Hosting the perfect party.

If you have friends, chances are good that you've been to their parties a time or two. Eventually the party circuit makes a full circle and it's time for you to host the next one.

If you new to hosting a party or what to put a soiree on that your friends will be talking about for months if not years from now, consider putting on a dinner party.

What? Dinner? You mean no blaring music? No endless bottles of booze flowing? No packed room of head-banging partiers?

Yes, that's what we mean. It's not very hard to put on a drunkfest. But putting on a dinner party is the height of party throwing. It shows sophistication. And while it may be hard to believe, it's a lot of fun to plan and host.

To get you started, here's some helpful tips:

1. Keep the guest list manageable. Twelve is more than enough for a dinner party. Space isn't the issue in keeping the numbers down. It's the amount you have to cook. A dinner party is "dullsville" if you're stuck in the kitchen churning out food like you're working in a mess tent in Iraq.
2. Pick a theme. Once a theme is in place, it's easy to build an entire party with it. If you're doing Italian, how about a pasta dish, some bruschetta and bottles of Chianti? Chinese? Stir fry, won tons and some Saki will be big hits. Choose the theme and then build your menu around it.
3. Prepare as much of the meal ahead of time as possible. That means doing all your chopping the day before. If you have vegetables, keep their color by blanching them. Some sauces and even dishes taste better if you prepare them a day or two ahead so the flavors can meld.
4. Plan plenty of food for guests. It's easier to enjoy leftovers the next day or two than to run short of a favorite dish. A good rule of thumb is to plan two extra servings for each dish you make.
5. Be sure you have enough service bowls, plates and utensils. Tupperware doesn't add elegance to the table at a dinner party.
6. Have munchies on hand when guests arrive. Some light appetizers, chips and salsa or some raw veggies and dip will do. This will help your guests fight off hunger while they wait for everyone to arrive.
7. Pair food with wines. If you're not sure about your skills in this area, you can cheat a bit by using a Wine and Food Wheel that shows what wines are best with which foods.
8. When it comes to dessert, don't think you need to whip up a Baked Alaska. A simple bowl of gourmet ice cream will do. If you want to get fancy, add a tray of toppings to the table to go with the ice cream.