If my house is clean and I have a teeny bit of extra time, I actually enjoy throwing midweek dinner parties. The key is having a game plan. For a starter, my warm goat-cheese spread with hot-pepper jelly is nearly as simple as setting out a cheese plate. While it bakes, I put the finishing touches on a quick main course combining meat and vegetables, like vinegar-braised chicken with peas. For dessert, store-bought shortbread dipped into melted chocolate gives the illusion of effort without looking like I’m showing off. My last strategy is to keep my wine out of sight, so that if the guests bring a bottle, we’re not tempted to drink theirs plus mine. It is, after all, a weeknight, and the work day ahead looms large.
Dinner Party Menu for 8
Starters
Main Course & Side Dishes
Dessert
Wine Pairing
- 2010 Kermit Lynch Sunflower Cuvée Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
Laura Werlin’s Dinner Party Cheese Tip
Published
April 2012
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