How Not to Drive Your Guests Crazy When Entertaining

I once wrote a newspaper article on common faux-pas people make when entertaining. When it was posted online, someone wrote: "Jeeze! I'd just be happy to be invited to someone's house! I'd never complain!"

Certainly, most guests—including myself—are not that critical. We're simply thrilled to be included in the fun.

Unless, of course, you do something that drives us crazy. And sadly, hosts often do, without even knowing they're doing so.

Yet making guests feel comfortable in your home is part of the guest-host contract that you signed when you invited people over. Here are a few ways to avoid violations:

Good heavens. Even the French generally keep their dogs under the table. Photo by Ruben Swieringa via Flickr.

1. Mind the Dog 

Look. I love dogs (sweet-faced Jack Russell Terrier mixes especially melt my heart).

Still, there are some people (me, for one) who don’t adore being pawed at, nosed, growled at, jumped on, and slobbered on by your dog. Good dogs, I love, but these days, whenever I’m going to the home of someone who can't control their pet, I am now sure to wear my special "dog pants"—trousers I don't care much about, in case they get pawed at and slobbered on. 

But really. Do you want to be the kind of host whose guests put on their dog pants before they come to your house?

Well, maybe you do, if your goal is to drive your guests crazy.

2. Stop Apologizing About the Food

I love eggs in a salad to be soft-cooked to velvety-luscious richness. Yes, I overcooked them here. No, I didn't make a fuss about it.

So, something you made didn't turn out the way you really wanted it to. Make light of it and move on. Chances are, your guests won't really notice (and again, they're just happy to be part of the fun).

You will, however, drive them crazy if you keep harping on about how you overcooked the lamb and undercooked the artichokes and the meringue isn't as set as you'd wished. Really, guests do not want to spend the evening assuring you that everything is just fine. It's tedious, and we run out of ways to say, "Really, it was great. Really! No really. I enjoyed it. Truly.”

This vintage napkin shows an age-old problem. Of course, you don't think your guests will arrive on time, but many do. So be ready.

3. Be (Mostly) Ready When We Arrive

Look—we're all busy. It's not uncommon for the hosts to start cooking after the guests arrive, and sometimes it's part of the fun. I, personally, enjoy pitching in when asked. Loosey-goosey is good with me.

But please. When we show up, it would be nice if you have at least purchased the groceries and made it look like you had some kind of general plan in place. It would be nice if you were pretty much dressed for the evening. I would much rather you'd called and said, "Hey, we're running late! Can you give us another hour?" than to sit in your living room while one harried co-host rushes home with the groceries and the other frantically roots around the fridge to find us something to drink and you both start bickering. “You forgot to pick up the olives!!!”

Entertaining should look effortless; you simply don't want your guests to think we are putting you out. Unless, of course, your goal is to drive us crazy.

PS: Guests—don't complicate things by arriving too early...that's a sin, too!

If this doesn't look familiar, find a quick-read on food safety on the FSIS Website.

4. Don't (Food) Poison Your Guests

This should go without saying: Keep the food you serve safe to eat. However, I'm often surprised at how many hosts don't understand some basic food-safety rules.

For example, I once went to a friend’s house for an afternoon backyard picnic. When we arrived at noon, we were told that a particular out-of-town couple wouldn't be arriving for three more hours, so we'd nosh on appetizers before we ate the main meal. That's okay! I'm flexible.

Except, what drove me crazy was that for three hours, some good- looking pork chile verde and other perishable foods sat in a warm summer kitchen at room temperature. (And frankly, who knew how long it had been sitting before we even got there?).

I know, I know. Food safety is one of the most un-sexy things to talk about. But the truth is, you need to keep hot food hot (140° or higher) and cold food cold (at 40° or below). Otherwise, you risk not only driving us crazy, but making us sick.

Food at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F are at risk of developing harmful bacteria. Do not let it sit in this "danger zone" longer than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is 80°F or higher).

5. Stop Bickering, for Heaven's Sake 

Have you ever been invited to the Bickersons’ house? We have and it's excruciating. These are the people who argue at everything both large and small. And it's the small details that especially drive us crazy.

Typical conversation chez Mr. and Mrs. Bickerson:

"In 2013, when we went to Taos...."
"Honey, we didn't go to Taos in 2013--that was the 2015 trip."
"Yes we did. It was the year we discovered that amazing posole."
"We didn't have Posole in Taos, that was Santa Fe."
"Yes, I know it was Santa Fe, but it was on the 2013 trip."
"But you just said we had Posole on our trip to Taos."
"It was the same trip that we went to Taos that we discovered that great Posole in Santa Fe.
"Well, that's not what you said...."

And, Mr. and Mrs. Bickerson, you wonder why everyone always drinks so much at your place....

Here's one of my favorite ways to keep it simple. A sit-down first course of oeufs-mayo, prosciutto, roasted asparagus, and olives. Photo and recipe to appear in my upcoming Everyday French Cooking cookbook.

But What About the Food?

Notice how the things that drive guest crazy are rarely about the food itself?

Really. Don't knock yourself out. It's been said before: When planning a menu for guests, stay in your comfort zone—make a few recipes that you truly love, and your guests will likely enjoy them, too.

I've been a food writer, restaurant reviewer, cookbook author and editor, and recipe developer for almost 25 years and I can't give you one example of being invited to someone's house where I have been even remotely disappointed by the food.  Sure, there might have been a something gone awry here or there, but the point is, I don't remember them at all. Not a one comes to mind.

So take my word for it: Perceptive hosting skills can make up for a lot of culinary misfires. No one will remember the overcooked lamb, the slightly grainy crème anglaise, the too-brown meringue. They'll remember what a fun and meaningful time they had around your table.

As long as you don't drive them crazy.

P.S.: Comments are most welcome. I’d love to other ideas on what drives guests crazy, so that I can avoid things I might not have thought of. Cheers.