Dinner Party Recipes

Dinner Party Recipes, Menus and Themes for every type of dinner party are here. Whether you're planning an elegant affair or a casual get together, find what you need right here. Just follow the link for the party ideas you're looking for:

• Complete List of Printable Party Food Recipes, Appetizers and Main Course Recipes
• Join Party-Zine for a Free Downloadable Cookbook with Over 100 Recipes
• Party Food Planning Guide: Questions on How Much to Serve are Answered.
• Formal Place Setting: Diagram and Guide

Dinner Party Menus and Themes

Dinner Party Recipes and Menus from Around the World:

• Traditional Mexican Fiesta Dinner Party.
• Favorite New York Restaurants.
• Italy in My Kitchen.
• Julia Child's Comes to Dinner: a French menu recommendation.

• Fondue Party Ideas and Recipes
• Outdoor Party Grilling Recipes
• Picnic Recipes
• Romantic Dinner Ideas
• Cinco de Mayo Food
• Easter Dinner Recipes
• Fun Potluck Dishes
• Super Bowl Party Recipes
• Brunch Menu Ideas and Easy Recipes

Check out Party Food Ideas, for more dinner party ideas.

Italy in My Kitchen

Try one of our most interactive dinner party themes: the fabulous Italian pasta dinner.

For this dinner party idea, it's best to invite those who like to be in the kitchen.

And for those who don't know anything about "slow food", the movement to preserve cultural cuisine, this is a perfect way to make them aware of it, since slow food began in Italy.

There's nothing like fresh homemade pasta, and now your guests can see how this is one of the most satisfying and easiest dinner party recipes to make. Let the pasta making begin!

To serve 8 guests, here's what you'll need:

• 7/8 lb. of Flour
• 4 Eggs
• Good dash of salt
• Hand cranked Pasta Roller (available at any supercenter such as Target)
• Food Processor (optional)
• Pasta sauce; preferable one red and one white

I like to wait to make the dough until all the guests are present so that everyone can see the entire process. Place 7/8 lb. of flour and 4 eggs into the food processor and pulse until dough appears like peas. Remove from food processor and knead slightly.

Fold dough into a square shape and run through pasta maker on the largest setting. Then continue to run the dough though pasta machine, increasing the setting with each run.

After dough is at the desired thinness, change the pasta attachment to the spaghetti cutter and pass the dough through one last time. Put freshly made pasta directly into boiling salted water and it's ready in about 3 minutes!

Guests are usually shocked at how easy this process is! Everyone loves standing around in the kitchen with a glass of wine while we make the pasta. Be sure to serve a gourmet sauce worthy of this special spaghetti!

Here are my favorite dinner party recipes for white sauce and red sauce.

Red Sauce recipe ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup baby bella mushrooms
• 1 (29 ounce) can of chopped stewed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons of herbs of Provence
• 1 shot of port wine
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium saucepan saute garlic, onions, and mushrooms in oil over low heat until onions are translucent. Add herbs of Provence, salt and pepper, and port wine and stir. Add tomatoes and raise heat to medium. Cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Any cooked meat such as chicken or sausage, or roasted vegetable may be added to this basic red sauce recipe.

White Sauce recipe ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

Melt butter in a sauce pan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk all at once and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened. Sauteed vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, or red peppers work well with this sauce. Try chicken or fish on top of pasta with this white sauce for a hearty meal.

Want more dinner party recipes? Return to Top

Favorite New York Restaurants

Photo Credit: Rebecca McAlpin for The New York Times

Because I wanted to promote a distinctly New York atmosphere, I decorated with photos of the restaurants next to each corresponding dish. I was truly surprised that when I called each restaurant, they were flattered that I wanted to include their dinner party recipes.

Gramercy Tavern sent postcards and various media material that helped with the decorations. I was also able to order chocolates from one restaurant as party favors.

All dishes were served on white platters with various shapes to give a metropolitan feel. I also decorated with 3 dimensional card board cut-outs of popular New York landmarks like the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty. The website for these cutouts is www.papertoys.com.

Many of my guests who had traveled to Manhattan had visited the restaurants I featured. They loved the nostalgia of this themed dinner party idea!

Return to Top

Authentic French Recipes

Why not throw a fancy French themed dinner party!? Dinner Party Recipes for a complete 5-course meal are here.

Cocktail Party French Appetizer Recipes:

• Canape Recipes
• Croque Monsieur with Caviar
• Savory French Crepes (crepes plus recipes for 3 different fillings)

Soups and Salads:

• Homemade Split Pea Soup
• Classic French Onion Soup
• Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Leek and Potato Soup Recipe
• Puree of Carrot Soup
• Sea Scallop Salad

Main Courses:

• Fillets of Sole with Mushroom and Wine Sauce
• Roast Leg of Lamb
• Coq Au Vin Recipe
• Pot Roast of Beef Braised in Red Wine
• Quiche Lorraine Recipe

French Recipes Desserts:

• Grand Marnier Souffle Recipe
• Pate Brisee (Pie Crust)
• The Best Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe
• How to Make Chocolate Mousse
• Pears Poached in Red Wine

Julia Child's Comes to Dinner

The Julia Child's theme dinner party is not for the faint of heart. Her dinner party recipes certainly express the joy of cooking!

The idea behind this party is to take one cookbook and produce a five course meal using only recipes of one famous chef (it could actually be any chef you admire).

To make a truly elegant event, create a printed menu for each place setting. Decorate your table with fine linens (preferably all white). And be sure to check out our page on proper place settings. A tailored floral centerpiece -- low enough as to not impede conversation -- is the ideal garnish for this elegant dinner.

For this five course dinner, pull out all the stops. Start with an aperitif (an alcoholic beverage served before the meal), then move to the dining room. While you may choose less than five courses, typical courses are an appetizer, soup, salad, entre, and dessert. Serve small portions (just as they would in a French restaurant) so that each course may be enjoyed.

Some of my favorite dishes for this meal include: Croque Monsieur with Caviar. This is a type of grilled cheese sandwich that is absolutely delectable. You could also try a brie dish.

In the winter, I enjoy the potato and leek soup but Julia Child's French onion soup was one of her most famous. Sea-Scallop Salad or arugula and apple salad make a wonderful 3rd course. (Note: for an authentic Julia Child's dinner, arugula wouldn't be served. She could stand the stuff! But, we love it!) For an entree try our Coq Au Vin recipe, a French classic.

And finally for dessert, I like to serve Julia Child's chocolate cake, changed ever so slightly each time I make it in order to make it my own. Ice this cake with a chocolate ganache and chocolate glaze and you'll have baked a masterpiece!

Return from Dinner Party Recipes to Home.