Hands-On Guest Participation Dinner

[Kris]

My husband and I are interested in inviting a few of our friends over for dinner. However, we wanted to make it a "hands-on guest participation dinner" meaning, we would like to get everyone involved in the prep/cooking process. Something different... Does anyone have any suggestions on what type of menu we should choose/offer? My husband thinks it should be very simple (prep time to serving time about a half hour), but, I feel it could be longer and a little more complicated (i.e., starting around 4:00 p.m. and serving around 6:00 p.m.). Any help would be appreciated.

[Laura]

What about doing individual pizzas. You could make the pizza dough ahead of time and have a lot of different toppings (thai chicken, bbq pizza, white pizza, standard pepparoni etc.) for people to make their own.

[jd]

Kris, this is the way we do our supper club in Toronto. You could have all ingredients assembled, and assign each person/couple a dish. They can ask for sous chefs as needed. You may want to consider making the app/salad/soup, then eating, then making the entre and eating it, and lastly making the dessert then eating it. Have a great dinner!

[Vanessa]

I agree with Laura a pizza party is a good way for guests to participate in the cooking process. We just went to one recently. Everyone brings some topping the host had all the doughs ready. People would roll out the dough put toppings etc and one or two are in charge of putting it the oven and out.
In a long counter they had space to roll out pizza then dishes with sauces, pesto etc.
Wine, music and it was fun!

[marys]

If you live in an area where it's still nice enough to cook on the grill, kabob parties are fun. A friend of mine had one a few years ago and we had various meats and vegetables in bowls and everyone put together their own and tossed it on the grill. To help keep track of which one is yours it's helpful to top all of yours with the same item (like putting a yellow pepper on the end of the skewer)

[This message has been edited by marys (edited 11-12-2000).]

[Kris]

I like the idea about the pizza party, however, my kitchen counter space is limited, so I don't think that would work. It is also too cold to cook on the grill at this time. Keep thinking!!

[JulieAnn]

Kris, this is how my friends and I (3 couples - husbands and wives) do our supper club also. The hostess chooses the menu, purchases all food, then we all cook together (except for the parent assigned to the three 3-year-olds also in attendance!) Most times the hostess has an appetizer already prepared so we can snack while we eat. We've usually started about 5:30 and have never eaten before 8:00. Even if we try to make simple things, it seems to take longer than we plan. I tend to agree with you that a longer cooking time is fine. As long as you have snack food it's great fun to cook together.

[Kris]

Julie Ann, what are some of the specific dishes you've prepared? Chicken, seafood, pasta....???? How in depths should the prep work be? I don't want to under/overwhelm our guests.