Dinner on the Terrace?

It’s hard to plan a good dinner party in the age of Facebook.

We’re all so carefully casual about our plans. Cell phones have taught us everything can be last minute—a quick text directs your friend to “meet us here” or “I’m running late.” Facebook has taught us that every occasion is best RSVPed to with a “Maybe Attending.”

So I plan not a real dinner party—“just a few people over for wine and food” and get a few positives and a handful of “Maybe Attendings” in return.

Then there’s the menu. Hard to plan without a certain guest list, but the main problem here, for me, at least, is overstimulation. I’m surrounded by food porn—glowing from the TV, a click away on the internet, making me drool from the glossy pages of cookbooks, which I’ve started checking out of the library (even memoirs are trending towards food porn these days). I don’t know where to begin. Simple, tried-and-true recipe or something new, complicated, dazzling (as long as it turns out, that is)? Exotic or plain (really depends on the crowd)? Indian, Cajun, Italian (depressingly, I have a friend who doesn’t like cheese), Tapas, French, Asian, Moroccan, Noveau-American?

Tonight, I’m thinking something light, summer fare. Maybe an array of appetizers (starting with bruschetta, of course) followed by a light, citrusy spinach salad with chicken. Washed down by a couple liters of wine.

Then again, there’s that lamb dish I’ve been longing to try. I’ve never cooked lamb before.