(Ray)
(Fogra 39)Job:07-30969 Title:FW-Gluten Free Entertaining
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10 GLUTEN-FREE ENTERTaiNiNG(Text)
Start with the Basics: The Date, the Guest List, and the Invites
Picking the date and guest list for your party can make or break an event. If your party is
on a holiday, like Christmas, the date is set, and your guest list probably includes mostly
close friends and family, so there’s not much to worry about there. But if you’re trying to
throw a big blowout for your 30th birthday, then there may be more to consider. If the
date falls over a long weekend when all your friends will be away, you may be disappointed
with the turnout. So check your calendar, and ask around. Is someone in your social circle
having something that same night? Keep these things in mind when picking the date.
When choosing the guest list for my parties, I first consider the space. A sit-down dinner
at home can only accommodate as many guests as you can comfortably seat at your table.
Decide how many people you’d like to have, then choose the guest list. I love to mix and
match friends from different areas of my life to keep it interesting; inviting colleagues, my
oldest friends from grade school, and my new neighbors from down the street, for instance,
would make for interesting conversation and give all of my friends a chance to get to know
each other.
Invitations can be as simple as a phone call inviting your guests over, or for a more
formal event like a baby shower, you can send invitations. Send invitations several weeks
in advance to give guests plenty of time to save the date for the party. Printed invitations
are wonderful, but I find myself choosing online invitations more and more. They are less
expensive (often free) and allow you to manage a guest list easily and quickly. You can
view who has opened the invite and also send reminders to guests who haven’t responded
yet. My favorite online invites are from http://www.punchbowl.com and http://www.evite.com.Plan the Menu
Planning a party is all in the details, and deciding on the menu can seem daunting.
Fortunately, with this book, you’re one step ahead of the game! I’ve put together some
great menus that can be used as is, or even mixed and matched. There are a few things
you’ll want to consider before you begin, however, such as: How many people will be
attending? What are the dietary restrictions of your guests? Would you prefer to serve
a more formal plated meal, a casual family-style meal, or just finger foods that will allow
guests to mingle? What time of year is the party? Which foods are in season and readily
available at that time?(Ray)
(Fogra 39)Job:07-30969 Title:FW-Gluten Free Entertaining
#175 Dtp:225 Page:001-176_30969.indd 10 7/15/13 1:04 PM