How to Throw a France Inspired

Dinner Party

misadventureswithandi.com

Meals in France are a big deal! Let's dive into some tips for throwing a France inspired dinner party!

Phoenix, AZ

How to Throw a France Inspired Dinner Party

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First, simplify your meals!

Stick to three or four things; the lesser the better.

Plan your menu in advance so you don’t spend too much time in the kitchen when the guests are over.

Don’t forget the holy trinity of French food- entrée, plat et dessert (starters, main course, and dessert).

Next, embrace l’heure d’apéro

The French can often be late for meals. It is believed to be impolite to show up for a meal at the appointed hour lest you catch your host off-guard or still getting ready.

A great way to avoid this is to start with l’heure d’apéro.

Providing drinks and some snacks to nibble on while everyone arrives is a great way to relax the guests and wait for everybody.

Onto table decor. No matter how simple your meal is, it is essential to have a well-set table; it makes all the difference.

You don’t need too many things to bring some elegance to the table.

Don’t hesitate to bring out your grandma’s fine china or the vintage napkins you keep in the closet for special occasions.

Then set the mood. A critical element to mastering French entertaining is to set a good mood with the right lighting and music.

If safety is not an issue, light up little tea candles and scatter them around the house to create an intimate mood.

Onto the must haves. Can you even call it a French meal without some bread, cheese, and wine?

Keep it simple but don’t scrimp on the quality. They don’t have to be expensive.

Choose something your guests are bound to remember.

As for bread, it is the heart of any French meal. A simple baguette will go a long way.

Flank your meals with alcohol.

Most French meals begin with an aperitif, so it seems natural enough to end a meal with a digestif.

It’s a tradition to begin meals with kir or champagne and end meals with cognac or port but if some guests prefer to keep drinking wine, that’s ok too.

Et voila! You’re all set to host your meals like a true Frenchman. The French love to entertain, but they also love to keep it simple and have fun while doing so.