Entertaining Basics

Family dining in a busy world too often centers around food that comes in a bag with plastic cutlery. There are still those occasions, though, where formal dinners mean quality cuisine in an...

Looking for a new napkin fold for your next dinner party? Entertaining is made easy with the simple Goblet Fan Napkin Fold. With just a cloth dinner napkin and a wine glass or water goblet, you...

It’s no surprise that the Fan Napkin Fold is one of the most often-used dinner napkin folds. Not only is it easy to fold, but it also creates a wonderful table setting all on its own. With the Fan...

For your next dinner party, why not try the Candle Napkin Fold for your dinner table? The Candle Napkin Fold will lend a dramatic flair to your table, regardless of the cuisine. It’s perfect for a...

The Bird of Paradise Napkin Fold looks impressive on a dinner table, but it’s actually easy to create. Starting with a simple cloth dinner napkin, a few quick folds are all it takes to add pizazz...

For your next dinner party, why not use this easy dinner napkin fold? Not only will it add a formal touch to your dinner table, but you’ll also add a little touch of French elegance to your table...

The Pyramid Napkin Fold is one of the easiest folds there is. Once you learn how to make it, you’ll never forget. You’ll also never go back to regular square folds again.

Even with the advances in communication technology (social networking, email, texts) it is still proper etiquette to send an invitation by regular mail for formal occasions and dinner parties....

Ever thought of throwing a dinner party? Well, stop thinking and start doing. Below you'll find a quick how to guide to entertain your guests to your heart's desire.

I was recently at a Party where the hostess was fairly new to entertaining. Long story short, although, chips and dip were served, dinner wasn't served for over 2 hours after people arrived....

Setting a dining table is an important skill to learn, as it will come in handy countless times throughout life. Although table settings vary by meal, there are consistencies to where different...

Everyone loves a dinner party. Good friends, good food, lively conversation and maybe a parlor game or two. But if some of your friends are seniors, you might want to consider tailoring your...

During the Holidays, you need all the help you can get. After years of catering and giving my own parties, I have learned a few things that might help so you can enjoy your own party which is the...

Setting a formal dinner table and using all the cutlery can be confusing if you plan to use a complete set. Although not obvious, the proper placement of dinner silverware is based on its logical...

An attractive table doesn't guarantee a delicious meal, but it can enhance the dining experience. The starting point of a gorgeous table is the centerpiece. If you choose an arrangement of fresh...

Knowing how to properly set a table is useful information that everyone should know, but very few people actually do. Learning place setting etiquette will not only help you host a successful...

Many of us enjoy an evening of food and fellowship, but have a difficult time planning our hospitality. You're not alone! Here are some tips on streamlining your preparation so that you can enjoy...

Planning the amount of food for a party can be an easy undertaking if you have some basic guidelines. Learn how to determine the amount of food whether you are planning a sit-down dinner or an...

When planning your award dinner, you want to choose a meal that is affordable and easy to prepare. An award dinner is a great way for your organization to network. Be sure that your menu items are...

A typical three-course dinner includes an appetizer, an entree and dessert. Your meal can be an impromptu dinner among friends or a more drawn-out and elegant affair for a special evening. No...

Our weekends tend to fill up fast, but it never feels like we get to spend time with all our favorite people. To solve this problem we host weekday dinner parties. These can be a challenge when...

Write a dinner menu and entice guests to come taste the meal. Whether you're planning a wedding and need to write the dinner menu for one hundred or you're hosting a dinner party for eight,...

Properly set-up dinner tables provide elegance and charm to any dinner event. A basic table setting, which uses a single set of plates and silver, is the ideal setting to use as a refresher course...

There are four basic dining styles practiced throughout the world: American (zigzag), Continental (European), Asian and Communal. These are not jockeying for first place, as no one style is better...

Place cards are a way to organize a dinner party so that guests are matched up with other guests, and tables are planned to seat as many guests as comfortable. Place cards can be as fun or fancy...

Buffet-style meals are highly conducive to casual entertaining. A buffet allows for a more relaxed, energetic atmosphere, eliminates the chance of serving guests something they don't like or are...

Entertaining should be about sharing friendship, food, and having fun with others! With the costs of going out we need to use creativity and learn how to entertain our guests and not break the...

Sooner or later, all of us will either host a formal dinner party, or attend one. This will show you how to set the table, and how to use the utensils, without embarrassment. You may already know...

A 7 course dinner party may sound a bit intimidating but if organized well it can be plenty of fun. Many think 7 is too much but in reality every course should be light in size but big in flavor....

The key to romance is sincerity, surprise, and novelty. Here are a few tips to achieving that perfect evening that she will remember for years to come.

My friends and family call me "the Hostess with the Mostest" when it comes to dinner parties. I got an apartment when I was a teenager and I had to learn by trial and error back then....

Creating your place settings according to proper etiquette adds a sense of elegance to your brunch. Whether you are serving 2 or 10, you can easily dress up your meal by setting your table...

Boss coming over for dinner? Cooking as well as "meeting the parents"? Just moved into an upscale neighborhood and want to showcase your fine cooking skills? Any of these reasons, or no...

It's still possible to have fun during a bad economy. The bad economy for last forever. Soon things will pick up and get better. Now is the time to take advantage of the great things in life...

Do you like hosting dinner parties? Are you looking for a way to reduce the cost? Rather than go broke entertaining your friends and family, consider four ways to host a dinner party on the cheap.

Would you like to set a romantic table. A special occasion is always right around the corner. To save some money on dinner out, create an intimate dinner for two at home. You can make your...

Do you want to impress your friends and family with a fancy napkin at their plate? Do you have a special dinner right around the corner? Maybe an Anniversary? Well here is a simple napkin that...

Party hosting is like show business. Guests attend a party hoping to be entertained. And the host’s role is to entertain by creating a fun and festive environment. Parties fail as a result of cold...

When your guests arrive for your holiday dinner, the table setting can wow them and set the mood for the delicious food soon to be presented. Here are step by step instructions for a formal table...

Dinner Parties require a table setting that has it ALL! A Beautiful script font can be printed on a placecard for each guest and add a touch of style and elegance to any table setting!

There are ways to set your table that can set the tone for the fun, festive and delicious meal that is sure to come!

You can plan a romantic dinner at home, both quickly and easily. An intimate dinner is always appreciated and guaranteed to put an extra spark in your relationship. The tips below will help you...

Mexico is one of my favorite countries to visit. Everything about it screams FUN! And the people there are so beautiful and nice! Here are a few ways to bring the spirit of Mexico home tonight...

Knowing how to set a table is an important part of entertaining well. Setting the table properly sets the stage for a proper formal dinner or a nice, casual meal. To set the table is a combination...

Okay. So you've been invited to a formal dinner. You may be thinking, "What's a formal dinner?" And it's no joke - many in today's society have no idea what a formal dinner consists of and how one...

Do you hesitate to entertain guests because it seems like so much work? Relax and simplify dinner entertaining. Formal dinner parties are pretty much a thing of the past. Instead, host an easy...

Lavish dishes, fine china and beautiful flowers are all common elements of an elegant dinner setting. The thought of putting together a formal dinner for others can be overwhelming, but it need...

Formal dinners can range from a private dinner at home to a large group event. A host at a formal dinner directs the evening's events. A good host can be very helpful for the group serving the...

Serving a formal dinner may seem like a hard task to undertake, but the key is in the preparations. By knowing how to present not only the dinner but also yourself, you will be able to put...

In many towns, especially towns in areas that are big on football, there exists a die-hard tradition of the pre-game football dinner. These dinners are usually hosted by the parents of a player...