With a little imagination and a few select tools, restaurant dining is closer than you think
A standing dinner reservation at your favourite restaurant or bistro is a wonderful thing. There’s a sense of occasion when heading out for a meal with friends, but unfortunately it’s not always practical. Restaurants are a wallet’s worst enemy, and organising a visit to your local is often quite the hassle.
A trending alternative is to bring the outside in – and host a restaurant experience in the comfort of your own home. The home, after all, is our safe space where we feel most comfortable. And with the advancements of modern kitchen appliances, there’s no reason you can’t host a successful restaurant experience without leaving the house. Bring out your inner restaurateur, and follow the simple steps below to host an experience for the books:
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Step 1: Select a Theme
Think of the meal you’d like to prepare – and pick a theme to match. The sky’s the limit here. Maybe you want to create a Parisian café vibe, or go for a warm and inviting Italian bistro feel? Give some thought to your guests and what they’ll enjoy. This is an opportunity to transform your space and select the elements that will make up your restaurant dining experience. The only real rule is to host a dinner that is laid-back and enjoyable. So get creative.
Step 2: Decorate Your Space
You don’t need to go over-the-top, but to create a restaurant experience in your home, you’ll need to set the scene. The most important element you should consider, is lighting. Nothing makes or breaks the mood quite like good (or bad) lighting, so spend some time perfecting it. Candles will add atmosphere, along with a thoughtful selection of music to complement your theme. Make sure everything is prepared before your guests arrive. When they enter your home, your guests should immediately feel immersed in your restaurant vision.
Step 3: Set the Menu
Cooking a meal at home should be nothing new, but cooking a restaurant quality meal might seem a bit daunting. If you’re not 100% confident in your own abilities, consider consulting your nearest take-out menu and having something delivered. If you do plan on going solo and getting your chopping boards dirty, remember to buy, prepare and cook your meal well in advance. If you’re fortunate enough to have a Grundig FullFresh+ Refrigerator in your home, you can keep vegetables fresh in your fridge for up to 30 days. Remember, you don’t need to prepare a Michelin-star quality meal. It’s your home, so you don’t need much to host a successful and memorable dinner.
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Step 4: Dress the Part
Just because you’re in the warm confines of your home doesn’t mean you can’t get a little dressy for the occasion. Just wear what you would wear as if you were going out. When you and your guests look the part, your ‘home restaurant’ will feel the part.
Step 5: Don’t Stress
If you went through all the trouble of converting your home into a makeshift restaurant, you’ll want to enjoy it too. Don’t worry about everything being perfect – a fully ‘perfect’ evening doesn’t exist. As long as your guests have a good time and you allow yourself to enjoy it too – it will be a memorable experience. After all, home is the best place to be.
For a better scope of how Grundig’s products can help you create a restaurant experience in your home, visit our Product Guides. Remember to sign up to the K!TCHN Newsletter to stay updated on all things Grundig. You can also follow Grundig on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates.
