"On her Barefoot Contessa blog, Garten reveals that advance prep work is key to organizing an evening that runs more smoothly than anxiety-inducing. While she admits that even she has had meltdowns in the kitchen, a thoughtful grocery list and an intentional menu can be the ticket to reducing unpleasant surprises and mood-ruining mishaps. "Sometimes the hardest thing about throwing a party is just planning the menu," she writes, explaining that she first notes which ingredients are in season"
"When planning an assortment of dishes to serve to guests, Garten considers any dietary requests of the expected attendees and plans recipes according to the way in which they can be prepared and served. By listing out options of food items that can be served hot, at room temperature, and those that can be made in advance, Garten looks to eliminate some needless scurrying around the day of the dinner event."
"When organizing a dinner party that would take place during warmer months, Garten leaps at the opportunity to host the event outside and plans her al fresco menu accordingly. Setting out guacamole and tomato feta salads allows guests to help themselves as they please. Platters of oven-fried chicken and grilled New York strip steaks can keep carnivorous friends satisfied, while salads made with farro, heirloom tomatoes, and blue cheese are sure to keep vegetarians content."
Advance prep work is key to organizing an evening that runs more smoothly than anxiety-inducing. Even experienced hosts can have kitchen meltdowns, so a thoughtful grocery list and an intentional menu reduce unpleasant surprises and mishaps. Menu planning should begin by noting which ingredients are in season. Dietary requests should be considered and recipes selected based on how dishes can be prepared and served. Listing options that can be served hot, at room temperature, or made in advance cuts down day-of scurrying. For warm-weather events, outdoor gatherings work well with self-serve salads, grilled or oven-fried proteins, and hearty grain-based vegetarian salads.
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