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5 twists on the traditional dinner party.
Updated
Do you love to host dinners at your home, but you're tired of the boring sit-down format? Get inspired with these fun dinner party ideas that will impress your guests. Also, find out which professionals can help you save time on planning the dinner, setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning.
1. Treat your guests to a private cooking lesson.
A private cooking lesson led by a personal chef makes for a fun night of bonding with your fellow foodies, and it makes dinner a group effort instead of a solo act. Whatever the cuisine — Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Vegetarian — your pro chef will pull together a delicious menu from appetizer to dessert that matches your group’s skill level.
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2. Create a street festival vibe.
If you're hosting a larger dinner crowd, go with a food truck instead of a traditional caterer. Guests can eat what they want, when they want, so there’s a lot more mingling. Plus, the culinary options are almost endless — from tacos to pizza to barbecue — and there’s little to no set-up or clean-up involved.
3. Put the next round on your tab.
Indulge your inner mixologist by bringing in a bartender to show you and your guests how to shake, muddle and stir the cocktails of the moment. Or ask them to put together a special tasting experience — from craft brews to wine to distilled spirits. And by hiring a caterer to handle the food pairings, you can spend more time sipping and less time cooking.
4. Combine dinner with a workout.
Too busy to get to the gym? Been a while since you’ve bonded with your pals? Two birds. One stone.
Invite some friends over on the weekend (in the early afternoon), and hire a personal trainer to put you all through your paces — push-ups, crunches, the works. Then, sit down to a healthy dinner menu prepared by you or a private chef.
Another idea: If your friends prefer to exercise earlier in the day, have brunch afterward instead.
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5. Bring in live entertainment.
Entertain your guests by hiring live performers who can put on a show before, during or after the meal. For example:
- Live music. Hire a local musician or a small band to play soft tunes while your guests mingle and nibble on hors d'oeuvres.
- Fortune tellers. Sip pre-dinner drinks while a fortune teller dishes out the future. Even the most skeptical of guests can’t deny that it will take the typical table talk in a whole new direction. Or, get a personal referral for a palm reader or tarot card reader.
- Actors. Hire comedians and actors who can create an interactive dinner mystery party for you and your guests. Gather clues and play detective as you try to figure out who the "culprit" is.
Throw an amazing dinner party with help from the pros.
Level up your hosting skills by throwing a dinner party that's entertaining and different. If you don't have the time to arrange your next soiree, use Thumbtack to find pros who can help you create a menu, cook and serve the food, decorate your home, arrange for live entertainment and even clean up after everyone leaves: