Chapter 23Chapter 23

Entertaining at the HouseEntertaining at the House

Apart from restaurants, Apart from restaurants, clients and colleagues clients and colleagues

are entertained in the house.are entertained in the house.In these instances the party is In these instances the party is more casual and less formal more casual and less formal

HostHostThe host and hostess have a huge responsibility The host and hostess have a huge responsibility if they decide to entertain at their houseif they decide to entertain at their house

They must remember it is a business occasion They must remember it is a business occasion ––an event hosted for clients and colleaguesan event hosted for clients and colleagues

There is usually a reason for a party:There is usually a reason for a party:To entertain a visiting clientTo entertain a visiting clientTo greet a person who has newly joined the To greet a person who has newly joined the organisationorganisationTo bid farewellTo bid farewell

The first step is to fix on a date for the party after ascertaining it from the chief guest

Once the date has been agreed upon, a guest list should be prepared

Ask the chief guest if there is anyone in particular that he would like to invite

If it is a business party then it would be appropriate to send invitations with a request that the invitee reply to a specified person

Know how many will be coming as youKnow how many will be coming as you’’d need to order d need to order food and drinks. You donfood and drinks. You don’’t want to have a lot of leftt want to have a lot of left--over over food or run short of it eitherfood or run short of it either

It would be the best to have the food catered rather than It would be the best to have the food catered rather than cooking it at home cooking it at home

While deciding on a menu the chief guest should be While deciding on a menu the chief guest should be asked of his preferencesasked of his preferences

There should be a combination of cuisines including There should be a combination of cuisines including vegetarian and nonvegetarian and non--vegetarian. A salad is always vegetarian. A salad is always appreciatedappreciated

Apart from heavy eats, there must be startersApart from heavy eats, there must be starters-- at at least 2 nonleast 2 non--vegetarian and 4 vegetarianvegetarian and 4 vegetarian

At the day of the party the area of the must be At the day of the party the area of the must be cleanedcleaned

There should be enough chairs for guests to sit There should be enough chairs for guests to sit and enough place for them to move aroundand enough place for them to move around

The host/hostess should be ready ahead of time so that The host/hostess should be ready ahead of time so that they are there to greet the gueststhey are there to greet the guests

They should ensure that the guests meet one another They should ensure that the guests meet one another and have enough to eat and drinkand have enough to eat and drink

If the party is catered there will be servers who will move If the party is catered there will be servers who will move from guest to guest and ensure that starters and drinks from guest to guest and ensure that starters and drinks are being served.are being served.

The host must ensure this and see that there is no empty The host must ensure this and see that there is no empty glassglass

Usually , dinner is served after guests have had Usually , dinner is served after guests have had two or three drinkstwo or three drinks

Most parties have several guests dining Most parties have several guests dining together, so a buffet is laid out.together, so a buffet is laid out.

The hosts should ensure that guests have are The hosts should ensure that guests have are looked after adequatelylooked after adequately

After the food is consumed desserts and sometimes After the food is consumed desserts and sometimes liquersliquers are servedare served

The host / hostess should avoid having more than one The host / hostess should avoid having more than one drink during the party. drink during the party.

The host/hostess must be at the door when guests leave The host/hostess must be at the door when guests leave to thank them for coming to the partyto thank them for coming to the party