THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF HOSTING A DINNER PARTY IN DUBAI
One of the best ways to spend time indoor during the sweltering summer heat has always been and always will be hosting a dinner party. It’s especially true in expat-friendly cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where we don’t have a lot of family around, and friends are often the centre of our world. So, without further ado, here are Bayut’s Dos and Don’ts for hosting a dinner party in Dubai.
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DO: KEEP IT COOL
Let’s start with the obvious – unless you want to make it a half-pool party, do not make your guests sit in your garden or on your balcony where temperatures are as high as 44 degrees Celsius. Keep your summer dinner party indoor, and your ‘winter’ season meals outdoor.
DON’T: EXPECT EVERYONE TO SHOW UP ON TIME
Let’s face it, Dubai is not exactly known for time management, like Japan or England. It’s also a city where folks often stay extra hours at work or get stuck in traffic (Sheikh Zayed Road on a Thursday night, anyone?). So, do not make a dish that’ll get ruined if a few people are late, nor one that will have you standing around in the kitchen while guests are coming in.
DO: FIND THE RIGHT RECIPE
You don’t want to have people over for a bland meal. Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Dahlia’s Kitchen, Anna Olson, Gary Rhodes – there are so many great cook book brands out there, even in the form of an app. For example, Deliciously Ella contains 260 recipes and costs just AED 15. Alternatively, cook what you cook best, but do make sure it’s not the same thing you prepared the last time.
DON’T: order TAKE-OUT
While Dubai is famous for affordable take-out and round-the-clock delivery, paper plates and plastic cutlery and anything in the paper plate universe is a big no – unless you’re in high-school, or you’re friends with Joey from Friends. Keep it classy.
DO: MISE EN PLACE
Mise En Place is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, peeled, cut, peeled, grated, and so forth before you start cooking. Practice this, and your dinner will be ready on time, and your kitchen way tidier.
DON’T: FORGET TO ASK ABOUT DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Dubai is a melting pot, and there are people of all religions and with all kinds of sensitivities to food/life choices. Your guests might be not open to pork, gluten-free, lactose intolerant, vegetarian or vegan. If you don’t know your guest that well, send them a What’s App the day before asking for dietary restrictions. But don’t try too hard to please everybody either – you are not a nutritionist. Simply diversify the menu.
DO: THE IKEA WATER BOTTLE
This bottle is just perfect for our hot emirate. Firstly, it looks great. Secondly, if you keep in the fridge, it’ll make the water extra cool and refreshing. Thirdly, it’s got a tight-fitting stopper that prevents leakage. It comes from Ikea’s KORKEN glass jar and bottle series and costs just 9 dirhams.
DON’T: BE CARELESS WITH the TABLE SETTING
Yes, if you’re just having a few friends over, there isn’t really a need for a big flower centrepiece and name tags. However, there’s always a need for nice place mats, napkins and a beautiful candelabra. Keep it classy.
DO: MAKE A PLAYLIST
No, you cannot just expect YouTube or the radio to do all the work – there’ll be adverts and songs that will spoil your dinner party’s rhythm. What you need to do is compile an upbeat yet unobtrusive playlist on your iTunes or Spotify.
DON’T: GO TOO LOUD
Always remember that we’re in Dubai, and take it from a property portal – most areas of the emirate are family-friendly areas. You don’t now want to make things difficult for your working neighbours, and especially not their small easy-to-cry children. Keep it civil.
DO: keep the salt and pepper on the table
If you don’t do this straight away, you’re sure to have to get up later. Plus, some guests feel uncomfortable asking for extra olive oil or spices.
DON’T: LET THE CONVERSATION DIE OUT
Despite the importance of food and things looking good, nobody has ever left a dinner party saying: “Oh, I wish the asparagus was a little softer.” What people expect from a dinner party is lots and lots of good banter. So, try to keep the conversation flowing, tell a few funny stories (even if they’re at your expense), and invite people who are funny and will keep things light.
There you have it – your perfect Dubai dinner party check list. Bayut hopes you have a fabulous time. Oh, and bon appetit!
*’Friends’ image credit: GIPHY
