine
European Cuisine
Polynesian Cuisine
African cuisine
South American Cuisine
Caribbean Cuisine
With your decorations, you can be more lavish. As there will not be a lot of moving around and most of your guests will be seated most of the night, you may use candles to enhance the mood. Place arrangements of flowers around the dinning area and use any decorative items you feel are suitable.
North American Cuisine
This wonderful selection of recipes is all available in one pack of Classic Cocktails cards. They are functional, with clear and helpful instructions and will be of great assistance to you for many occasions to come.
Gimlet, Gin Sling, Harvey Wallbanger, Whiskey Sour.
Bombay Smash, Pink Lady, Singapore Sling, Klondike.
Brandy Alexander, Classic Champagne Cocktail, Kir, Kir Royale.
Blended Whisky Sour, Sidecar, Gin Rickey.
Buck's Fizz, Gin Fizz, Old Fashioned.
El Dorado, Sundowner, Scorpion.
Jolly Roger, Mint Julep, Ritz Old Fashioned, Between the Sheets.