• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

How to Plan a Party Menu

October 11, 2009 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

Planning a party can be a hectic and whirlwind event. Choosing a location, décor, theme and guest list can turn even a casual party into an all-consuming event. However, the most difficult aspect of planning any party has to be the menu planning. The goal in planning a party menu is to choose items that guests will enjoy while staying within the budget. Without proper aim, this process can go awry, leaving guests with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Step 1

Write down the basics such as the type of meal to be served, formality, budget, serving style, theme and who will prepare the food. This will help guide your party menu by eliminating items that will not fit or may be impossible for the situation. If you are undecided about some of these points, writing down the possibilities will help keep you focused.

Step 2

Consider any possible food restrictions that your guests may have. Common concerns are vegetarian guests and guests with allergies. Try to offer a few meat-free and hypoallergenic foods to err on the side of caution–even if these are only side items.

Step 3

Plan the main course first with your list of requirements and restrictions in mind. For inspiration of main courses, search through culinary magazines, peruse cookbooks, shop locally and use seasonally fresh foods. If serving the food buffet-style, it is also important to consider how well the food will hold up over time under constant low heat.

Step 4

Choose a few appetizers or first courses that complement the main course. If you are serving a lamb main course, do not first serve a heavy meat appetizer or soup. Instead, consider pastries, vegetables or white meats.

Step 5

Decide whether to serve a dessert. If so, consider the main course. If the meal was heavy, try a lighter course. Using the same example, a lamb course may warrant a fig tart or cherry cobbler. If the meal was light, then consider a heavier dessert. Also consider a possible theme. If serving wild Pacific salmon, continue with the northwestern theme and serve a huckleberry bread pudding.

Step 6

Choose several beverages that complement the meal well. For heavy German foods, offer German beer. For Japanese cuisine, serve sake. For traditional American food, there is nothing like a cola. For the best standby, talk to a local sommelier and pick up several nice bottles of wine.

Warnings

  • To prevent an allergic reaction, inform your guests of all ingredients in your menu.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: At Home

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Do you ever just have one of those I suck days? I do - a … [Read More...] about It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

How to Break Your Water at Home When Pregnant

How to Break Your Water at Home When Pregnant

Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

How to Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

stop a new piercing from itching

How to Stop a New Piercing From Itching

Night Sweats During Pregnancy

Night Sweats During Pregnancy

10 foods to improve sperm count and quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Decoding a Man’s Hug

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.