The guests have been invited, the menu is all ready and the shopping is done. All that’s left now is to beautifully lay out the table, decorate the house (if you haven’t done it already) and put together a fantastic playlist. It’s going to be great!
Is it your turn to host Christmas dinner this year? That’s fantastic! But there’s also a lot to think about and organise. This checklist full of handy tips will help ensure you don’t forget anything. This will help you create a memorable evening for you and your guests that everyone will be talking about for years to come! Turn the Christmas music on, pour yourself a glass of something and finish all the prep without too much stress.
Make sure the house smells nice
Something nice to do when you start preparing, but also nice for during and after dinner, is filling your home with a nice scent to immediately set the mood. Why not try a diffuser? Or maybe some scented candles? This also lets you enjoy some lovely cosey scented candles right away! It’s also great for your guests to be able to come into a wonderful-smelling house, plus it helps to mask any cooking smells after dinner. This also the perfect time to start chilling wines or any other drinks that need to be served cold.
Choose the perfect playlist
Choose the right music for every moment. During the preparations, why not go for Christmas tunes? However, don’t forget the pop tunes to help get the party started. It’s important that the music does not overwhelm the conversation. So why not try instrumental music? It’ll make your Christmas feel a little more chic while you say cheers over dinner! Then of course there are the after-dinner bangers. Here you should choose classic Christmas songs that everyone knows.
Table decorations
You can decorate your table as extensively or as little as you want. However, as with everything else, getting the basics right is the most important thing. No matter what, make sure you have a nice tablecloth, a Christmas table runner, napkins and a nice set of crockery and cutlery. Everything else is of secondary importance, so you’ve got some flexibility in terms of what you choose. You can take some inspiration from Instagram or Pinterest, but with a couple of candles (not scented ones this time!) and a poinsettia, you can’t really go wrong!
Decorating is fun
A beautifully set table and good food are real mood makers. but if you really want to make sure your guests enter into the Christmas spirit, then you can always go one step further. You’ve probably got a Christmas tree, but has the area around your dining table also got some decorations? Hang up some extra (battery) powered lights and assess the lighting in your home from the dining table. Some of your lights are too bright? Dim them or turn them off. Dark spot in your room? Put a table with candles in that spot, even if you don’t usually have anything there. This way you get to create your own Winter Wonderland in your very own home.
Now it’s time for dinner!
Every Christmas dinner menu is different. Some people spend hours in the kitchen preparing a lavish, multi-course Christmas dinner, while others prefer to just turn their oven (or deep-fat fryer) on. The most important thing is that you do you. Want to go big? Then go big! Prefer something simpler? That’s also fine! If all goes well, your guest will mainly be coming for the excellent company (just as you would be if you were in their shoes!). Still looking for inspiration? This recipe below is one of our favourites. A guaranteed success, we promise!
Enjoy your Christmas dinner!
RECIPE
Starter
Fresh Norwegian salmon tartare with avocado and lime
Serves 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
⋆ 300g fresh Norwegian salmon filet (preferably sushi-quality salmon, tell your fishmonger you want to eat it raw)
⋆ 2 avocados
⋆ 1 lemon
⋆ 1 lime
⋆ Chives
⋆ 2 tablespoons lime mayonnaise
⋆ 2 teaspoons sesame oil
⋆ 1 teaspoon vinegar
⋆ 1 tablespoon soy sauce
⋆ Pepper and salt to taste.
Kitchen supplies:
⋆ Grater
⋆ Large bowl
⋆ Chopping board
⋆ A 50 mm ring mould (or another shape, if you prefer)
Instructions:
1. Dice the fresh salmon.
2. Marinate the diced salmon cubes in the sesame oil, vinegar and soy sauce.
3. Grate the lemon rind and juice it. Place the grated lemon zest and juice in a bowl.
4. Dice the avocado in cubes approximatley the same size as the salmon.
5. Place the salmon and avocado in a single bowl and add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest.
6. Add the lime mayonnaise and then combine with the finely chopped chives.
7. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Slice the lime.
Garnish:
1. Place the mixture in the ring mould on the left side of the plate, then carefully remove the ring.
2. Place two chive stalks next to the mixture, making sure they are crossed and pointing upwards.
3. Make a shape with the lime mayonnaise on the right side of the plate.
4. Place a slice of lime next to the tartare itself.
Et voilà. your starter is ready to serve! Bon appetit!