Ina Garten may be the queen of hosting. It seems like she’s always seen inviting friends over to her home in the Hamptons and making an ultimate dinner spread. And the Barefoot Contessa even has a television series titled Be My Guest—I mean, come on!
But in her new memoir Be Ready When the Luck HappensGarten lets us in on a few of her hosting secrets, including life-changing tips that will make your dinner party memorable for both you and your guests. Before the holiday season, take note of Garten’s three pieces of can’t-miss advice below.
1. Make a Meal You Know
This is less obvious than it sounds. While trying something new can be impressive, sticking to what you know will reduce the stress of hosting.
“I would never make something for the first time for guests,” Garten shared. “That would be too scary!” If Garten wanted to try a new dish for a weekend party, she would test it multiple times before serving it to guests.
“I’d make it for Jeffrey, then I’d probably make it again, and by the time Saturday night came around, I was cooking that one dish like a pro, confident that it would be delicious,” she explained.
2. Keep the Plating Simple
While hosting a dinner may be the perfect excuse to shop for fancy shmancy platters, Garten noted that the food should be the star instead of what it’s presented on. That’s why she stocked up on white oval restaurant platters when she first started regularly hosting.
“I knew instinctively what a difference it would make,” she wrote. “The food would look better on white than on a platter in a color or busy pattern. The food would stand out, not the platter.” She also loved the size of her platters, as she can more enticingly present a main like flank steak alongside a side like roasted potatoes on the same dish. This, she noticed, was beautiful to look at and enticed guests to help themselves.
3. Less Is More
Similar to her plating rule, keeping things classic can be the key to a standout dinner party menu. Garten has learned over the years that “simple food, perfectly prepared and beautifully served, delighted the guests” just as much as cooking an elaborate meal, if not more so.
So if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas or a separate festive dinner this year, keep it simple with our Herb-Roasted Turkey and easy, healthy veggie sides. With the Barefoot Contessa on your side, you know you can’t go wrong.
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