Throwing a dinner party sounds so much like pressure. Instead, just think about it as ‘having people around to eat’. The moment you simply think about having people around to eat, you don’t need to have a set three- course menu. You’re not a restaurant. The modern concept of restaurants started in 18th-century France, and the whole idea was that you wanted to go out and eat in fancy places because your house wasn’t fancy.

So this whole idea of not wanting to do it at home – why not have a picnic, or a barbecue by the beach? Enjoy the open air. That immediately alleviates the pressure on you and alters others’ expectations. We’re so lucky to have such wonderful weather. We’re so lucky to have amazing green spaces around where we live. Take advantage of it! That would be my first piece of advice.

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Credit: Chris Court

Secondly, only invite three people. Keep it small and simple. That will help. I think there’s a real joy about sitting on the floor with a bowl of pasta on your lap. I don’t think it needs to be fancy. If you can make a pasta with really good fresh tomatoes, good parmesan and lots of garlic, you’re there. Think of the Italian way of doing things, in a relaxed, share-plate style; or try a kind of smorgasbord or extended charcuterie board idea with a couple of salads thrown in.

Now for dessert. You can make a chocolate mousse. That’s super simple. That can be made beforehand and can go in the fridge, and then if you want to make it fancy, just sprinkle something on top. Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Just find a good recipe. Then, if it’s people you want to impress, a week before they come round, make the menu – practise it once with your nearest and dearest. See how it goes; see if there is anything you want to change.

Also remember that sometimes, things take longer to cook than you’d expect. I always find that crispy, crunchy roast potatoes always take 10 to 15 minutes longer than it says in the recipe. Always. If you know that, you can be pre-prepared. But again, with any dinner party, all those things that you can cook in advance are wonderful, because that way, you know that when you serve it, it’s going to be great.

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