Entertaining the Crowd
Simple how-to advice for a successful meeting of the minds—and of the tastebuds!—over dinner.
“Arriving via the subway, that smoothly and harmoniously squeals and moans its way underneath the city streets, I take my first step into the hallway that leads directly into a shopper’s paradise. I am promptly reminded to hurry up with a friendly shove from one of my unknown traveling companions. I smile my best Torontonian beam at them and hasten my steps, following the well known path marked the “Eaton’s Centre”; I move en masse with the crowd, in the classic tidal wave style, towards the other heavy traffic of the mall. If the stores are playing music, I cannot hear it—the throngs of people yelling at one another overpower any thoughts of my own, and I am left with a lovely ringing in my ears that will stay long after I have departed. I close my eyes and breathe in a deep whiff of Hollister—the employees there have the courtesy of sending their scent out into the multitudes, just so we can always find our way back. Ahh…this is home. A place to feel welcomed by the faces of salespeople who ignore us, the labels that brand us, and the food that sits under heat lamps all day to wait for us.
So, maybe the whole mall experience isn’t all we make it out to be. Located just two subway stops away from my downtown apartment, the Eaton’s Centre, with its many flaws, is still the haven I flock to for most of my shopping necessities. As a result, when the opportunity to hosting my very first—and very elegant, I assure you—dinner party came my way, in order to prepare my apartment and myself I decided to journey a little farther east than my regular haunts for a taste of something different. Something, perhaps, uniquely Toronto to show my guests. A little taste of the Danforth…”
If you are planning your first party, in need of some basic how-to tips, or just searching for ways to spice up your gatherings, consider the Danforth’s unique shops, markets and boutiques as a starting point to a great night for you and your guests.
But before you brave the city streets for your party essentials, remember that the number key to a successful dinner party is planning ahead. William Sonoma’s Dinner Parties, a recommended guide for great entertaining, suggests that you consider the following before your shopping trip begins:
- The Occasion or Theme (affecting everything from decor, to food selection)
- When and Where (which will also help you decide what outfit to wear)
- Guest List and Invitations (decide on email, phone or formal letter invitations)
- Dinner Party Style (i.e. formal/informal, buffet style etc.)
One of the most important elements of an enjoyable evening with your guests is to get people talking! If not everyone knows one another, or even if they do, a great way to help the social mixing is to provide everyone upon arrival with a before dinner drink and a common appetizer that they can share (and rave about!).
A simple recipe that goes with most light appetizers is an equal parts blend of melon puree (cantaloupe is the best for colour, but canary and honey dew work as well) and a dry champagne. Try not to pre-mix this drink ahead of time, but once guests start coming in, pour the two parts together in a glass for them. A bubbly drink for a bubbly crowd!
A great appetizer that is both vegetarian (so as to accommodate everyone) and absolutely delicious is a traditional spinach and artichoke dip. It can be served with your choice of baked pita bread or tortilla chips.
*recipe care of Harvest Eating with Keith Snow
Ingredients
1 pkg. of frozen spinach
1 can of artichoke hearts (in water, not oil)
½ cup sour cream
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 pkg. of cream cheese
1 cup freshly grated old white cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste.
(for organic products, please check out The Big Carrot, located at 348 Danforth Avenue)
This recipe is simple, but it will impress—just watch the video!
Another simple task that can seriously impress your guests is a well organized table. Place settings can vary, based on whether your occasion is formal or informal. The best advice is to start on the outside of each setting and work your way in, based on the order of the courses. Or, just follow a diagram.
The last, but certainly NOT least bit of advice concerns the all-important, all-encompassing, sometimes all-confusing, choice of wine. Many people like to keep it simple and serve white with fish and chicken, red with beef and pork. While this is helpful, given the complex nature of this type of alcohol, it might be better to consider matching the characteristics of the food you are serving with a particular wine. Most of the sales people at liquor stores should be trained to help you pick one out, if you have a general idea of what you are looking for.
Or, make your own wine at Fermentations on the Danforth.
And don’t forget to have fun! Don’t stress out too much about the preparations—no one expects you to be perfect. It’s about providing your friends and guests with the atmosphere that will allow them to open up and have a great time, along with some great food and drink.
Have a tried and tested recipe for dinner parties? Post your favourite entertaining recipe here!
Related Sites:
These websites are also great ways to expand your repertoire in the business of entertaining dinner guests.
TorontoLife-City Guide to Entertaining
Indobase-Entertaining Guests with a Global Flavour
Canadian Living-Online AND Print in the Food Section
Great Dane 
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