Now that the economy has crashed, will in-home dinner parties become more popular? (appetizers, restaurant)

[the_critic]

When I was a kid we use to have other couples and family over at the house all the time for formal dinner parties. Now days the dinner party seems to be out of fashion and replaced with groups going out to dinner at an overpriced restaurant.

Now that the economy has crashed with a general feeling that the type of prosperity we had in the 1990s may never return for the middle class, maybe people will try to save money and eat at home more often. Maybe the dinner party will come back. Or at least at home entertaining.

[Oildog]

I think you are correct. People still have a need to go out and socialize, and dinner parties are just a more affordable way to do it. Many homes in the last decade were designed w/o formal dining room as they were not used anymore. This style may come back...then again people will need to learn to cook again. May be an opportunity for seniors...to teach cooking classes to the current generation who think cooking involves the microwave.

[carlitasway]

I love dinner parties! We have a small house but I'm determined to make them work!

[sgresident]

I think that the difficult economy will allow people to get more creative in their gatherings. get back to the old fashioned pot luck dinner; the more relaxed socializing that takes place in the homes of friends! I think it will be a positive thing.

[TexasHorseLady]

I organize a Meetup group that has monthly potlucks. We meet in someone's home who's volunteered to be the host that month, and we all bring a dish that fits that month's "theme". It's a great way, resurrected from my younger days, of enjoying good food and company for very little cost per person. We've been doing it for a couple of months now. We do also go to restaurants, but the potlucks are very popular. If 20 people bring a dish, no one has to cook for 20, as there's plenty to go around.

[Gypsyrhydyr]

Originally Posted by Oildog

I think you are correct. People still have a need to go out and socialize, and dinner parties are just a more affordable way to do it. Many homes in the last decade were designed w/o formal dining room as they were not used anymore. This style may come back...then again people will need to learn to cook again. May be an opportunity for seniors...to teach cooking classes to the current generation who think cooking involves the microwave.

You are so right about folks needing to learn to cook again! Down here along the Gulf Coast we have never really given up pot lucks, just renamed them. They are tailgate or block parties now. But entirely too many folks think that items from the freezer case or from boxes are "food." Fresh cooked foods are not difficult to make and taste so much better.

[LAbleedsBlue]

We love dinner parties. We call them game nights. They're are about 5-6 couples that routinely come every 3 weeks or so, with stragglers here and there. We rotate houses, have dinner/drinks and then play games (who doesn't love games?). Dinner is always a theme - like mexican night, people brought tacos, meat, chips, dressings, rice, enchiladas, etc. Games are usually sharades, Trivial pursuit (teams), cards, catchphrase - the list goes on. I love them!

[kelsie]

All of us decided this past summer because of the economy we would all start doing the dinner parties. Instead of going out for our birthdays, etc. whose ever birthday it is gets to choose what they want for dinner and we cook at the house of choice. Same with the holidays, instead of exchanging gifts we will cook for one another. We can cook way better then any restaurant and have more fun and save money.

[TNKY]

Dinner parties are a practical idea, especially nowadays. Last night it was on the news that McDonalds is one of the only restaurants doing good, so maybe this idea is catching on. I have also heard of company dinner parties at the boss' home instead of going to a restaurant or having it catered. No tips needed either!

[PennyLane2]

This reminds of something that a group in our neighborhood always did during the Christmas holidays. It was a progressive dinner. Start at one house for the appetizers and drinks, move to another house for the soup/salad, another for the entree, and then another for dessert. It was fun. Everyone's house was decorated, and nobody had the burden of preparing the whole dinner. It was fun, much more so than meeting at a restaurant.