Does entertaining stress you out?

JEM
Wed, 06 Apr 2016 16:30:24 +0000

I love the concept of entertaining but often get stressed doing it – have referred to my routine “before company nervous breakdown.” I don’t have a home that lends itself to entertaining large groups, too broken up into rooms and levels. For a dinner party I am happiest with six, which is the number I had for Easter dinner, with a few more dropping in just for dessert. I guess the max I have ever had, perhaps for Thanksgiving, was a dozen.

I used to do much more elaborate cooking, but now tend to focus on things that can be prepared in advance (such as twice-baked potatoes) and some things that I can pick up, sometimes an assortment of mini dessert options from a very good French bakery/chocolatier. I don’t like feeling like a short-order cook when I have guests, and hate last minute pressure.

My goal is to have everything prepped an hour or more before the first guest arrives – rarely happens, but gives me a welcome down time. Time in the oven is fine. I try to have an empty dishwasher, clear counters, table set and decorated, etc. in advance. I may use the kitchen table as a buffet and let people serve themselves in the kitchen, to keep the dining table less busy. I can put a tablecloth and vase of flowers on the kitchen table to dress that up.

I love it when a dinner party is over and I can relish having it done, plus enjoy the leftovers.

In the past recent years I have enjoyed a monthly cleaning service, which keeps me on track re the household.

I really want to reciprocate those who have entertained us, and to encourage some of our friends to get to know each other. That is very rewarding. I also enjoy decorating the table, choosing colors for tablecloth and napkins, putting seasonal items on the chandelier, picking flowers from the garden, etc.

Last summer we had our first large catered party (under 50 guests) for our 40th anniversary, in our backyard. It was wonderful to have the caterer take care of all, (They even took care of putting any flowers people brought into vases and setting them out!) and I could be a guest at my own party. That spoiled me!

One of the great things about entertaining is how it forces me to declutter and clear off the dining room table, often filled with paper piles.