Serving dinner.?!
Serving dinner.?
when having guests over for dinner, what is an appropriate amount of time between them arriving, serving an appy then sitting down for your main course?
1 hour? one and a half hours? 2 hours? this includes having drinks before dinner.
i don't want to serve dinner too late but i don't want it to seem like as soon as they arrive and they haven't finished their drinks, they are already sitting down to eat!
Answers:
I would say 1 1/2 hours is good for cocktails and appetizers before serving a meal . It also allows time for eveyone to show up for a dinner party.
I think it all depends on how the night's conversation is going. If you're guests are too chatty after drinks, go right into dinner. If they are chatty and enjoying their drinks, wait a half hr and you make a decision. You don't want to wait 2 hrs either!
1 hour - 1 1/2 would be perfect
Since you're serving drinks and appetizers I would say 1 1/2 - 2 hours. 1 hour is OK if just serving drinks, or drinks and nibbles like chips or nuts. But, if you're having real appetizers you can prolong dinner quite a while.
I'd say to serve dinner 30 minutes to 1 hr after everyone arrives. People usually show up to a dinner hungry. That should be enough time to finish a drink without making people wait too long.
I'd say probably no more than an hour...probably closer to half an hour or so
If its a formal sit down Dinner then most Dinner Parties sit within 45 minutes. Let them bring the drinks to the table . If you are the Host then its your discretion. If its informal then it could be longer but have appetizers to nosh on...
I would say 1 hour. This way you and your guests can sit down and have some drinks and talk a bit before getting right to eating dinner. This way your dinner party will last a bit longer and your guests won't feel pressured to leave. If you stuff them at dinner they might want to head home soon so they can get comfy and relax. Plus it gives you some time to relax after preparing the meal before it's time to eat.
I think the perfect way is to have a selection of appetizers like deli meats, olives, prawn kebabs, brushetta and vegetable crisps in the living room get your partner to act as host and serve drinks and introduce, or talk to people in there while your finishing the main dish that way, your guests get time to talk and have a drink, you get to finish the main, you can serve dinner straight to the table when your ready without people waiting and honestly how much of the starter would you eat if you were stressing about the dinner.
one hour should be plenty.offer guests a drink when they arrive and present the appetizers in platters so people can help themselves while drinking.
if they had finished drinking so talk with them to half hour than ask them for dinner