Whether you’re hosting a date night, dinner party or big family meal, you’re probably often looking for ways to make your food that little bit more special for your guests. But instead of trying to nail overly complicated recipes, sometimes you only need to introduce small flourishes to your dishes or table setting to give the overall dining experience a bit of flair.
Here are just a few ideas to get you started – including how you can end the evening with an effortless clean-up, courtesy of Finish Ultimate Plus.
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1. Plan your table setting
A carefully considered tablescape is a great way to set the tone for your meal. You could choose to keep it simple with exposed wood and a minimal white palette or take a more decorative approach with a tablecloth, napkins and crockery featuring vibrant colours and prints. It’s also a nice touch to tailor your table setting to the season, so you could have bouquets of daffodils in spring or pinecones and berry garlands in winter.
2. Add a herb garnish
A scattering of fresh herbs can give your meal an extra hint of colour, flavour and elegance. For example, a sprinkling of coriander can bring a citrussy, slightly floral freshness to a creamy curry, while torn basil leaves will inject an aromatic, subtly peppery kick into a rich tomato pasta. Fresh parsley, mint, chives and dill are popular options, too, or you could even add a handful of micro cress, if you’re feeling fancy.
3. Create a textured topping
The textures of a recipe can be just as important as the taste, so try finishing a dish with a contrasting topping. Crispy breadcrumbs, toasted seeds or even a few chopped nuts can bring a satisfying crunch to soups, salads and pasta dishes. You could also flavour the topping to complement the dish – think parmesan croutons for a caesar salad, fragrant seeds for a curry or crispy chilli oil for a stir fry.
4. Include wine pairings
If you’re hosting a dinner party for friends, serving a different wine to pair with each course is an easy way to add a little sophistication to your meal. The right wine can enhance the flavours and textures of your food, and you don’t need to be an expert to find the perfect pairing. Try a cabernet sauvignon with red meat, a chardonnay with chicken or a pinot grigio with lighter seafood dishes.
5. Clean up with Finish
Of course, as the host, the perfect final touch to your meal will be ending the night with spotless dishes – and that’s where Finish can help. No matter how dirty the dish, Finish Ultimate Plus can tackle burnt-on stains, grease or general grime with ease, so you can spend less time stressing about the washing up and more time chatting with your guests. Plus, it delivers a superb finish on any dishwasher cycle, even short (one hour) or eco washes, so your dishes come out squeaky clean every time.
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Keep both your dishes and dishwasher squeaky clean with Finish.
