How I Approach Hosting Now (3 Simple Rules)

I love hosting.
Always have.

And when I host, I always have more than not enough. 

I always buy extra. Always.

If ten people are coming, I buy like fifteen are.

Not to impress anyone.

I just never want that moment where someone reaches for something and pauses because they think it’s the last one.

I grew up in a family of seven. Five kids.

There wasn’t waste. There wasn’t excess.

My mom cooked in a way that made sure there was enough.
And if there was more, it became lunch the next day.

That’s how I grew up.

So now when I host, I overdo it.

More food than we need.
More drinks than we’ll finish.

I’d rather have leftovers than that tight feeling of running out.

Hosting is easier now because I don’t try to impress anyone.

I just follow these 3 simple rules.

1) I Tell People Ahead of Time They Can Bring Alcohol

Bccause I don't drink. People don’t know if they can. So they hesitate.

“Should we bring something?”
“Can we drink?”

So I remove it upfront.

I literally tell them: "There will be alcool. But feel free to bring whatever you like. My bar isn’t the fullest!"

That’s it.

If you have a specific drink you love, bring it.
If not, I’ll have something.

No guessing.

2) I always have staples

I don’t try to build an impressive bar.

I just keep staples: a variety pack of beers, red and white wine, some ready-to-drink, a bottle of gin and rum.

The basics.

Things most people will say yes to.

Not ten of the same thing.
Not something exotic no one asked for.

Just options.

And always a little more than we’ll need.

Because running out feels tight.

Having extra feels relaxed.

3) I Don’t Control Everything

I used to feel like I had to manage it.

Pour the drinks.
Serve the food.
Make sure everyone was good.

Now I set it up and let people help themselves.

Beer’s in the fridge.
Wine’s open.
Glasses are out.

Help yourself.

When I stopped trying to control every detail, hosting got easier.
I just make sure there’s enough and let the rest happen.

Final word

Cutting back on alcohol doesn’t mean cutting back on the things you enjoy.

I don’t drink.

That doesn’t mean other people can’t.

It doesn’t mean the table is smaller.
Or the nights are shorter.

Hosting was never about the alcohol anyway.

It’s about people.

It’s about connection.

And that part is still there.

So I keep doing it.

SP.