What makes a great party, for guests and host? Private chef Tracy Rennie has some suggestions
Tracy Rennie at the National Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire: 'When you’re hosting a party, you are having to work.' Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Late Late Toy Show review: Patrick Kielty is fuelled by enough raw adrenaline to tranquillise a reindeer Greeting guests is very important, says Rennie. “Take the person into the warmth of your home, offer a drink, introduce them to others. When you’re hosting a party, you are having to work. Being generous means sharing your friends, introducing different groups to each other, sharing something to get them started. You’re going to hand your guests over to other guests and make them feel comfortable. You want them to have great conversations and interactions.
“The whole idea of a dinner party is to get people mixing. If you just invite friends who already know each other, people tend to stick in their little groups, which you don’t want. “Everybody has a budget. You don’t have to buy the most expensive wine, but don’t buy cheap supermarket bottles. You can get better wines at similar prices in wineshops. I would always stick to the same cultivar, one white and one red. Calculating how much you’ll need is hard in Ireland! Assume half a bottle of wine per person for dinner, maybe more, depending on the crowd. Some will bring a bottle. Beer is popular for parties too.
She mentions a mutual friend who is “a wonderful host, with a brilliant knack for getting a great mix together, making everyone feel special at large parties with drinks and generous snacks, or afternoon tea on a beautifully set table. She’s generous with her time and attention to detail, and her gatherings are always enjoyable, bringing old friends together for a catch up and sometimes doubling as fundraisers with personal significance.
“For a Christmas drinks party, invited from 6-8pm, allow four to five canapés per person: you are not feeding people. If people stay on longer, you can razzle up some cheese and bits.”
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