Weeks before Thanksgiving dinner, event planners and families plan for the most scrumptious day of the year to be perfection. Even grand events such as holiday dinners can be executed effortlessly with preparation. Reading food safety articles before hosting a dinner for children and elderly guests is always necessary.
Bring the dashing dinner to life:
Sides and desserts which can be prepared ahead of time are finished. Display an abundant cornucopia with fragrant candles lit.
The ambiance of the dinner is set for welcomed guests to experience from the moment they walk through the door. Family love is filling the air, cocktails are being mixed, and a decadent aroma is swirling around every nose. The proper way to invite a guest into the home is with a proper handshake or familiar hug.
The feast feels best started with a beautifully printed menu for guests to see. This will get mouths watering and is also a thoughtful way to inform guests of ingredients they may be allergic to. Then it is then time to begin with hors d’oeuvres and providing every guest with a beverage, whether it be non-alcoholic or alcoholic.
Keeping it cool:
Business or family events should always be monitored for the amount of alcohol consumption. It is no sin to have a great time, but getting carried away can happen ever so quickly. Hiring a bar tender is the most opportune way to control levels of intoxication.
Bartenders prevent hosts from experiencing potentially awkward situations by letting guests know they have reached their limit for the night gracefully. A host should never have to be the “bad guy”. Plus it is in every guest and host’s best interest to stay present and, most importantly, safe.
Temperature control:
Food safety is just as important as monitoring responsible alcohol consumption. It is the responsibility of the host or caterer to prevent food-borne illnesses. After all, what happens at Thanksgiving dinner, does not always stay at Thanksgiving dinner.
Luckily most drinks are not at risk for entering the danger zone, but some do contain dairy or raw eggs such as eggnog. Selecting hors d’oeuvres for the night that will be easy to keep out of the danger zone is in a host’s best interest. For instance, shrimp cocktail may not be wise as it must be kept on ice at specific temperatures to remain safe, and the location’s weather is impacting.
To begin, meat or poultry need to be cooked at a minimum temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Chafing dishes or slow cookers are ideal for maintaining safe temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher, in hot food. Cold food must be kept at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Although it may be monotonous, it is necessary to check temperatures of dishes throughout the entire event.
Wrapping up the beautiful event:
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a common cause of food-borne illness is the improper cooling of cooked food. Once dinner is concluded, leftovers must be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Furthermore, the coveted leftovers must reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when reheated.
Do not overlook the sweetest time of the night, goodbyes. For some family members or friends, this may be goodbye until next Thanksgiving. Enjoy your Thanksgiving from Events By Jaclyn.
