Bring the Right Food to a Dinner Party
The choice is simple: show up to a dinner party with food that everyone will avoid like the plague or that will have them salivating. Selecting the right food to bring to your next dinner party could make or break the evening. Here are 10 foods to avoid bringing to dinner parties and 10 that everyone loves.
1. Dishes with Raw Ingredients
Raw ingredients are at risk of spoiling and posing a concern for food safety. When you bring food to a dinner party, remember that it might sit out for a few hours, potentially leading to bacteria forming.
2. Foods With an Odor
The last thing you want to do as a guest is make the host's home smell bad. Avoid bringing foods like boiled cabbage or durian fruit to a dinner party. Remember, if guests are plugging their noses, they won't be able to taste any food.
3. Controversial Foods
Don't be the person bringing foie gras or Rocky Mountain oysters (bull testicles) to a dinner party. Avoid any dishes featuring offal or weird parts of an animal.
David Todd McCarty on Unsplash
4. Soup
Serving soup at a dinner party is a great idea, but transporting it to the party is a nightmare. Soup can easily spill, so choose another dish to bring, and hope that the hosts of the party are planning a soup appetizer before the main course.
5. Saucy Foods
Most people love digging into a fall-off-the-bone rib smothered in barbecue sauce, but it's a messy and embarrassing food to eat. Not to mention the bowls of bones on the tables. As a general rule, avoid any food that requires wet wipes.
6. Food That Requires Refrigeration
Showing up with any type of food that requires refrigeration is thoughtless. You can't assume your host will have room in their fridge, and they might need to use their fridge for their dishes. Instead of forcing someone to rearrange the fridge, just bring food that is safe at room temperature.
7. Unprepared Food
If you show up with food that still requires preparation and assembly, then you might as well write "I don't care" on your forehead. Unprepared food could delay dinner or make other guests feel like they need to pitch in. Rule number one is to never make your hosts work, unless it's related to cleaning dishes.
8. Leftovers
It might be tempting to bring leftover hummus to a dinner party, but it's kind of lazy and rude. This means no to leftover pizza or a half-eaten bucket of fried chicken. Even a bad homemade dish will be appreciated, whereas the most delicious leftovers won't make a great impression.
9. Super Spicy Food
This should be obvious, but many forget that not everyone enjoys or can handle even the slightest hint of spice. If you want to bring some food with some spice, you should also bring a mild batch. If you opt for a spicy dish, make sure you warn the others.
10. Pungent Cheeses
Pungent cheeses like blue cheese are polarizing. That said, cheese is a great item to bring to a dinner party, but it's best to go with something mild like a creamy brie.
1. Baked Brie
Baked brie adorned with crunchy elements like nuts or a sweet topping like honey will be gone only moments after it hits the table. It's also easy to prepare and travels fairly easily. Feel free to bring a loaf of crusty bread or crackers to accompany this dish.
2. Charcuterie Board
A charcuterie board is an artistic and more appetizing version of a meat and cheese platter. People go nuts for charcuterie boards and for good reason. Use a variety of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, berries, and nuts.
3. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
A hearty spinach and artichoke dip is a true dinner party crowd-pleaser. Serve with simple pita triangles or chunks of a crusty bread, and you're good to go. This dish is a staple at most dinner parties and get-togethers.
4. Stuffed Mushrooms
A stuffed mushroom is a bite-sized delight. Use a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and cheese to stuff each mushroom. The mushroom's light flavor and earthy texture make each bite warm and satisfying.
5. Mini Quiches
A quiche is a wonderful main dish that lets you add your favorite ingredients to velvety eggs in a buttery pie crust. Mini quiches are the same idea, only in a smaller form. Try using cheese, bacon or ham, and spinach to wow the other guests.
6. Garlic Bread with Herb Butter
Garlic bread might feel too basic to bring to a dinner party, but when paired with a creamy herb butter, it becomes an elevated dish that people love. This dish is best with a garlic-infused butter.
7. Tiramisu Cups
Tiramisu cups are an elegant addition to any dessert table. This dish is made of layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, and cocoa powder. Serve in individual glasses for some wow factor.
8. Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Who could resist smoky bacon with crispy edges wrapped around chewy dates? You can even stuff the dates with goat cheese or almonds. Each bite offers rich decadence, and they are also easy to prepare.
9. Antipasto Platter
An antipasto platter is perfect if you want something quick to make without sacrificing the quality of the dish. This Italian dish is typically a mix of artichokes, marinated olives, roasted peppers, cured meats, and cheeses. Include a crusty bread for maximum effect.
10. Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is a classic dinner party appetizer. All you need is tender shrimp and a tangy cocktail sauce. This dish offers a light protein to start a meal.
