I was over 30 before I had a dining room. Until then, we tucked a small round table in the kitchen or a corner of the living room.
That entertaining excuse was one of my favorites: I can't possibly have people over. They don't even have a place to sit down and eat!
Then I checked out a '60s party book from the library. The bohemian author described huge bashes squeezed in a NY studio, with drinks served in the bathtub and inventive buffets laid on the bed.
(Get your mind out of the gutter! It was not that kind of book.)
That's when I learned the magic of One Fork Entertaining. If the food doesn't need to be cut, your guests can comfortably eat anywhere: the sofa, chairs, or even big floor cushions. No table required.
I use this strategy whenever I have more than 8 guests for supper. Here are some guidelines:
- Main dishes that don't need to be cut: casseroles or stir fries with cubed chicken, ham, or beef; quiches; short pastas instead of long spaghetti strands.
- Salads that are already mixed and chopped: Cobb salads, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella chunks, couscous with roasted vegetables.
- No-drip foods: soups, cobblers, and ice cream are better eaten at table.
You won't have an elegant four-course dinner, but you will have a house full of happy guests in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Bonus: If you're short on silverware, pick up an assortment of vintage forks at the nearest Goodwill.
Head on over to Blissfully Domestic Living to chat about your favorite One Fork Dinner!
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I love the vintage forks idea…very creative!
I should add that you will want to make knives and spoons available, especially to older people, who of course should be seated at whatever table you have.
Just that juggling 3 utensils would not be necessary for your menu.
And that is what true hospitality is — using what you do have (creatively) to bless other people.
Meredith, you just rock! What a great idea… Can you share that lovely retro book title?
I like that idea of One Fork Entertaining. I've never heard it called that, but it's a good plan. We have a dining room, but it's tiny. Our table is an oval and can seat up to 6 people, but it's a tight fit. We've learned to just move the living room couch (the dining room and living room are really one large open space), and push a card table (or 2!) up against the dining table. The seating for dining then extends into the living room, but at least we can all sit together if we have a large-ish group.
Entertaining in smaller spaces can be a lot more challenging, but on the plus side, it's a lot more cozy.
So clever!!
Love it! Linked back to you today:
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com