A roving dinner party is not the usual image that comes to mind when people think of the words “dinner party”. By roving, I mean not just staying in the one location – but roving from one private venue to the next – maybe a course at each? Maybe the first course in a garden setting, then indoors for the main and dessert?
When you hear the words “dinner party” most people imagine a small group of invited guests having a meal at the host’s house – a party over dinner. A relaxed get-together at the one location.
But it doesn’t have to be like that – in fact, I’d recommend you try a totally different dinner party experience with your friends, neighbors, colleagues or acquaintances. Or anyone important enough to you that that you’d like to organize a dinner party with.
Not that conventional dinner parties aren’t fun – they’re just typical. Moving around can add an element of excitement – especially if you don’t have to move too far to the next location (imagine hiring a limousine to take you from one to the next taking in a bit of a scenic route)! But, hey, a walk is just as good! By sharing the dinner party preparation with your guests, it takes the pressure off just the one cook – a group of friends can share the cooking but make the experience amazing. A great dinner party can cost a lot so you also get to share the expense.
A roving dinner party really is an excellent idea if you want a great three course meal or more.. I’ll tell you a little of my last experience..
I have a few friends that are just as into spoiling their guests as I am. So, I approached two of our friends who live close by and suggested we all chip in and host a roving dinner party. We were all within a short walking distance to each other so we didn’t have to worry about drink driving or anything. The date was set and we decided who would host the starter at their house, who would host the main and who would host the dessert..
It was a superb night – the actual experience was the most memorable thing about the dinner.
When we got to our friend’s house for the starter, they welcomed us with some refreshing cocktails and a light platter of canapes. We sat and ate a wonderful entree and an accompanying drink. We didn’t rush it – we had plenty of time.
We moved on to my house for the main. On arrival to our house, I’d had all the candles prepared and ready to light and I’d chosen the background music that would set the mood further.. It was Buddha Bar CD – I’d been to the Buddha Bar in Paris for dinner and bought their CDs as a memento.. this was the sort of music I wanted to play as I’d enjoyed my meal in Paris so much listening to this and it also brought back wonderful memories.
I had of course prepared a meal in advance and on arrival, I was able to make the final touches to the dish quickly and dress the salad so it was lovely and crisp and fresh. We’d bought a bottle of Pinot Gris wine to match the fish dish I’d prepared.
We ate and laughed and chatted. Even though we knew dessert was at our other friend’s house, the whole experience was just plain exciting.. and because we knew at the outset what our plans were, we were all prepared that the dinner would involve moving around.
When we thought the time was right, we moved on to the final destination where our other friend had again put a lot of thought and preparation into just the right dessert to suit the occasion. She’d prepared a baked dessert and all she had to do was pop it into the oven as we settled in to the new environment. Again, the mood had been set with lighting and the table was beautifully set with flower arrangements, dessert wine glasses and the cutlery and plates for our pudding. We eased into the new environment and soon the dessert was ready to be served. It was truly sensational..
The whole dinner took a few hours but of course it flew and before we knew it, it was finished.
But not forgotten!
