No matter what the occasion, whenever you have people over they always end up in the kitchen. If this sounds like you, then it’s time to create a kitchen environment that welcomes your guests to enjoy this space.
The first concern is space. You need to have enough room to seat your guests. If your kitchen is the natural hang out, then you’ve probably got a pretty good-sized cooking space, so now you need to consider seating. If there is an island or center bar that people tend to lean over, then it’s time to accessorize it with barstools. Select stools that don’t take up a lot of space and that give guests comfortable support.
Eat-in kitchens provide seating for guests, but they tend to separate the action from the kitchen itself. If you’d like to keep the food the focal point then traditional seating might not be your best bet. Leave the formal seating for the dining room and give your kitchen a higher than normal table with barstools. This raises the conversation level to the height of the chef.
If you’re the budding chef and like to have an audience while you cook, then the arrangement of your tools is essential. Keep your supplies at hand, display your spices in decorative jars, have a bucket full of spatulas and other implements, let fresh fruits and veggies serve as centerpieces. Remind your audience that this is a room for food and invite them to participate and enjoy.
Drinks are just as important as the food, so create a bar area. If you have a built-in bar then keep glasses handy so guests feel comfortable helping themselves. If you don’t have a built-in bar, then a simple wine rack will add a party flare or splurge and get a wine table with tray to hold a few bottles of wine, several glasses and maybe a decorative canister full of wine crackers.
Snacks make guests happy, especially kitchen guests. Keep easy and quick snacks handy. A bowl of nuts, chips, mints, cheese and crackers, whatever you choose, but always have a few treats on hand that can quickly be set out for guests.
Plan for the party. If you know that your guests are going to end up in your kitchen, or if you prefer having people keep you company while creating culinary masterpieces then you need to prepare. Keep party supplies handy and be ready to whip out the snacks and pour a few drinks as soon as your guests arrive. Then, keep them entertained with your kitchen skills.
