Fellowshiping among friends has always been a universal sign of warmth and welcoming. Whether you’re celebrating the holidays or having an impromptu dinner party, there’s a sense of connection when food and conversations are shared. While you can’t always count on the latter to make your party memorable, you can feel confident about the food you’re presenting when hosting a multi-course meal. Creating dishes that evoke feelings isn’t difficult. However, the goal here is not only to make a meal that’s delicious and intriguing but also to design an evening worth remembering.

A well-thought-out menu is usually at the heart of any gathering. More than a notation of the dishes served, it’s a curation of flavors and insight into what’s to come. When it comes to serving multiple courses, this simple step sets the tone of the meal. Little touches are some of the most important elements of hosting, but can fall by the wayside when planning a culinary experience.

In the guide below, you’ll find the tips and tricks that will help keep your party on track. Whether you need help curating a menu, creating a vibe, or setting the table. Ahead, we’ll dive into the dos and don’ts of hosting a multi-course meal to create an experience your guests won’t soon forget.

Planning the Menu

This step isn’t about a tactile menu that will introduce your guests to the dishes. While that can be helpful during the day of the meal, the planning phase days ahead is even more essential. In this phase, you should be thinking of what dishes you want to serve and how the flavors will flow from one to the next. If you’re planning a multi-course meal with five or more dishes, deciding on the heaviness and portion size of each is important. Five to seven courses often translates to smaller dishes, packed with different flavors to make each one memorable in its own right. Regardless of how many you settle on, you should think about dessert. As the closer to the meal, you don’t want it to be an afterthought. Plan for a light yet flavorful bite that concludes the meal instead of overwhelming it.

Consider Having a Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour is a good way for guests to break the ice before the meal commences. Even if you’re hosting a group of old friends, it allows everyone to catch up and chat a bit before sitting down. Use the time to serve light wines and cocktails or a signature drink that adds to the theme of the evening. While traditional cocktail hours include libations, you don’t have to stick to alcoholic beverages. Mocktails made from teas and fresh fruit juices are a refreshing way to get the meal rolling.

Thoughtful Seating & Timing

The last thing you want is for guests to be uncomfortable while enjoying your food. Timing is everything when it comes to multi-course dining. If you’re planning a meal of five courses or more, the table should be cleared in between each dish to keep it tidy. This also gives guests a chance to chat about the dish while waiting for the next course to be served. If your party is small, opt for a round table that helps facilitate conversation and keep the energy lively.

Setting the Mood

Hosting is more than just serving good food. It’s also about creating cherished memories through music, laughter, and conversation. The vibe of the meal is just as important as what’s on the table. Once you’ve planned the menu and set the tables, take a moment to enhance the dining space with thoughtful decor. Small floral arrangements on the table and ambient lighting add a decorative touch without going overboard, while a dedicated playlist keeps the vibes going strong.

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