The Dinner Party

I'm going to stick with the combo days again this week since it is pretty busy in the office. Today I'll combine the food and advice columns for the dinner party concept. With many people feeling the effects of the economic downturn, what better way to enjoy a night out and a good meal with friends and family than hosting a dinner party. You can make any combination of foods to satisfy multiple pallettes and you can go fancy or comfortable with the attire. The two biggest keys to hosting a dinner party is food prep and entertainment. I always try to go overboard with both. It is better to have too many things that you can save for another time, instead of leaving people bored or hungry. You should start your food preparation a few days before by starting with shopping, then prep vegetables and marinate meats, and finally go things the day of. I know there are plenty of dishes that can be made ahead of time, but I fully endorse serving fresh made food for all parties.

What kind of food serves a crowd? Well we've certainly developed some mainstays, most of which I learned from my mother over the years. Mostaciolli is a huge crowd pleaser, and if you're lucky I'll pass along my aunt's recipe at some point. With that in mind, some sort of italian dish should be on the table because the pastas and breads associated with them help fill people's stomachs. You could also make a big batch of meatballs and italian sausage for sandwiches. Pulled pork is a personal favorite if you feel up to the challenge of the smoker. If not, there are plenty of solid recipes to be made in the oven. Chili is a great crowd pleaser depending on your guest list. I've had a past party where I went with a red steak chili and a mexican green pork chili. Baked goods are a big hit for the meal and in the dessert portion of the program. Homemade desserts are the only way to go. They're cheaper and taste worlds better. Even if you're just pulling out a box mix, that will do. Don't forget to have plenty of snacks like pistachios, chips and salsa, puppy chow, pretzels, and other personal favorites.

The other great part about parties at homes is that cooking for a crowd is much cheaper than cooking for just a few. You can utilize larger cuts of meat, buy bulk items, and all the costs are spread over a larger audience. So if you're starting to get bored as the weather grows colder, get a crew together and do some eating. What else do we do well in the Midwest? While you're at it, you might as well have some fun. Pull out some board games, play some poker, watch bad wedding videos, or sing karaoke, but do whatever you like to do and have a good time with it.

Restaurant Recap

I must give a recommendation here for a certain grocery store. It doesn't fall in line with the restaurant reviews, but they do have great food to take home and eat. The Fresh Market (not Caputo's Fresh Market, Springbrook Fresh Market, or all the other crapola) also known as TFM is an absolutely great place to shop. They only have the best quality ingredients, and they have everything you need for any recipe from San Marzano canned tomatoes to spices to artisan cheeses or random produce. Be careful in the produce section because while the price per lb. may look good, they have the largest fruits that I know of. The fish section is great with fresh shrimp, parmesan crusted tilapia, and pistachio grouper being some personal favorites. The meat section has anything you want. I will endorse the bacon, swiss burgers, veal shank, lamb tenderloins, chicken en croute, and all fresh sausages. They have numerous italian meats and antipasti as well as a full deli and bakery. They have a sandwich shop and plenty of wraps made fresh for lunch daily. Their homemade pizza is also very good. I have to say that I am partial to their rotisserie. It houses the best wings that I've had, great White Wine/Herb turkey breast, pulled pork, bbq pork tenderloin, petitie spiral ham, and a few other great meal options. I'm a frequent shopper at the Geneva store, but there are a few others in the area so make a special trip to complete the shopping list for that recipe you have never had the guts to try.