Was looking for some suggestions......

A few friends and ourselves are having a home "Come Dine With Me" with each couple taking it in turn to host an evening.

We have a few months till ours yet and have sorted the menu.
I was just looking for any inspirational ideas on entertainment - any ideas ?

dont bother with entertainment

So we cant even talk about food?

wrong forum.

A friend of mine hires himself out as a guitar player. He does a couple of restaurants but has also done weddings and private parties.

There are problably similar musicians in your area.

Thanks gemma-the-husky and degsyhufc for the positive comments (unlike the helpful whoever !).

I don't understand - you;ve posted on the Food and Drink forum not on the 'how do I do I entertain people' forum. What do you expect?

Sorry.....I had missed the 'how do I entertain people' forum. My oversight.
Perhaps you could direct me to it ?

Failing that....if there isn't actually a forum for discussing that, then maybe I just post it in the most appropriate forum.
Hmmmmm Come DINE With Me.......should that be in Sport, Pets, Politics or Food & Drink ? What do you think ?

As I said earlier thanks to those less petty minded individuals that are not that sad on a Friday evening to sit and try and pick points but offered a positive contribution.

Well I think the advice forum would have been quite apt, since you are asking for advice on entertainment for a dinner party.

But as for some advice - if you have a place that does really good almost professional fireworks, I do find that to be quite and entertaining way to end the night - especially if your dining room leads out to the garden.

Yes.. your oversight. Try advice next time. Do you want a map? I only commented because you were rude about Whatever's perfectly valid point.

Well after watching several series of Come Dine With Me, my advice? don't do it. Should you be picking a winner from your friends, then they may not be friends for much longer. Resentment, umbridge, and jealousy are not a good mix....and it's very likely to happen. Stick to normal dinner parties..less stressful and competative.

On Come Dine with Me the participants don't know each other so it could be a bad move. In that situation I would just try to find some good conversation topics but definitely avoid any type of politics and religion!

In this situation you have an advantage of knowing your guests personalities, however you don't mention if your friends are the lively sort or not. What ages are they? Would they appreciate a laugh and would they be able to laugh at themselves?

Saying all of that, a themed night would be good IMO. That in itself could be entertaining.

The Chinese lanterns seemed to go down well on an episode this week. I like them but a lot of people aren't keen.

As another poster has said, take advantage of the fact you know the people who are coming.

My friends and I did this recently, my party game was a combo of dares and questions in a hat, sadly it backfired as I had 'eat a chillii' it was a rather fun evening though.

No entertainment apart from good conversation over wine is best. By the way I think it's perfectly fine to post here.

Poor OP there was no need for people to be so rude.

I would leave out the entertainment - just get the wine flowing and let the craic happen!

Entertainmet is really better suited to afternoon cocktail parties. When having dinner the food will occupy and hour or so and then its time to chat and perhaps listen to a little music.

One thing for sure, pick your menu and cook it at home a few time until its almost second nature. I enjoy Come Dine With Me but why on earth would you attempt a dish you had never cooked before? Certainly not to be done with chums.

Get the grub right, have copious amounts of wine flowing and the entertainment usually takes care of itself!

I've done this with friend, though I didn't video it and send it in like you can.

http://dine.channel4.com/


We were all friends, agreement was that we would cook dishes that we had not done before at dinenrs. We didn't really do any entertainment as such but we all had a great time. We ended up playing Wii at one place, cards at another and board games on another evening.

I think if you know each other then formal entertainment would be a bit weird.

Car keys in a bowl

I already said I wouldn't bother with entertainment.

What I do love though, is table magic. Might cost a few bob, but an hour's sleight of hand from a good table magician might be well received.


You have to be careful, though, because if everything is going well, a forced entertainment break could actually destroy the convivial atmosphere.

Blimey! Not very strong friendships if come dine with me sets the cat amongst the pigeons! As mentioned earlier, I've done this with my friends and none of the repercussions that you mentionEd occurred, but then we don't take things like this too seriously.

for me good conversation and flowing alcohol is all I need. Our neighbours have a karaoke machine and they seem to think its great its my worst nightmare! But karaoke is loved by more than it is hated by. Pictionary or charades are always a giggle.

Me and my friends go for a film and never watch it but its a back up plan.

Some friends living near me in Portugal have laid out a Croquet lawn, not a game I'd ever played in England but turns out to be rather fun; played in pre dinner twilight on a lit lawn it works up an appitite.