Nothing can beat the comfort of indulging in hearty meals with your loved ones at home. However, busy schedules and daily chores rarely allow you to cook and prepare elaborate fare for your people. Only some special occasions can be an exception when you may push yourself a bit. Otherwise, everything remains in mind. Thanks to private chef services, you can invite your favorite folks for dinner at your place, talk your heart out without feeling the need to conform to the social norms of public spaces, relax, and enjoy the meal you arranged for everyone. You can kick your feet up without running into your kitchen every time to see if everything is ready.
Let’s get on the gastronomic journey quickly! If you take cooking responsibility upon yourself, you may have to spend at least a week planning all the details. When you hurry, the clock also seems to run faster. However, if you give your private dinner party responsibility to a chef, you mainly focus on selecting the best menu. Of course, it also involves your time, but this journey feels more exciting because you know your intimate dinner will have a refined professional touch, which your guests may love the most. So, if you wish to entertain your group over a delicious dinner spread, here are some menu ideas from different parts of the world.
Italian spread
Almost everyone enjoys the taste of Italian food. So, it can be a safe and delectable choice for sure. Some people like to keep a traditional meal structure with several courses served at different intervals. As a result, everyone gets time to mingle and eat properly. Does it sound like a good idea? If you opt for it, the entire dinner menu will consist of Apperativo, Antipasti, Primi, Secondi Piatti, Contorni, Dolce, and Wine. At the beginning of the meal, apperativo servings may feature wine, spritz, and prosecco. It can also include small nibbles or snacks like dips,olives, and cheese. Next in order will be the antipasto course – appetizers. It’s about starters and more drinks. Although it resembles aperitivos, items will be more than the nibbles. You can have a mix of cold and warm starters during this time.
Those who prefer salad can introduce a dish in this course. Some people advise combining apperativo and antipasto. It’s up to you to decide. If you spend only three to four hours maximum with your guests, it can be ideal for serving two to three similar courses together. It will keep things varied for your guests without the scope to miss out on something. When the primi round begins, it presents your friends and family with something hot. Dishes can be risotto or pasta. Some also keep soup. This first food round should be more significant than the previous two courses but less than the secondo.
Secondi piatti or secondo is what you call entrée in America. This main course contains fish or meat in substantial amounts. With secondo, you can add contorno or contorni, which includes side dishes like veggies and salads. One can have them on the same plate as the secondo. If you keep leafy vegetables at this stage, you can do away with Insalata servings, which primarily include garden salad. Dolce can be a conclusive part of the elaborate Italian meal. It is all about luscious desserts, such as Tiramisu. In the end, you can ask for strong espresso or digestive-like limoncello.
Authentic American-style BBQ
A dinner party can have simple food also, especially if it’s more about catching up and talking about the good old days. Special celebrations are a different thing. When you think of BBQ, meat and fire, become the highlight. The tradition of grilling meat over fire is common in the US and other cultures. However, the regional preparations remind us of distinctive flavors – protein, sauces, rubs, charcoal or wood, and age-old techniques. So, having an all-barbecue menu for dinner is also a great idea. If you are a Texan, beef can be your favorite. The dish becomes unique when simmered on low fire with sauce used as a spice. It tastes wonderful when cooked on oak wood or mesquite.
Suppose you opt for brisket. Try the smoked corned beef variety. The red color of the slices prepared with pantry items stands out for its flavorful appeal. One can never have enough of them as they taste so yummy. You can add many mouthwatering options to your dinner menu to entertain guests with fantastic BBQ flavors. For instance, a smoked brisket sandwich in Texas style is one. It can leave anyone asking for more with sauce and dill pickle chips. Smoked chicken wings can also be a great inclusion. When done with a homemade rub of paprika and salt on low fire, it seems nothing less than heavenly.
In simple words, barbecue dishes are all about celebrations and are a perfect option when you have a large crowd to feed. This dinner party offers you a tremendous socializing experience at affordable pricing. If you hire a private chef service, you can get more ideas about the spread and include special drinks based on your budget.
Mexican theme
Almost 86% of Americans are fond of Mexican cuisine. Hence, this becomes another option for your private party menu. If you and your people like complex flavors with chiles and seasonings, it can be the most enjoyable culinary experience for everyone. Appetizers or aperitivos can include tortillas with cheese stuffing (quesadillas), nachos made with tomato salsa, black beans,crunchy tortillas, guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream, and chicken/ beef. You can also have spicy chorizo with cheese dip. If you want salads and soups as starters, that’s also possible. Options like Ensalada tacos consisting of beans, lettuce, avocado, onions, and cheese or a flavorful tomato-chile broth served with crunchy and cheesy tortilla, sour cream, and guacamole can take care of this.
The main course can contain fajitas, burritos,seafood, and large plates. Burritos are the crowd’s favorite dishes. Grilled meat preparations or fajitas containing onions and peppers served with tortillas are also irresistible. It tastes incredible with a special sauce recipe. Even tortilla rolls with bean, veggie, potato, cheese, and meat stuffing are also a great addition. You can choose from various custard,rice pudding, and cake recipes in desserts. Again, there is an entire course to entertain diverse palates.
Spanish flavors
If you want to experiment with a Spanish dinner-theme party, go the tapas way. Tapas are small dishes accompanied by drinks. It’s a perfect pick for creating a festive mood. One can have four to five varieties of them in place of a main course. When you arrange a tapas buffet, your guests can mix and match different recipes per their taste. Your tapas menu can consist of Spanish garlic shrimp, Spanish clams, Spanish spinach and chickpeas, a summer salad of tomatoes and a few cool crunchies, crispy Patatas Bravas, meatballs, and so much more. All these dishes are flavorful and wholesome. Even a pie-like recipe of empanadas can also be admirable. All these unique varieties will give your guests a new taste, making their party mood bright and happening.
The range of dishes is vast and exciting. You can consult your private chef to understand the best combinations and add some classy drinks to complete them. You can also have some simple Spanish preparations, such as garlic mushrooms, tomato bread, ham croquettes, marinated olives, etc.
Asian cuisine
The food can taste different from European and American recipes, but it always impresses connoisseurs. Someone who wants to enjoy the burst of hot, sweet, piquant, and salty flavors cannot say no to Asian dishes. Some popular options include fried rice, spring rolls, and Sushi. You can also have meats and crunchy vegetables on the menu for a diverse experience. If you plan an exotic dinner for your guests, you can pick from wide varieties like Kung Pao chicken, juicy and spicy shrimp, sweet potato noodles with curry flavors, cabbage stir fry, Brussels sprouts, and more. The choices are endless, and so is the distinctiveness of the aromas and style of the dish.
Since there are huge similarities between Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese dishes, you can select something from each of these regions. It can be an opportunity to give your guests a different culinary moment.
In Texas, you can book chef services to help organize a hassle-free private dinner at your home. They can supply you with the necessary utensils. You can talk to them about the food theme and describe the number of guests attending your event. Let them know the mood of the party you intend to create. It will allow them to give you some better ideas. If you know your people love food, it doesn’t hurt to experiment with dishes. Still, it’s better to have a few safe choices too, so everyone gets something to taste and remember. Make sure to set up a lovely table with the elegant decoration. It can lend a special touch to your social gathering.