Holiday Hosting: Tips and Tricks

During this season, it’s customary to spend time celebrating with friends and family. Of

course, we’re all harried, so a few pointers about entertaining to reduce your stress.

This year, I’m hosting and after confirming everyone loves and can eat seafood, I’ve

chosen to make a main dish that I can make ahead of time: cioppino. This way, I’ve

minimized the amount of time I must be in the kitchen cooking instead of enjoying my

guests.

Second, don’t be bashful, ask your guests to bring something—wine, appetizers or

desserts are easy things for them bring and reduce the amount of what you have to

cook.

Start planning and setting your menu for the event a week out. In a post-Covid world,

you can’t be too careful when shopping for your ingredients, as some of the easiest

items may not be in stock when you need them.

If you’re looking for specialty ingredients, contact your grocer and place an order for

pickup on the day you need it. Particularly for something like a roast or turkey whereby

you need a specific weight and set a time to pick it up—this may require you paying up

front.

The night before your event, plan out all the serving pieces and utensils you’re using,

that way you’re not scrambling to figure it on the fly. Additionally, plan what you’re going

to wear, not waiting until the day of.

Finally, when choosing your outfit, consider something that doesn’t show stains, in case

you spill while cooking, then it’s not visible during dinner. Another consideration is

choosing an outfit that is easy for you to move in while cooking—something most of us

overlook. Your highest heels may not make the best choice, though you may be dying

to wear them.

Tammy’s truism: Forethought makes you look like the seamless entertainer who is always calm and collected.