Throw a party like a pro

Fri., Feb. 1, 2008

Hope Brumbach Correspondent

Planning for success

The Dinner Party's tips on hosting an evening:

1 Don't try a new recipe. "You want to have fun, you don't want to stress out," Lancaster said.

2 Ask beforehand about food allergies, likes or dislikes and diet restrictions.

3 Do as much ahead of time as possible.

4 Gear the recipe to the size of the crowd. Have enough so that people feel comfortable taking as much as they want.

5 Plan whether you expect others to help with preparation. Set aside small tasks if you want help.

6 Plan for the food and décor to complement each other.

7 Always have something cooked beforehand, from an aromatic standpoint. "It creates a feeling in people when they walk through the door," Balling said.

8 With centerpieces, use something fresh, such as snippets from a pine tree or garden. The centerpiece should be at a height that guests can easily talk over. Place your elbow on the table and bend your wrist at a 90-degree angle; the centerpiece should be no higher than your hand, Lancaster said.

The dinner parties thrown by George Balling and Mary Lancaster are legendary among their friends.

Beef short ribs on creamed polenta. Chocolate bread pudding. Decadent wines. Stunning table settings.

“They’re talked about for years afterward,” Balling said.

So it’s fitting that the couple recently opened The Dinner Party, a high-end retail store in Coeur d’Alene dedicated entirely to the art of entertaining.

The 1,100-square-foot store, at 3520 N. Government Way, carries unique tableware, gourmet food items, wines and accessories and educational material to help hosts and hostesses create a dinner party to remember.

“The focus of our business is going to be high customer service and education, and that’s frankly the fun part,” Balling said.

Both Balling and Lancaster, who moved to North Idaho from California last summer, have 20 years of experience in investment banking. But they’ve considered starting a business for some time, and combining their passions – Balling is the cook and Lancaster the decorator – were a natural fit, they said.

The store features their personal favorites and also items to fit every taste, the couple said. Some dinner tables in the store are set for the man’s man, with tree bark martini shakers and accessories. There also are wares for the feminine taste, with pink polka-dot martini glasses.

The Dinner Party sells unique table settings, flatware and linens, such as ceramics from Portugal, crystal plates and Italian opalescent glass. The couple found a Mexican pottery factory in a town of about 800 people that produces handmade, uniquely painted pieces.

The store also features specialty food items, such as sea salt caramels, cookbooks and décor books, wine accessories and funky vintage aprons. The wine selection features many smaller producers, with a host of Northwest wines. The wines range from less than $10 up to “more than people care to talk about,” Balling said.

“We want people who want to learn about wine and people who already are savvy collectors,” he said.

The couple aims to educate their customers about what type of wines they like and how to ask right questions in restaurants to order the flavors they want.

In the future, the couple is considering doing in-home consultations, and they want to host wine tastings at the store by invitation.

“We’re not only selling stuff, but (we’re) telling people how to do it,” Balling said.