How to Have a Knock-out Dinner Party at a Knock-off Cost

Nowadays impressing clients of "the boss" has become a necessity if one wants to get that promotion or make that sale. Just doing a good job at the office seems to be not enough anymore, so one is left to extend office hours dining with prospective clients at those fancy restaurants. Before you know it, you have blown a hole in your pocket the size of a month's income. There is a solution to every problem and solving this dilemma is a cinch. Bring the party right into your living room! That alone cuts fifty percent off the amount you would be paying in those fancy restaurants. Here are some points that you need to consider:

1. Splurge on your house. It is a worthwhile investment that can never go wrong. Why pay for the ambience of those fancy restaurants when you only get to stay there for a couple of hours? In your own home, you can impress countless of clients and you only have to spend one time to get that chic and elegant look. The nicest part of it is you get to live in such elegance everyday of your life. Buy new curtains; change the area rug, a new painting, a new lampshade, or any little thing that would generate small talk between your guests. Think of these as your icebreakers should you need one. This is truly an investment that goes a long way.

2. Unless you married an "iron chef" or your best friend is Chef Wolfgang Puck, you may have to opt for a caterer. Choose the caterer that has the best to offer you with the budget that you have. Nevertheless, if you do have a wife or a close friend who has the knack for cooking, then it would be even better for your budget.

3. Choose your menu carefully. Consider a number of factors when you plan your dinner party. Think of the guests you have invited, the kind of food they go for and the tone of party that would make them more at ease. You also need to consider the time of year. A casual summer dinner is different from a formal holiday dinner.

4. Quality and quantity of food go hand in hand. It is a major embarrassment to run out of food to serve to your guests when they are still having fun picking on those yummy deserts. Great tasting food makes them want to stay longer and get invited over and over again. The way to get a client's trust is through his stomach.

5. Make it small and simple. Don't invite the whole town at once. Although it is said that: "There is great strength is numbers;" this particular situation, however, does not apply to that. A crowd can get out of control making you look incompetent and weak; something you don't want your boss or client to think of you. Invite only key persons. A couple of clients that have something in common, a few friends that happen to be great conversationalists or people that your boss would be at home with.

6. Take out your grandma's crystal or china and make sure they are sparkling clean. The sight of beautiful, but most importantly, sparkling clean dinnerware makes your guests feel important. It also makes the guests anticipate a sumptuous meal ahead, wetting their appetites before being served with the entrees.

7. "Presentation is as important for the table as it is for the food. And you should consider a theme when laying out and decorating the surface. Whatever the theme, you'll want a table that's beautiful and inviting." Style editor of GQ magazine, Katrina Szish, gives this useful tip on hosting a successful dinner party at home. Caterers can take care of arranging the table but in case you opted not to have a caterer then you can always read books or search online on tips to dress up the dinner table with whatever theme you are having. A centerpiece of fresh flowers and fruits on the dining table or an array of colorful flowers in a beautiful vase put on top of the coffee table adds a nice finishing touch to the overall ambience you are trying to achieve.

8. The little things count the most. We always take for granted the tiny details like; pastel colored napkins, napkin holders, candles on the dinner tables, sofa cover, doilies on a dessert plate, and lining the plate server with a cloth napkin. How about hanging plants in a vintage wrought iron planter placed at a corner of the room or a wicker place mat and light colored coasters? Make a note of all the things that your guests will notice from the moment they walk in the main door and try to see what areas can use some needed accessories. Don't overdo it either or your house will look cluttered. Remember that less is more.