If you have mastered the “Around the World” dinner party and are now looking for something new and exciting, you have come to the right place! Today, we cover six dinner party themes that will impress and delight your guests. Be sure to check out the individual blog posts for more details!
Silent Library Dinner Party
Walk the delicate balance between “library” and “Silent Library” with this theme. Lull them into a false sense of calm with a beautifully decorated table and a favourite book-inspired meal. For dessert, bust out your favourite silent library games!
Decor:
- Use an old stack of books for the centrepiece
- Make library card name tags and menu card bookmarks
Menu:
- Appetizer: Wild Berry and Goat Cheese Crostini (Wild by Cheryl Strayed)
- Cocktail: Hearts Apart Mocktail (Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng)
- Main Course: The Fiery Salmon Feast (MeatEater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter) served with Fractural Roasted Vegetables (Calculus by James Stewart) and Twirling Swirling Pasta Salad (Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae)
Games:
- Silent Pie Eating Contest: Represent your team in a silent pie-eating contest. The quietest and fastest team wins.
- Silent Scholar: Players must keep the book balanced on their head for the duration of the course. If the book falls off, start over. The quietest and fastest team wins.
- Silent Limbo: Players take turns in silent limbo. The lowest and quietest team wins.
Talent Show
Let your guests show off their hidden talents with a talent show dinner party. Fondue makes the perfect pairing (or a convenient excuse if you eat too much!). You decide if you let your guests know ahead of time. Be sure to include some art supplies for those who don’t like to be directly in the spotlight.
Maple Masterpiece
Create your maple masterpiece with a maple syrup-inspired dinner party. Be sure to let your guests know how much food awaits them so they can pace themselves!
Decor:
- Decorate with small pails and maple leaves
- Leave guests with their syrup samples tied with burlap – bonus if you made the syrup yourself!
Menu:
- Appetizer: smoked maple cream cheese served with crackers and vegetables
- Main: Maple peanut butter glazed salmon served with maple-glazed beans, maple bacon brussels sprouts, potatoes and a salad with a maple dressing on the side
- Dessert: Crumbled blondies topped with maple butter cream sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, served with Canadian Coffee
Post-Dinner Maple Snack Rating
- Try new maple snacks and allow your guests to rate them
- Some great options: Pop Daddy’s Flavoured Pretzel Sticks, Turkey Hill Sugar Bush Premium Maple Candies and Dragon Fire Spicy Maple Popcorn.
Insect Dinner Party
Challenge yourself to create a pretty insect-themed dinner party. Will you use insects as inspiration, or will you go all the way and introduce them into the meal?
Decor:
- Cloth napkin birds nests with chocolate eggs tucked in and covered by a fake bird
- Fresh flowers and beautiful place settings
Menu:
- Cocktail: Pollinator mocktail
- Appetizer: Ladybug Caprese
- Main: slow-cooker spaghetti sauce (with cricket protein powder if you dare) served with Caesar salad (replace the croutons with crickets)
- Dessert: vanilla ice cream with Oreo grumble and gummy worms
Hot Ones Dinner Party
Channel your inner Sean Evans and interview your guests over hot wings. You decide how hot you want to make your questions at this Hot Ones Dinner Party.
Decor:
- Bald cap for the host
- Use your sauces as the centerpiece so your guests know what they are up against
Menu:
- 10 Chicken Wings, each paired with ten spicy sauces
- Mild sides like coleslaw or other salads
- Ice cold water
- Vanilla ice cream on standby
Burger Wars Dinner Party
Compete with your friends to see who can make the best burger. Provide sliders for your guests and have everyone bring toppings and a cocktail to pair. Feeling extra creative? Add a Bob’s Burgers element with fun names and crown your Burger of the Day!
Some examples:
- “Say Jalo to my Little Friend” Burger: jalapeno popper cheese spread with bacon and barbequed jalapenos burger served with a spicy jalapeno mango margarita
- “Get Wellington Soon” Burger: inspired by a Beef Wellington and served with the best Sangria you can make at home
- “Grill me Everything Tonight” Burger: Pitbull inspired burger smothered with international toppings and their own sunglasses. Paired with Fireball Sangria, and the song Give Me Everything Tonight by Pitbull.
- “Don’t be an Aioli” Burger: covered with cheese and homemade garlic aioli served with a vodka cran
Which dinner party theme is your favourite?
