Planning a Dinner Party for Four
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Transcript of Planning a Dinner Party for Four
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Event Planning Process: A Dinner Party for FourTim RodgersFebruary 3, 2014
+Agenda
Typical problems
How a process can help
Dinner party process Planning Preparation Delivery Closing
Summary
+Typical Dinner Party Problems
I can’t eat that / drink that
Wrong food for the occasion
Kitchen disasters
Hosts so preoccupied that they can’t enjoy the company
Late/early arrival of the guests
+Common Process Problems
Confusion / disagreement
regarding intended outcome
Failure to understand
expectations &
requirements
Inadequate coordination of activities
Insufficient resources, schedule, training
+General Process Design
+Planning the Dinner Party
People:Guests (allergies, likes/dislikes)Role of the guests (pot luck, bring something?)Role of the hosts (cooking, cleaning, greeting, clean-up)
Expectations:Special event? (holiday, birthday, Super Bowl)Expected outcome (strictly social, other agenda?)
Menu:Make vs. buy (what to cook, what to buy)Tried-and-true, or experiment with something new?“Design for manufacturing” (timing, sequence, preparation)Choices that enable the hosts to enjoy the company
+Preparation: The Hardest Part
Invitation:Arrival time at least 30 min before serving timeMake it clear what guests can bring (if anything)
Purchasing/acquiring ingredients and prepared food (from the menu)
Preparing the dinner:Work backwards from the serving timePlan for scarce resources (oven, cook top, microwave)
Preparing the house:Cleaning, dusting (don’t forget the bathroom)Setting the table, decorating, musicTending to children, pets
+Example: Thanksgiving 2013
A whole turkey would be excessive for four people, and tie up the oven (scarce resource) for hours Bought pre-cooked turkey breast, gravy, stuffing, mashed
potatoes from the market (all sampled previously) Warmed/basted the turkey in the oven Cooked at home: sweet potatoes with apples, cranberry
sauce, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato pecan pie Everything timed to be warm and ready Buffet style for easy serving
+Delivery: Don’t Forget to Enjoy
Guest arrival:Take a break and greet, they’re the stars of the show (not the food)Put a drink in their handGive them something to do (“What can I do to help?”)
Service:Buffet style / self-serve to allow portion controlWater at the table
Conversation:Relax, the hard part is over
+Closing: Relax, Clean Up Later
After dinner:Move the party away from the table once everyone’s doneClear the table, but clean the dishes later (no one wants to see that)Take the guests to a comfortable place to relaxDessert? Coffee?
Ending the evening:Don’t rush the guests, you’re already home, unless …Leftovers? Doggie bag? (not recommended)
+Summary Recommendations
It’s not about the food, it’s about your guests. They’re coming to spend time with you
Good menu planning and kitchen organization will prevent most kitchen disasters, but if you drop the casserole, roll with it (there’s always peanut butter sandwiches
Don’t get trapped in the kitchen, before or after (it’s your party, too)