I frequently keep getting emails from readers, asking for suggestions on menu planning and selection. I have spent many hours working on menus for each of them, end of the exercise I always think I should either record it or at least ask them to click pictures for me to see. However I keep forgetting to do so.

For quite sometime I have been thinking I should share my menu planning and Party Menu suggestions. The theme tends to change and of course you ought to consider so many factors. Most of the requests have been for get togethers, some for birthday parties and some festival occasions like Christmas party or Diwali party. Birthday parties have been most challenging as I have to come up with interesting dishes for kids, including ways to keep them engaged and interested.

Other parties like Christmas or Diwali, will feature some of the traditional dishes one might prepare for these festivals. The number again varies from 10 – 50, one office party was for 80 and of course my own office party was for 100 people. Planning and drafting out takes real efforts as we have to scale up each dish and requirement for 100 people.

Growing up in a colony ensured that we had frequent dinners. Plus the fact that parents used to host parties very often, ensured that I was always keen and interested in planning for huge crowd. I have always been the person in charge for setting up the house and playing the second hostess. When I was old enough to help, I was given more responsibilities apart from the setups.

Just the other day when I was talking to Amma, I was telling her that it’s been a while since we hosted a party. And it so happened that we had to give a farewell dinner for our neighbors. We were excited that we are doing it after a long time, and the fact that I remembered ahead to click pictures. It was non vegetarian party, so the preparations started from morning. Some needed marination, some had to be cleaned ahead.

So deciding on the dishes that you are planning to make, is very important in the onset.

Venue : Home

Number : 8

Our Dinner Party Menu was this:

Starters:
Chicken Pakoda

Side Dish – Semi Gravy
Mutton Roast

Main Dishes

Mutton Dum Biryani
Mutton Kura
Rasam
Plain Rice
Homemade Curds

Dessert
Custard with Fruits

Since we were getting on the dinner straight, there was no soft drinks served. Else you can plan to arrange some welcome drink if your party is going to extend over few hours.

Chicken Pakoda and Mutton Dum Biryani recipes will be published soon.

It is advisable to do the prepping ahead with the basics that is needed. Fresh Ginger Garlic paste is very important for the right taste.

So get this done in the morning and store it.
Wash and clean the meat and have it ready. If something requires marination, it’s better to plan when you ought to do, so that you can avoid last minute tensions.

Like for us, the guests were expected at 8 pm, so we knew we had to have all the dishes done by 7.15 or so.
Last minute preparations will be the table set up and fruits for the custard. Of course the chicken was left to marinate as it was to be made after they arrived.