Comments on: Entertaining At Home > Restaurants (Sometimes)

By: Budget Dinner Party

Budget Dinner Party — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:33:13 +0000

[...] Hosting a dinner party is always fun, but right now I need my get-togethers to be budget-friendly as well. Remember when I made crab cakes? That was for a group of 5 or 6 friends. The crab cakes were delicious and everyone loved them, but, crabs are expensive! Two pounds of crabs cost $20 out the door. Add in the other food and ingredients and I’m looking at $40 that night. I love to entertain and I want to do it often, but I can’t spend $20 on one dish more than once in a while. [...]

By: Marisol

Marisol — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:33:39 +0000

You should start photographing your food. I should learn to cook but I am just not into it ;(

By: Wellheeled

Wellheeled — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:09:25 +0000

@L.A. Daze
I know! I have to remember to stop making food based on how much I eat. My rule of thumb is to assume boys eat 2x what I would eat, and then plan the party from there.

@Kim
My apartment’s tiny too, but there’s an outdoor space that I can use. So that makes it awesome, especially when the nights are warm and breezy.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:49:42 +0000

I am with you 100%. I love having people over to my little apartment. I love cooking, even if it’s something totally simple like pasta and vegetables, and I love having friends around to share the food. I am also sans dishwasher though, so I feel ya on the dirty dishes situation. Since my human dishwasher (my wonderful boyfriend, who actually likes doing dishes) has been gone for two months, I have realized how reluctant I actually am when it comes to cleaning up after a nice, big meal. Thank goodness he’s coming back soon…

By: L.A. Daze

L.A. Daze — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:05:07 +0000

I love having dinner parties! Sometimes I do stress out wondering what to cook, but then seeing everybody happy makes it all worth it. I have more guy friends than I do girl friends, and man, those boys can eat!

By: psychsarah

psychsarah — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:17:32 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly that entertaining at home is so much more relaxing. I try to make as much as I can ahead of time, and like Lindsey, my main floor is quite open, so guests can sit in the living room and relax, and I can still be involved in the fun while I finish up the last few bits of dinner. I love that this is something that people might think to do because it saves money, but continue to do, because it ends up being so much better than going out! One of those great frugal surprises

By: Jessie

Jessie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:36:58 +0000

That sounds great! I love having people over too.

We’re big fans of BBQ’s – BYOB (bring your own beef). I’ll make a lot of different salads and what not and then guests can bring their food to grill.

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:14:02 +0000

I LOVE entertaining. That’s one of the reasons we bought the condo we did, it’s a loft and totally open, so I can be part of the party while slaving away in the kitchen…and the food is always better at home than out at a restaurant!