Now that the holidays are rolling around I am more than excited to start holiday hosting! I am hosting a group of girlfriends next weekend and already testing out some table settings and recipes to enjoy! I’m sharing 6 of my top tips to ease your hosting responsibilities with Georges Duboeuf wine and a beautiful homemade fruit galette recipe! 

 

1.Keep It Small

As much as I love a big party when hosting it’s a lot easier to manage a small dinner party. Often, I will host my girlfriends for seated dinner party and when inviting couples so something much more casual and relaxed. Let’s be honest, usually my girlfriends are the only ones impressed by my table setting skills, ha!

 

2. Invest in Quality Beverages

Nothing screams a good holiday party like a tasty cocktail or wine. You can always create a signature drink for your dinner but I find myself and my friends reaching for a good glass of wine. The Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau is so delicious and tastes like the first of the year’s vintage. The wine is always released on the third Thursday of November, signaling the start of the holiday season making it perfect for your holiday dinner! I love how it tastes fresh, fruity and festive and always serve it with a slight chill. The Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2016 is also a great wine to be paired with anything from pizza to grilled fish and even takeout! It’s such great quality at an affordable price point and is great for Pinot Noir drinkers who are looking to try something new! 

3. Be prepared

I always like to decide my menu and make my grocery list the weekend before. Having everything in your kitchen at your fingertips makes getting ready for the party fun! I will usually put on some holiday music and set the table while preparing the food. 

 

4. Keep the menu simple

I always have high expectations when preparing and have learned over the years to keep it simple but yummy. There are so many amazing dishes that look complicated but are quick to assemble and that’s what I focus on. Instead of creating a full pie from scratch I decided on a galette since it’s a bit simpler but still beautiful! Little swaps like that can save you a ton of time and stress!

 

5. Let People Help

Everyone always asks to bring something over and instead of saying ‘no’ and them always bringing something anyways I accept the help and give them small things I could use some help with. Like bringing crackers for the charcuterie plate, mixers for drinks or a small app. This makes your job easier and your guests feel better – I always hate going to friend’s houses without something in hand! 

 

6. Skip the Cleanup

This one is a hard one for me since I am obsessive about cleaning. It’s not fun to clean while you have guests though. I have learned to just let it go. I make sure to load what I can into my dishwasher before bed and leave the dishes in the sink and throw leftovers in the fridge. I wait till the next day to really do a deep clean so I can hang with my friends and chat into the wee hours usually. 

 

What tips do you swear by? I’m also sharing the super easy recipe for this galette below that is perfect for your next holiday shindig! Make sure to check out the Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau line and include it in your next get together! 

 

 

  

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.