Shun the ‘out out’ crowd and embrace the fact that staying ‘in in’ is not only a lot cheaper, it’s also a lot more fun. Staying in doesn’t always have to involve Netflix and your cosiest onesie. It can often mean putting on your glad rags, cooking up a storm and having the time of your life with your nearest and dearest. Your heart will jump with excitement as you hear the doorbell ring with each new guest arriving with a smile, a hug and a bottle.
When you host a Big Night In, you’re in the driver’s seat; you’re not at the whim of arrogant wait staff, erratic bus schedules or Mother Nature, who saw that you’d blow-dried your hair and thought she’d have a giggle with some drizzle at your expense. No, you’re in charge! You get to choose the food, the drinks, the music, the decorations… the je ne sais quoi. Most importantly, you get to choose your guests – you can decide on a small, intimate affair (the Valentine’s Dinner Date chapter would be perfect here) or a larger, more raucous get-together with a gaggle of friends (a No Messing Board Games Night, perhaps?).
Each of the themed chapters in this book lends itself to a Big Night In of fun, laughter and fabulous food. You can transport your guests to Mexico with a spread of burritos, tacos and tequila cocktails to knock their sombreros off; Italy with pizzas, bruschetta and an array of aperitivos; Spain with tremendous tapas, chomp-a-licious churros and straight-up sangria; or China with dreamy dumplings, tempting tofu noodle salad and a year-round Chinese New Year vibe.
Or, if a ‘staycation’ is more your scene, why not host a Cheese & Chutney Night, A Night In at the Movies or a Family Cook-In? All tastes, flavour combos and oomph aspects have been considered on the following pages. Whether your dining companions are vegans looking for a va-va-voom meal, carnivores craving a meat fix or avocadarians addicted to the green superfood, they won’t be disappointed with the fare you serve and the drinks you pour.
You don’t have to host a full-on dinner party with place settings, napkin rings and an elaborate centrepiece (although, if the mood takes you, you can if you so desire). The focus here is fun. Fun with friends, fun with family, fun with housemates, fun with your sweetheart, fun with new acquaintances… On your Big Night In, Fun and Food will go hand in hand – and they’ll both have a capital F.
So, flick through this book to get your culinary creative juices flowing. Will you be drawn to the chickpea masala, the Greek rice-stuffed tomatoes, the fig and honey ricotta cheesecake or the avocado margarita? Whatever you choose, embrace your theme with aplomb (no, not a plum!) and you’ll soon be slicing, simmering, steaming and sautéing your way to earning the accolade of Hostess with the Mostest, or Host with the Most. Because staying in is the new going out.
Wait, is that the doorbell? Ding dong!