Entertaining Fabulously on a budget

"Fabulous Entertaining is made up of four parts; Great Planning, Great Guests, Great Staging and Great food and wine."

The idea, of course, comes first and the research and planning follows.  Amazingly, the research part for many of us entertaining at home comes at the point about two weeks before we are about to host the party. For some it may be the day before!

However, if it's a big event (lets say more than 20 guests), the planning will definitely need to be a little more in advance than a couple of weeks.  Perhaps you have an annual Summer party, a Eurovision gathering or perhaps you host a regular coffee morning that is growing a little out of proportion.  There's always that annual sports event that's screaming for a barbecue or a big screen celebration (or commiseration). There's a fabulous party in all of us.

My list for a 20+ event is something like:

1. Budget, for the food, the drink
2. extra chairs
3. more glasses
4. if outside, think marquee, just in case the weather is against yuu
5. if inside, think aftermath and cleaning
6. if a "Television" event, sports, euro vision or film night, think projector unit rather than TV, especially if you can rig it for outside against a wall
7. remember ice, and about two to three times the amount you think you need
8. food, keep it simple, unless the event itself is supposed to revolve around food and do things that are really easy, new potatoes roasted in the oven can be done by the kilo and large amounts of dips bought or made in advance can done in bulk.  It's only bread, crisps and crudités that need to be done on the day
9. Think of a theme or a colour to emphasis the event...

My list for under 20, and ideally no more than a dozen, means a little more variety in the food department and perhaps a few games to help people relax early on wouldn't go amiss if not everyone knows each other well.  The latter can be a little strained if the group is too large so remember your project management course from work and designate champions to help out.

This all assumes that you are the only, or one of only two people, organising the event.  If you have an extra few hundred pounds, a couple of paid helpers on the day can ensure drinks are served and extra food is prepared with only the planning and the last minute rush to a supermarket in the morning to be worried about.

The best deals for both food and wine are hardly ever in the same place.  Do think of making dips yourself if you have invited more than a dozen people, it does make the difference.  Bread from a discount supermarket or your favourite deli, you choose, but French style loaves from one supermarket is pretty much the same as any other.  For speed, don't toast slices but simply put the slices on a large tray (in multiple layers) on medium to high heat in the oven, tossing them after 10 minutes and then taking them out another 10 minutes later.  It's quicker and you aren't waiting for the bread to burn under a grill.

For drinks, go big, if you have a major discounter in your neighbourhood, go there, if not, shop online as well as you may get end of line bargains and if you're planning in advance, you  have more chance of getting those bargains in time for your party.

For ideas see:

http://blubx.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/my-early-summer-bruschetta-tapas-and.html
http://blubx.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/kitchen-diary-party-secrets.html
http://blubx.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/three-best-dips.html