Surprise Dinner Parties

None of the planning, all of the fun.

Dinner Parties on the (Ultra) Cheap

Three multicourse bashes for eight.

Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken with White Wine Sauce

Whether for a dinner party or a weeknight meal, this elegant, convenient dish can be prepared ahead of time.

Mini Éclairs with Meyer Lemon Filling

Tiny pastries laced with tart lemon cream.

Cedar-Planked Salmon with Herbed Yogurt Sauce

Impress your guests with broiled salmon in a tangy yogurt sauce.

Roasted Rack of Lamb

Marinated with rosemary and thyme.

Party of One

The dos and don’ts of dining solo.

Stain-Free Partying

Is it OK for hosts to ban red wine from pale furnishings?

10 Party Preparation Tips

How to entertain the easy way.

Chronicles from a Pig Party

Our associate food editor goes to the Southern Foodways Alliance conference to celebrate the year of the pig and other Southern delights.

Tea Parties Must Make a Comeback

Economical, festive, and good for Sundays.

Death by Dinner

Ten ways people died from food.

Bison Strip Steaks with Brandy Pan Sauce

Pan-seared bison strip steaks are gussied up with a quick brandy-butter and shallot sauce.

Dinner's Getting Cold

How to deal with chronically late guests.

Easy, Fast, Fresh Dinners

Home-cooked meals that are quicker than ordering out.