Dinner Parties
Social Bites began as a way to get people around other people’s tables. This section is about the host’s side of that: how to plan a menu you can actually cook while talking to your guests, how to seat a mix of old friends and strangers, how to run a charity dinner, and how to recover when the roast is late.
A cheese and charcuterie board without waste
How to build a cheese and charcuterie board that looks generous, suits your budget and leaves little behind: quantities, pairings, storage and safe handling.
Beer with dinner: a hobby cook's guide to pairing
How to pair beer with food at home: lagers, pale ales, stouts and sours, with easy menus and tips for a dinner party where beer is the drink of choice.
Budgeting a dinner party: cost per head and where to save
How to budget a dinner party: set a cost per head, build a menu around cheaper cuts and seasonal produce, and spend where guests will notice.
Cooking for guests with food allergies, calmly
How to plan a dinner when a guest has a food allergy: what to ask, how to read labels, avoid cross-contact in your kitchen and keep the evening relaxed.
Dinner and a board game night: a menu that keeps your hands (and the cards) clean
How to plan a game-night dinner: food you can eat with one hand, a two-stage menu, drinks that survive the board, and a table setup that keeps the game going.
A small celebration at home: an engagement or wedding dinner for ten
How to host a warm, unhurried engagement or wedding dinner for ten at home: menu, timeline, seating, drinks and what to do when plans wobble.
Feeding a football team: big-batch dinners for hungry crowds after the match
How to cook for 15 to 25 hungry players and parents: three big-batch menus, quantities, holding temperatures and a plan that works from the sideline.
Movie-night dinners: menus that match the film
Plan a dinner around the film you are watching: fairy-tale and fantasy menus, food you can eat on a sofa, and how to time the cooking around the credits.
Post-game chili bar: dinner for a crowd with build-your-own toppings
A big-pot chili that feeds a hungry crowd, with a topping bar, make-ahead tips, vegetarian swaps and slow-cooker safety for game-day dinners.
Soup night: three pots that feed a crowd
Plan a relaxed soup night for ten: three make-ahead soups, toppings, bread, quantities per guest, safe reheating and how to keep pots warm at the table.
Start here: how to host your first dinner party without losing your mind
A calm, practical guide for first-time hosts: how many to invite, what to cook, a simple timeline from three days out, and what to do when something goes wrong.
A summer-games picnic: menus for watching big events outdoors
Plan an outdoor viewing picnic for the big summer sporting events: easy menus, food safety in the heat, setup tips and what to do when the weather turns.
Tea time at home: scones, sandwiches and a proper pot
Host an afternoon tea at home: a reliable scone recipe, easy finger sandwiches, how to brew a good pot of tea, and a timeline that keeps you out of the kitchen.
A weekend brunch for six that you prep the night before
A relaxed brunch menu for six with a night-before prep plan: baked egg strata, oven potatoes, fruit salad and a morning timeline so you can sit down too.
A winter sports watch-party menu: warm food for a cold evening
A cosy menu for a winter sports watch party: soups, slow-cooker mains, hot drinks and snacks, with timing tips so you can enjoy the event with your guests.