Easy Stress-Free Dinner Party

Next time you’re having a dinner part, think about ordering all your food online.
It’s like having a professional chef in your home…minus the cost.
Order your food in the week ahead and have it delivered to the door.

CHEESE COURSE – The fabulous artisanal cheese platter from Fresh Direct is a collection of Europe’s finest, including four-year aged Gouda, locally made Shelburne Farms Cheddar, tangy Ubriaco, and a tangy Sainte-Maure goat cheese log. Reviewers were stunned at how good it was, arriving in pristine condition and perfectly ripe. They also recommended trying the Epoisses.

Mediterranean Shrimp Tart, Spicy Crab Roll, Lobster Mac & Cheese Bites.

APPETIZERS
Dean & Deluca’s Comfort Food Appetizers include individual servings of cheddar and mascarpone rich Lobster Mac & Cheese with Champagne and tarragon; savory little Artichoke Cheesecakes flavored with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, pine nuts and Parmesan; and light and delicate Creamy Cheese Soufflé Cups in herbed shells.

MAINE LOBSTERS
Before deciding on lobster, make sure you check that your guests like and can eat lobster. Choose live or cooked Maine lobsters and have lobster delivery to your door. Try Lobster Gram or Fresh Lobster Company. Winner at the International Fancy Food Show, the Pemaquid Point Lobster Pot Pies are brimming with Maine lobster meat in a sherry-splashed cream sauce. Lobster-shaped puff pastry decorations adorn the top of each pie, adding a touch of elegance to your meal. The pot pies come prepared in reusable, oven-proof ramekins.

MEAT & FISH
If you would like fresh, high quality fish fedexed to your door try Citarella, a family run gourmet market in NYC. Use a smaller fish for individually plated entrees, or entertain royalty with a whole side of salmon. Another option from a classic butcher is DeBragga’s. The wholesaler provides meats, poultry, provisions and game to the finest hotels and restaurants. Shipments go by air and sea to the best resorts internationally. And now, these top quality meats are available to you. An online original, Omaha Steaks, has its meat inspected and guaranteed, although it comes frozen. They often have coupons, and you might even get a whole tenderloin for free. The package includes “conversation starters” on little business cards to get your swanky dinner party going.

SIDES – Find inspiration for your feast with a collection of side dishes like potato gratin and vegetable medleys from the Honey Baked Ham Company. If you prefer to cook them yourself, try “Sides in a Snap” from Fresh Direct like the Asian Veggies with Ginger Garlic Sauce.

BREAD – Amy’s Bread began in a small storefront in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen in 1992, with five employees and a few wholesale customers. Now Amy’s Bread employs more than 150 people and makes over 200 wholesale deliveries every day. The Amy’s Bread Classics includes  all of Amy’s favorites. Your bread order is baked fresh and shipped by Next Day Air so it arrives at your door within 24 hours of baking.

DESSERT
We are crazy for these Key Lime Bundt Cakes. If your idea of dessert heaven is divinely moist and dense pound cake kissed with the tangy flavor of key lime and drizzled with key lime cream cheese frosting, you will too. Or check out our list of online homemade pies. Red Truck Bakery’s Chocolate Moonshine Cake was rated by the TODAY show as the number one mail order dessert. The meal’s final course will end with a show stopping dessert. Feel free to be honest about where you bought your dessert, or hide away the box, and pull out the antique pie plates.