Tips for hosting a virtual dinner party!
May 12, 2020Who knew 2020 would be the year of “virtual dinner parties”? We sure didn’t, but we think everyone can embrace entertaining separately but together!
While video calls aren’t short of technical issues like video delays and voice echos, there’s still so much fun to be had, and we want to show you how.
Here’s our top tips for throwing your own (virtual) dinner party!
Set the date
Like any dinner party, you need to set a date and time that’s going to suit you and your guests.
Pick your platform
Google Hangouts, Zoom and Skype are popular platforms for connecting with friends and family via video call. Let your guests know which platform you’re using prior to dinner. Leaving it to the last minute could cause a ruckus at the party and end with your food going cold!
House / table setting
You don’t always have to eat dinner at the table. Your ‘virtual dinner’ is as portable as you are. Why not shake up your dinnertime routine?
If it’s a nice autumn evening, rug up and dial into the party from your balcony. Or perhaps you’d prefer to have an indoor picnic? Half the fun is seeing which part of their house your guests decide to dine!
Make your menu simple!
The best thing you can do is cook your meal before your guests arrive (virtually). Once you’ve all dialed in, you want to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy a simply delicious meal together without distractions.
If you’re needing menu inspo, our step-by-step recipes don’t involve too many ingredients or take too much time to prep, making them ideal for any home-cook. We think it’s fun for everyone to cook the same recipe so you can compare tasting notes.
Dinnertime entertainment
- Set the mood by putting together a Spotify playlist that your guests can play in the background.
- Take your party from good to great with a short and sweet game of trivia. To make it even more personal, tailor the questions to suit the guests you’ve invited.
- If you’d prefer to sit back, relax and let someone else do the talking, watch a movie together. Either press play at the same time or check out Netflix Party.
Set the mood
Like any good party, you as the host need to make sure you’ve set the ambience just right!.
Before the party, decide if you’re going to have a theme. For example, everyone loves a Mexican Fiesta – it takes more effort to organise but we promise it makes the night enjoyable!
These Mexican Fiesta Black Bean Tacos are fast, flavorful and fun – perfect for a virtual party.
And last but not least, remember to enjoy! Virtual dinner parties are a great way to make social distancing that much easier.
To celebrate virtual dinner parties and bring people together over good food, we’re hosting #LiveFeeds , our own virtual dinner party!
Happy cooking,
The HelloFresh team