Hosting isn’t for everybody – but if it is for you, it’s probably like – really for you.
My Favorite Hosting Hacks
I love having people over, cooking for them, and enjoying cocktails – especially during the holidays when I have a reason to make everything over-the-top festive. If you’re in your hosting era too, you know it’s fun, but it’s also hard. You have to be a planner through and through – think of everything from grocery lists, to prep times, to decor, and even where the best places are to put trash cans around the house (if you’re having quite a few people over).
Before I started recipe developing and food blogging, I was a Marketing Project Manager for four years, and I swear by my skills from being a PM translated over tenfold to aid me in being a thorough and thoughtful host. Don’t get me wrong, it took some practice and a few inevitable hosting disasters to feel comfortable having people over, but the way I see it is I made mistakes so you don’t have to!
So, without further ado, here are my top best hosting hacks that will help you get through the holiday hosting season almost seamlessly (I have to say almost because, well, as much as you try you still can’t plan for everything – but I’m here to help you plan for most things).
- Plan Your Menu Ahead of Time – And Let Your Guests Know
Of course a related tip is going to be #1 here, what’d you expect? In my eyes, the menu is the most important part if you’re having a gathering with food. Ahead of time, decide whether you want your guests to contribute.
Should everyone bring an appetizer?
Or maybe you’ll take over the apps and have everyone bring their favorite beverage?
Or, if you’re the super host, Martha-Stewart prodigy type, maybe you’ll make a full meal with drinks, in which case you’ll want to let your guests know so that they come hungry!
2. Make Lists and Cross Things Off As You Go
Once you have your menu figured out, write out your menu, and then write out your list of groceries under each menu item to make sure you don’t miss anything (even if it’s small, forgetting a cute garnish SUCKS when you have a vision).
To get even more granular, plan out what day you’ll buy your groceries. You’ll likely be able to buy canned goods and crackers a few days before your gathering and leave the perishable items until closer to the date, make note of that. Take advantage of the notes app and checklist capabilities on your phone – the more organized you are, the better!
3. Prepare As Much As Possible Ahead of Time
This might be a no-brainer, but I defintiely made the mistake of trying to do everything the day-of when I hosted my first gathering. I had fresh pasta on the menu, so you can image what a pain in the ass it was to have to bake bread, cookies, and make pasta all in the same day when I could’ve easily done some of those things the day before!
Anything that is meant to be really fresh (cheese, meats…. PASTA) save that assmbly for the day of so it’s as fresh as possible. If you can prepare your bread, cup fruit and veggies, and bake off your desserts the day before you host, you’ll thank yourself day-of!
Here’s the prep I recommend:
- 2-3 days before
- Buy anything that won’t go bad quickly (flour, sugar, chocolate, eggs, drinks)
- 2 days before
- Buy anything you will need to marinate
- Make any doughs that need to/can sit in the fridge overnight
- Set up you table
- Arrange the room(s) you’re hosting in
- 1 day before
- Marinate what you need to
- Cut any fruit and veggies you have
- Prepare salad (just don’t put any dressing on it, yet!)
- Bake any dough you prepared the day before
- Cut anything else that you can to make tomorrow as easy as possible
- Buy any meats/cheese that you need
- Day of Event
- Cook anything that you were marinating
- Set out your fruits, veggies, dips, sauces, crackers
- Dress your salads
- Set up your appetizers, prepare your drinks
- Run to the store for anything that you forgot/need to buy extremely fresh
4. Prepare Your Space
If you’re hosting a party in your space, think about where you want your guests to leave their shoes, bags, and coats if necessary. I like to set aside space in my spare bedroom, but if you have a closet or shelf where your guests can place their extra things, it will help keep your space decluttered and make it easy for your guests to find their things before they leave!
5. To-Go Boxes
This fifth tip is totally optional, but something that I started doing for holiday hosting (especially on Thanksgiving) is getting to-go boxes for my guests to take home leftover food with them! I love having leftovers, but too many leftovers can sometimes mea food goes to waste. By having to-go boxes around for anyone who wants to take a little more with them, it cnahelp minimze wasted leftovers and your guests will love that you took the extra step!
6. Build a Matching Menu
Finally, if you’re building a menu for your guests you’ll want to make sure it’s coheisve in the sense that everything complements each other. If you’re planning on preparing steak for dinner, making an appetizer with steak may not make the most sense. Aside from ingredients, you also want to make sure that the meal is balanced. If you’re serving sandwiches, then you might want to opt for a salad and crudete platter to go with it instead of dinner rolls. Planning your menu ahead of time will be your best friend here – start by choosing the entree that you want to serve, then build the rest of your menu around the main event.
Hosting is not for the weak, if you’re the designated hosting friend you know how much time it takes to get right, and mistakes are inevitable. Plan as much as you can and roll with the punches, and I promise your gathering will turn out beautifully!