Host your next dinner party like a pro

HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST

Master the art of hosting successful dinner parties and long lunches at home with these expert tips.

By PENELOPE PELECAS

Face it: hosting an event is no easy feat. There are guest lists, menu choices, event decorations and seemingly hundreds of small details that pop up last minute. The good news is, a well-thought-out plan can make all the difference. So, whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner, or a long lunch, we caught up with three industry experts to find out their top tips.

Athena Amarandos

Owner, Celebrating in Style IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!

A beautifully dressed table is essential for ‘setting the scene’, no matter the occasion. Here’s a helpful guide: Consider the occasion Is your event indoor or outdoor, is it formal or casual? A formal dinner suits a perfectly set and styled table, while a long lunch may call for large share platters for guests to help themselves and more relaxed table styling.

Decide on a colour palette Keep your colour palette in mind when choosing tablecloths or runners, dinnerware and deciding on centrepiece styling. Selecting a limited number of colours is a fool-proof way to achieve a ‘pulled-together’ look. Layering From the tablecloth upwards, think about ways to incorporate different colours, textures, and patterns – think textural charger plates or placemats, a mix of dinnerware, colourful napkins and napkin rings, and glassware.

Plan a centrepiece Depending on your event, you can opt for centrepieces that are placed directly in the centre, or centrepieces that span the length of the table. Where your centrepiece extends the length of the table, ensure there are regular and repeating elements for a cohesive appearance and it works within your colour palette. I’d also recommend creating a variety of heights along the table using florals, candles, and other objects (just be sure not to obstruct guest conversation across the table!).

Lighting Lighting plays an important role when it comes to ambience. Candles can create any mood at an event – romantic, moody, or festive, you name it!

Finishing touches Think about creating personalised menus or place cards, adding a tiny potted succulent or herb atop each place setting, or having a small take-home treat for each guest. It’s this attention to detail that will make your table setting truly memorable!

Owner, gt studio co TIPS FOR HOSTING AT HOME

• Location, location, location. Think about the lighting and how close, or not so close, you are to the kitchen (I wouldn’t be an event planner if I didn’t consider the floorplan!). With a picture-perfect long lunch, you may want to take a few well-lit snaps to savour the memory, so finding natural lighting is key. • It’s all in the details. For something simple, add just a few single stem florals in a little white ceramic vase (tulips are my go-to!). • Bring in a bit of colour. If it’s not in the florals, think about the food you’re serving. Is it a fresh green Greek salad?

A soft pink taramosalata dip? Or a bowl

of bright red strawberries? Colours evoke emotion and you want them to complement the aesthetic you’re trying to create. • Always light a candle. Whether it’s a few white taper candles clustered in the middle of the table, or a sweet cinnamon-scented candle, never underestimate what a bit of candlelight can do to the ambience of a space. • Bring the vibes! The music you choose will completely change the vibe of your event. It’s time to call on your Scorpio friend with the best playlist – this is their time to shine!

Alex Gregg

Executive Chef, Agnes SERVE IT UP RIGHT

Favourite time of the year to host? Winter and summer – there’s a great comfort in having friends gather during the winter months to share classic braises and hearty meals, you can put a lot of soul into meals like that! Summer is always a winner; you can BBQ pretty much anything and it creates an amazing focal point for everyone. Favourite way to share meals? I like for everyone to create their own experience, that’s why I like to have a lot of small side dishes and sauces to really highlight the family style of sharing and talking about a meal.

I like to focus a lot on the cuisine I’m cooking when my partner and I have people over. We have a lot of fun sourcing the right ingredients or trying to match the right wine or cocktail. It becomes a part of the joy.

What’s your go-to dish for a gathering at home? It has to be a roast chicken. From finding the right bird to bringing and taking the care to

@GT_STUDIOCO

roast it perfectly and making an awesome sauce. I think it’s a classic for all year round, plus it goes great with a variety of different salads and veggies from a range of different cuisines.

What’s your go-to pre-meal appetizer? Parfait, pâté, and cured meats, especially jamón, with nice bread and different pickled vegetables.

What’s your advice for someone planning on hosting a dinner party/long lunch at home? You want to be doing as little as possible on the day. A lot of slow cooked dishes, whether meat-heavy or vegetarian, really benefit from a rest overnight. The flavours really marry together, and you can bring them back with relative ease.

Same goes with certain salads to accompany a BBQ in summer. Dressed beans and roasted vegetable salads are great options to have prepared earlier in the day while you focus on enjoying time spent with family and friends.

BITES

Dig into the new kids on the block of the Brisbane and beyond foodie scene.

IF YOU HAVE A DELICIOUS VENTURE IN THE WORKS, TELL US ALL ABOUT IT AT DINUSHKA@STYLEMAGAZINES.COM.AU

DA BIUSO

Brisbane’s latest fine dining degustation is the first of its kind in our River City – an intimate restaurant aboard a charming bus, fitted out to resemble Brisbane’s historic trams. Set to serve Mediterranean-inspired fare alongside top-tier service, Da Biuso will be sitting pretty at Brisbane’s most iconic and beautiful locations.

Various locations @da_biuso

CORAL MOON

Taking cues from Paris and Melbourne, this hole-in-the-wall wine bar from the Salt Coffee crew delivers an unfussy and intimate experience. Beneath textured concrete and chic curves, a chalkboard will let you know the wines available by the glass – with a rotating menu of bar bites to pair – to be enjoyed on the communal table on a walk-in only basis. Surfers Paradise @coralmoonbar

MR. VAIN

Elevate your dinner dates with Mr. Vain – the moody European-inspired kitchen with an emphasis on quality ingredients. The contemporary menu is the work of famed chef Tim Young, embodying bold ideas and sophisticated flavours into each dish. Raw and refined, the elegant venture will have you feeling a world away from the heart of the Valley.

Fortitude Valley @mrvainbrisbane

RIVERBAR + KITCHEN

After eight months of closed doors, this perfectly placed eatery is reopening with a new look and feel across all its offerings. Blending a Miami Beach shack with a contemporary restaurant, the new Riverbar has reinvented its menu with Sunshine State favourites such as spanner crab spaghetti, as well as a new raw menu that highlights the best of local produce. Brisbane City @riverbarandkitchen