Gathering and enjoying a meal with your favourite people is a great way to encourage connection – especially at the moment. We’re loving themed dinner parties, like an Around the World theme, because they add another layer of fun and novelty to the evening. This blog will cover how to throw an all-American dinner party at your home with some clever hosting hacks. Think juicy burgers, drinks in red tumbler cups, tricky trivia, and DIY s’more making around the fire pit. With all products available in one easy location – your local Stockland centre.
Prepare the dinner party
Getting creative during the planning stages of your dinner party is often half the fun! And when you throw in a few quirky DIY hacks and easy styling ideas, setting the scene for an exciting American-themed evening can be oh-so-simple. Start by picking up these key pieces from your local Stockland centre: a red checked table cloth and paper tumblers from Big W, a blue table runner from Bed Bath N’ Table, some festoon lights and ‘candy’ jar (for a centrepiece) from Kmart, and a handy serving board from House or Robins Kitchen. A portable fire pit will also be handy for making s’mores later in the evening. Speaking of s’mores, Coles has a pre-made s’more making kit. Delish!
Adairs Metro Aspen Fleece Tassel Throw $27.99, Big W House
The little touches
In the days leading up to the dinner party, be sure to put together an all-American Spotify playlist to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Top tip: if you don’t have the songs added to your everyday Spotify algorithm, be sure to set the playlist to ‘private session’. And because the good vibes will still be rolling after dinner, be sure to set up a few cosy camp-chair seats with throw blankets around the fire pit so you can make some ooey-gooey s’mores together to round out the night.
A take-home gift
Create lasting memories with your nearest-and-dearest by picking up a polaroid camera from your local Stockland centre and snapping a picture of your guests when they arrive. Then grab a sharpie and write the date on the front for the perfect take-home gift. Your guests can then keep in their wallet or purse to remember your all-American dinner party long after the evening is over.
A DIY place-setting passport
This has to be one of our favourite DIY dinner party hacks because it includes three customisable elements, in one! Our printable place-setting passports serve as a name card for your guests, a trivia booklet, and a menu. Simply download your dinner party passport, print it off and fill in your guest’s names and the menu. Also, keep a record of the trivia answers (included at the bottom of this blog), so you can quiz the table and test their all-American knowledge. Speaking of the menu, we’ve pulled together our top American eats to inspire you.
The menu
Starters
Four words: Mac and Cheese Bites. These cheesy little morsels will be a hit with your guests and are a great vegetarian option. They’re also super easy to make! Serve these with some sticky Barbecue Chicken Wings, a few small bowls of buttery popcorn, and some American-inspired drinks to pour into the red tumblers. Your guests will be smiling from ear-to-ear!
Main
These Mouth-Watering Burger Recipe ideas are sure to fill tummies and have everyone feeling satisfied. You could even go one further and create a DIY burger-making bar so your guests can add whatever they please.
Dessert
You can’t throw an all-American dinner party without including some of their deliciously-famous sweet treats! Try our New York Cheesecake with Raspberries or Oreo Melting Moments. The melting moments are also perfect for popping into those candy jars (the cool evenings will prevent them from melting). And don’t forget the s’mores!
Plus, if you have no time to cook, there are so many takeaway and delivery options available from the Stockland food court retailers. You’ll be spoilt for choice!
Turning your dinner party into an all-American success story is easy with these clever DIY tips and hacks. Organise one of your own soon, connect with your loved ones, and feel inspired with your local Stockland centre.
TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1. False – there are 50
2. True
3. No – the national food is a cheese/hamburger
4. False – it was Austria
5. False – it was George
6. True – Neil Armstong, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Michael Collins
7. False – it’s the Bald Eagle
8. True!
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