The best dinner parties include the laughter of friends and family, a few refreshing drinks, delicious foods, and the right theme. The affair needn’t be complicated to make an impression. On the contrary, much of the stress of creating a memorable dinner for family and friends starts with some advanced planning, according to Epicurious.
It also pays to keep it simple. If you’re planning a special dinner for family and friends, here are four delectable ideas to get the party started. Best of all, they’re simple and pair nicely with a variety of drinks.
1. Pineapple Glazed Chicken
If you’re planning a Hawaiian-themed dinner, dishes like pineapple-glazed chicken should be a cornerstone of the menu. Start with pan- or oven-roasted chicken. Make a glaze from chunks of pineapple and pineapple juice, honey, curry powder, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper.
This dish tastes great with rice, fresh fruit slices, and a Hawaiian craft beer. Roast the chicken ahead of time to cut down on party-day prep.
2. Open-Faced Sandwich Bar
Open-faced sandwiches taste delicious, are easy to make, and can be made with a variety of ingredients. To set up a sandwich bar, fill it with items like grilled steak, tuna salad, deli slices, an assortment of cheeses, and condiments.
Given the variety of sandwich toppings that you’ll serve, you may want to order a variety of beers like a Berliner Sour Hoppy Ale, Abita Bourbon Street, and a chocolate oatmeal stout available at places like HWC. You’ll also want to get ingredients for drinks like Italian sodas and homemade lemonade for the youngsters that will attend your bash.
3. A Taste of Italy
When you’re doing an Italian-themed dinner, your guests will not feel surprised if you serve spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna. However, pasta with pesto sauce offers a nice alternative to tomato-based sauces.
A traditional pesto recipe includes ingredients like fresh basil, pine nuts, and olive oil. Spices like garlic, pepper, and a dash of salt round out the dish. Serve with antipasto, green salad, and garlic bread. As a thematic drink option, wine is a perfect fit. Consider a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot. You can also include some cheeses as well. Your friends will dream of visiting Italy after this tasty spread.
4. Vegetarian Options
It’s not unusual nowadays to know a couple of people who prefer to follow a vegetarian diet. That being the case, you’ll want to make some dishes that appeal to the vegetarians around you.
A ginger-garlic tofu or some Tai peanut tofu fits the bill well. Make these dishes with an assortment of Asian spices like ginger, garlic, black bean sauce, and sesame oil. Serve with rice or Asian noodles.
The most delectable family dinners are easy, sometimes themed—think Italian or Chinese—and appeal to a broad range of tastes. The four dishes in this post will appeal to almost everyone. To really make a standout dinner for family and friends, be sure to serve these dishes with a local craft beer, an interesting wine, and of course, some non-alcoholic beverages for the kids and non-drinkers in the group.
