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Cozy dinner parties at home are making a comeback in Denver, Colorado – and for good reason. They’re casual, affordable and intimate enough for genuine conversation while connecting with family and friends. There’s no need for it to be stressful if you choose a fun theme and ask each person to bring along a related dish.
International Tapas Party
Sampling new dishes in “small plate” servings is an easy way to explore cultures outside your own, so plan an international tapas party. Choose a handful of countries and do some research on the cuisine and customs. Download songs from each region and learn some country-specific dance moves. For example, a Brazilian yuca pot pie appetizer could accompany a song by Brazilian artist Sandy Leah, while one or more guests show off some samba or carimbo dancing. Place cards around the tables printed with trivia, art, maps and artifacts from each locale.
Indoor Picnic
Toss down a padded blanket and comfy floor pillows for an indoor picnic party. Pick up small inexpensive baskets at a dollar store, and give guests their own picnic basket complete with paper plates, napkins, sandwiches and snacks. Fill a large tub with ice and bottles of lemonade, iced tea and sparkling water. Set a fun summer mood with Hawaiian music or Beach Boys tunes and decorate with colorful frisbees, seashells and flower-filled sand pails.
Pizza Night
Why not spice up an ordinary pizza party with exotic or unusual combinations? Let everyone make their own mini pizzas from several “stations” featuring ingredients that work well together. Italian pizzas are a sure bet, so have one station stocked with marina and Alfredo sauces, meat toppings and Italian cheeses. A Greek pizza station can feature pita bread, mizithra and feta cheeses, ground lamb, artichokes and olives. Concoct vegetarian pizzas with gluten-free flatbreads, Indian versions with naan bread and curry sauce, or Thai pizzas using roti bread and peanut sauce.
Whether staying in or having a night on the town, it’s easy to enjoy life when residing in one of our Denver apartments. Stop by today for a private tour and to check our availability.
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]]>The post How to Host a Dinner Party Like a Pro appeared first on The Apartments at Denver Place Blog.
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If you're planning on hosting a dinner party and have never done so before, the most important thing to remember is that successful dinner parties depend on effective planning. The following preparations below are designed to give you the breathing space to relax and enjoy your own dinner party by minimizing hosting tasks.
Stick With Tried-and-True Recipes
Even though you may be tempted to dazzle your guests with your culinary brilliance, your first dinner party isn't the time to try new recipes, so stick with something that's tried and true — even if it's plain old roast chicken or pot roast. It's always wise to prepare the dessert a day in advance so that you don't have to mess with it on the day of the dinner.
Do a Trial Run
If you're fairly inexperienced in the kitchen, consider doing a trial run to help build confidence and to iron out any potential kinks. Prepare the exact menu you're planning to serve at your dinner party, and invite a good friend over whom you trust to be brutally honest about your efforts.
Make a Playlist
Making a playlist designed to last for several hours is a far better approach to mood music than playing it by ear — or worse yet, allowing guests to fiddle with the music. Make a playlist in advance, put it on several minutes before the guests are due to arrive, and forget about it.
Enlist a Friend to Co-Host
Enlisting a friend to act as a backup host helps ensure that you've got your bases covered if you hit snags at some point during the evening. Even if everything goes smoothly, you'll have help with basic hosting duties, such as making sure that beverage glasses are full, putting on a pot of coffee to enjoy with dessert after dinner and keeping track of coats and other outerwear.
Our apartments in Denver, Colorado, feature state-of-the-art kitchens equipped with stainless steel appliances that will make a serious cook out of anyone, and mountain and city views provide stunning backdrops for home entertaining. Please call us today for more information on getting the most out of life in the Mile High City.
The post How to Host a Dinner Party Like a Pro appeared first on The Apartments at Denver Place Blog.
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