Entertaining

Restaurant and Drinks Editor Andrew Knowlton shares a few theories on dinner parties

Between all the shopping, baking, parties, wrapping, decorating, and travel, most of us would put "more time" as the number one item on our holiday wish lists. So this year, why not kill two turtledoves with one stone by hosting a cookie swap party?

Mix up a batch of cocktails and make a few of these addictive appetizers developed by the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen.

Dear BA Foodist: I love hosting dinner parties, but it seems that everyone has a list of food restrictions--no carbs, gluten-free, no red meat. Should I accommodate my guests?

Here's the problem: Desserts can be a tough sell at social events—or rather casual social events. Sure, birthday cakes get eaten, but in a non-celebratory setting, my guests are sometimes reluctant to go for the frosting.

Hot fun in the summertime...