I get very excited at the thought of having people over for a meal.  This means I can start thinking about what I will feed them!  As the opportunity to entertain does not happen often due to my work commitments, I am in my element making several menus, changing or updating the final menu and also looking at the theme.

This of course can be very nerve wracking and from my own experiences I have realised the importance of keeping it simple as it always works and does not alienate you from the idea of entertaining ever again!  So below are a few tips when planning menus from my perspective.  You may read it and think this is not for you so if you want to pass on your tips to me I shall add them to this page.

Themed parties - does not have to be complicated but it is quite enjoyable as you get to decorate the table and try specific recipes.  My favourite themed menus are based on Mexico, Pakistan & Italy.  You can have any theme and it does not have to be based on a country.

I had had a pizza and poker party (people make their own pizza - all I did was made the pizza base and had assorted vegetable, cheese and meat fillings readily available) recently.  It was fun watching my friends rolling out their own pizza and it generated a lot of conversation as well as competition as to whose was the best!

If you are having a themed menu party for example Mexican, stick to three or maximum four items and build on that.  I normally select a nacho starter and if I have time I also do stuffed cheesy jalapenos.  Then for main course do fajitas and it is a fun activity as everyone can participate and roll their own.  Dessert is normally some kind of Mexican cake I will select from my cook book but if people are not into dessert then have a rice and seafood dish.  

Now when I am doing a Pakistani theme, I tend to go overboard but it is so much fun having 3-4 condiments, a rice dish, 2 types of meat curries, 2 types of vegetable dishes, some cutlets, daal, salad and of course at least 2 types of dessert.  Now that takes me a couple of days to do as there is a lot of marinating, prepping and pre cooking involved.  I decorate the table with a batik table cloth and napkins, wear my Pakistani outfit (shalwar kameez & dupatta) and greet people in Urdu!  I know that's a bit too much but as this happens once in a blue moon it is worth it!

Preparation - very important not to burden yourself with a lot to do on the day.  Depending on your menu, you can always do most of the prep a day before and even make dessert dishes in advance so you don't have to worry about it at the last minute.  Preparation includes making sure all the table settings are readily accessible.  I normally take the table cloth and napkins, crockery, cutlery and serving dishes out the day before and check they are clean and on the day of the party, all I have to do is set the table.  Make a note of what you would need for the dining room and have them ready for set up. Last minute shopping always adds extra stress to your day so avoid it!

Of course, you could just have a drinks and snacks party and buy everything ready made so all you have to do is dish them out.  There are positives in this method when you are just having a get together say before Christmas and everyone is invited, but if it is for close friends and family and you want it to be special and a little bit of hard work goes a long way.

Asking for Help - don't be afraid to ask for assistance.  You must however make sure that the person you are asking for help is the person you trust to be in your kitchen.  I like doing everything myself but when I have my family and some select friends with me there are a few people I really trust to help me out to deliver the quality I want.  So a friend and a glass of wine makes the whole process extremely enjoyable.

Menu Selection - please please please don't try to make a complicated dish on the day if you have never made it before unless you are an extremely good cook.  There will be tears at the end of it.  I speak from my own experience and even though I would like to call myself a good cook, I always do a trial run when selecting complicated recipes.  New dishes must be tried to keep variety in one's cooking but never at the guests' expense.  If it is a themed menu, make sure that each course compliments the other.  Try to have a mix so you can have a complicated and time consuming main course but your starter could be easy to do.  You can try making a buffet with 3 starters, 2 main courses and 1 dessert.

Knowing your Guests - there is no point in making food that only you like as your guests may not be too fond of your selection (this has got nothing to do with taste) as they may be allergic to something or have other preferences.  Do your homework well and you will be rewarded in the end as everyone will be happy.  For example, have vegetarian options available, check for nut allergies and not have any nut products on the menu, check if there are any other food intolerances.  It seems like a lot of hassle but rather than your food going to waste or pleasing only a few people you just have to add or remove one item and that will do the trick.  Nowadays there are cook books on every dietary requirement and you will be surprised at the alternatives offered - I am impressed.

You don't have to invest in books as you can find recipes on the internet. You don't have to agree with the above as they are my experiences.  If you would like to share your secret of success with me then get in touch!