A Make-Ahead Dinner Party

Complete menu, shopping list and game plan. You're going to love this one.

Last year I wrote a story for Cup of Jo where I semi-endorsed showing up late to a dinner party. On the spectrum of scandals, it was on the milder end, but wow did I get a lot of flack for that one. The gist of the feedback was: If I’m going to all the trouble of inviting someone to my house, coordinating a meal so specific dishes are ready at specific times, the least that person can do is show up on time.

I get this, I really do. But I also don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world to give the scrambling host a little grace period — and 15 minutes past call time seems like it would still qualify as “fashionably late.”

But my goal today is not to get everyone riled up all over again. It’s simply to present a make-ahead dinner party menu that is Late Guest Proof — 90% of the prep is done before anyone shows up, and the last 10% can be activated once the guests, on time or not, walk in the door. The menu has the added benefit of allowing you to be fully present with your guests instead of sweating away in the kitchen. Lastly, it goes without saying that the meal is crowd-pleasingly delicious, the kind of warm-your-bones menu that is just right for fall. Here’s the line-up, your make-ahead game plan, and complete shopping list…