` Gather logo View Series 8 Things You Should Buy at Costco When You’re Hosting a Party, According to a Food Editor My Favorite Holiday Appetizer Is So Good, My Friends Say They Haven’t Stopped Thinking About It 7 Cocktail Supplies You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s, According to an Expert Ina Garten’s Holiday Menu Is Packed with Mouthwatering Appetizers We Can’t Wait to Try
When Eric and Janell Adjepong were dating, she asked him to cook for a dinner party she was hosting. He’d been a professional chef for years, so of course, he obliged. As they were getting ready for the event, he noticed how Janell brought her love of interior design to the event, beautifully setting the table and putting all of the finishing touches on the evening. That night, they decided to join forces and start their dinner party service, Pinch and Plate, with Janell handling the decor—like stunning tablescapes with candles and unique artifacts—and Eric serving up delicious, artful plates.
A man and a woman sitting on a couch Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
With more than 100 parties under their belt since 2015, the Adjepongs know how to throw a memorable soiree without any drama. Read on for their tips and tricks so that you, too, can entertain effortlessly this holiday season. Plus, get tasty recipes, developed by Eric, for your next holiday menu.
A man and woman setting a dinning table Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
5 Tips for Hosting a Holiday Party
Keep the Decor Simple
Don’t overdo it on the decor. “I know people go on Pinterest and they see these wonderful, fabulous things, but don’t feel like you have to do all of that to have a nice dinner party,” says Janell. “Candles and flowers always work.” (Flowers are also one of the items our editors buy for a stress-free holiday season.)
Plan Ahead
The mid section of a man with a knife cooking next to a sink Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
Working ahead is key. Janell recommends doing an inventory at least a week before your event. “Compare the number of guests with what you have, so if you’re short, you have time to pick up what you need.” Eric suggests finishing 80 to 90% of your cooking the day before, so you can exude confidence: “Guests can feel if the host is frazzled.”
Get Help If You Need It
Hire help if you need to, whether it’s a chef to prepare the meal or someone to clean your home. “People are usually stressed trying to do everything themselves and it’s simply not worth it,” Janell says. “And it typically results in the host not being dressed in time, burning a dish or forgetting smaller details.”
Serve a Big-Batch Cocktail
Spiced wine in a pitcher next to a table setting Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
Have a batch cocktail ready when guests arrive, like this Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine. “Put it out so they can just pour it into their own cups to keep it easy,” Eric says. For other big-batch cocktail ideas, try our Red Sangria.
Figure Out the Tunes
Don’t forget the music. “Create a playlist that extends beyond the time of the party so you don’t have to think about it—even if some guests stay after dinner is over,” says Janell.
The Menu
Mulled Wine Credit: Victor Protasio Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine View Recipe Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Credit: Victor Protasio Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette View Recipe Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone Credit: Victor Protasio Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone View Recipe Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Credit: Victor Protasio Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks View Recipe Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt Credit: Victor Protasio Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt View Recipe Malva Pudding Credit: Victor Protasio Malva Pudding View Recipe
Lenore T. Adkins is a Washington, D.C.-based food writer.
Currently a judge on Battle of the Brothers, chef Eric Adjepong is writing two cookbooks due out in fall 2022.
Janell Adjepong has limited event planning during the pandemic to her friends and family.
A man and a woman sitting on a couch Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
A man and a woman sitting on a couch
Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
A man and woman setting a dinning table Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
A man and woman setting a dinning table
The mid section of a man with a knife cooking next to a sink Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
The mid section of a man with a knife cooking next to a sink
Spiced wine in a pitcher next to a table setting Credit: Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah
Spiced wine in a pitcher next to a table setting
Mulled Wine Credit: Victor Protasio Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine View Recipe
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Credit: Victor Protasio Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette View Recipe
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone Credit: Victor Protasio Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone View Recipe
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Credit: Victor Protasio Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks View Recipe
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt Credit: Victor Protasio Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt View Recipe
Malva Pudding Credit: Victor Protasio Malva Pudding View Recipe
Mulled Wine Credit: Victor Protasio Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine View Recipe
Mulled Wine Credit: Victor Protasio
Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine Credit: Victor Protasio
Mulled Wine
Credit: Victor Protasio
Mulled Wine
Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Credit: Victor Protasio Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette View Recipe
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Credit: Victor Protasio
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Credit: Victor Protasio
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Arugula & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone Credit: Victor Protasio Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone View Recipe
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone Credit: Victor Protasio
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone Credit: Victor Protasio
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone
Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Credit: Victor Protasio Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks View Recipe
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Credit: Victor Protasio
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks Credit: Victor Protasio
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks
Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt Credit: Victor Protasio Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt View Recipe
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt Credit: Victor Protasio
Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt Credit: Victor Protasio
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt
Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Dill Yogurt
Malva Pudding Credit: Victor Protasio Malva Pudding View Recipe
Malva Pudding Credit: Victor Protasio
Malva Pudding
Malva Pudding Credit: Victor Protasio
Malva Pudding
Malva Pudding
Malva Pudding
` Gather logo View Series 8 Things You Should Buy at Costco When You’re Hosting a Party, According to a Food Editor My Favorite Holiday Appetizer Is So Good, My Friends Say They Haven’t Stopped Thinking About It 7 Cocktail Supplies You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s, According to an Expert Ina Garten’s Holiday Menu Is Packed with Mouthwatering Appetizers We Can’t Wait to Try
` Gather logo View Series
8 Things You Should Buy at Costco When You’re Hosting a Party, According to a Food Editor My Favorite Holiday Appetizer Is So Good, My Friends Say They Haven’t Stopped Thinking About It 7 Cocktail Supplies You Should Buy at Trader Joe’s, According to an Expert Ina Garten’s Holiday Menu Is Packed with Mouthwatering Appetizers We Can’t Wait to Try
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