How to Organize a Virtual Dinner Party
In the age of COVID-19, we are all looking for new ways to connect with loved ones and friends from a distance. Since social distancing mandates are preventing us from meeting up as freely as we used to, creativity is key.
Video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Skype have seen a huge surge in users over 2020, with both seeing over 70% increases month-by-month. These platforms do a great job of replicating the experience of being in the same room as others, providing the ideal setting for a virtual dinner party.
Planning your virtual dinner party
Choose your software: Where are you going to host your virtual dinner party? Zoom might be the flavor of the month, but charges are incurred after just 40 minutes on a call. Rushing your dinner party in just 40 minutes sounds like a recipe for indigestion. However, if you do go for Zoom, be sure to experiment with the fun custom backgrounds to give your dinner party a beautiful setting!
Skype allows for around four hours per call and can host up to 50 people, so that is not a bad candidate. Otherwise, you can simply make use of good old FaceTime which supports calls with up to 32 devices.
Set a menu ahead of time: Consider all of your invitees and their dietary requirements. Of course, guests can make some slight edits to dishes as needed, but the fun starts when everybody at the virtual dinner party is enjoying the same recipes. For this reason Farm to Feast has created the Buffet in a Box. Your guests can all enjoy their choices from the same menu, and it will be delivered to each person by a Farm to Feast delivery driver, ready to heat up right before your virtual celebration.
- Farm to Feast has just released their Fall themed buffet in a box menu! This features items that can be enjoyed by both meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Complete with delicious entree options such as the Braised Chicken Thighs with Squash and Mustard Greens, Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese, and Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potato with Chickpea and Garlic Sauce just to name a few.
- Dessert can always be added to your Buffet in a Box, but if you are looking for a fun activity to do as a family, dessert gives your guests a chance to get baking. Provide some easily executed recipes for cookies or brownies that utilize ingredients most people will have in their pantry. Simple desserts like these will please adults and children alike!
Delicious choc-chip cookies: give children a chance to get in on the baking!
Prepare invitations: Instead of sending the same email template to every guest, you can even take the time to handwrite some classy invitations and mail them to your invitees. This is an easy way to add to the anticipation of the evening.
Executing your virtual dinner party
When the day of your virtual dinner party arrives, you should have everything in place for a successful evening! Invitations should have been received, and your guests should also have received the menu ahead of time so they can prepare to heat their items within the party schedule. It might even be a good idea to test your chosen video conferencing software ahead of time – you don’t want technical faults on the night.
Plan your evening’s entertainment: What is a dinner party without some entertainment? Even though your guests are not present, it is still possible to organise something fun.
- Installing a dress code. From formal to downright wacky, you are in control of what your guests should wear when attending your virtual dinner party. There are plenty of laughs to be had with this one!
- Put together a quiz. Taking part in a virtual quiz has become somewhat of a tradition during COVID-19 lockdowns, especially in the UK. Compile some questions suitable for all the family and pit your guests against each other.
- Sit back and watch a movie. If you aren’t quite sure about hosting interactive entertainment, just pick a movie for everyone to stream simultaneously.
Consider local alcohol delivery options: If yourself or your guests are not enthusiastic about preparing your own cocktails, remember that you can explore local delivery services that supply alcohol during COVID-19.
Arrange for alcohol delivery by using apps like Drizzly & Saucey to make it easy for your virtual guests to responsibly enjoy your specialty cocktail menu. Remember, you can not have alcohol delivered in the state of Maryland.
Organizing a virtual dinner party is a great way to keep in touch with loved ones during the uncertainty of COVID-19. Sharing great flavors and personalized entertainment is enough to keep friends and family feeling connected during these testing times.
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Jack Vale is a writer for TIPS Alcohol, an alcohol certification service for bartenders, caterers, servers and other food and beverage industry professionals.