Bar & Bites: Perth journalist Simon James Bailey shares secrets of hosting the perfect dinner party

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Bar & Bites: Perth journalist Simon James Bailey shares secrets of hosting the perfect dinner party

Former Perth TV reporter Simon James Bailey brings knowledge accumulated via hosting more than 500 dinner parties to the table in new SBS Food series Toast The Host, premiering in June.

Shot in Cape Town, Bailey says the show “goes beyond cooking and teaches home cooks how to host a range of events at home with minimum stress and maximum enjoyment”.

Toast The Host breaks down the daunting prospect of throwing a dinner party into bite-size pieces, from a simple garden lunch to a formal five-course dinner.

Bar & Bites hit Bailey up for his top five tips for hosting a superb soiree.

ROAD-TEST YOUR RECIPES

“Some hosts make the mistake of trying a fancy recipe to wow their dinner guests but that is often a recipe for disaster,” Bailey says.

“It’s better to serve food you have tried and tested plenty of times to avoid unwanted stress in the kitchen and running the risk of needing to order a pizza the salvage the situation.”

Camera IconIn the first episode of new SBS food series, Simon James Bailey keeps things simple. Credit: Supplied

PREPARATION IS KEY

“Don’t leave everything to the day of the dinner party. Choose dishes you can cook in advance and set the table the day before to maximise the time you spend at the table with your guests.”

TAKE TIME TO CHILLAX

“The worst part of hosting a dinner party is the last-minute rush to get everything done before guests arrive,” he explains. “To save your sanity on the night, stop at least half an hour before your guests are due to arrive, sit down and have a cup of tea. You’ll be relaxed and ready to host a lovely evening.”

CREATE A RUNNING ORDER

“It pays to have an idea of how the evening will flow, from the moment your guests arrive and you offer them a drink to the time you serve cheese and dessert wine later in the evening,” Bailey says. “Don’t worry if the night doesn’t go exactly to plan, that often makes for a better dinner party.”

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ACCEPT ASSISTANCE

“You don’t have to do everything yourself on the night — you’re not running a small restaurant. If guests offer to help you clear plates or refresh wine and water let them, but I draw the line at them doing dishes.”

TIPS FOR GUESTS

The recipe for a great dinner party isn’t just up to the host. Guests should follow a few golden rules, according to Bailey.

“Don’t arrive early, that will stress out the host,” he says, adding, “but don’t arrive more than 15 minutes late, you may disrupt their timing.”

Never arrive empty-handed. Even if the host says not to bring anything, give them a gift — a bottle of wine, fancy condiment or chocolates.

But Bailey says don’t bring flowers: “You’re creating work for your host at a crucial time of the evening.”

Don’t worry if the night doesn’t go exactly to plan, that often makes for a better dinner party.

Other tips for guests include not hovering in the kitchen, causing added stress for the host, and tasting the food before adding salt and pepper. “It’s rude to immediately season the meal,” he says.

Finally, Bailey says dinner party guests should return the favour. “If you accept a dinner invitation you must be prepared to reciprocate within a month.”

Toast The Host: How To Entertain At Home With Simon James Bailey premieres on June 7 on SBS Food and SBS On Demand.

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