The dinner party is back and better than ever: 5 new trends for hosts who break the rules

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock We’re hard-wired to connect over food. In ancient Greece, revelers gathered at “symposiums” to eat, drink, and philosophize or recite poetry. The Romans also often feasted together, and the rules and rituals they developed in antiquity set the precedent for the modern-day dinner party. From grandiose Victorian affairs with multiple courses and lush decorations that flaunt one’s social status to the “hostess with the mostest” trend in 1950s America, dinner parties often come with strict rules guiding behavior and etiquette. “The seated dinner, with its minuet of invitation and acceptance, its formalities and protocols, its culinary and dietary challenges, its inherent requirements of guest and host alike is under threat, many say,” New York Times writer Guy Trebay wrote in 2012.  He was right, to some degree. Millennials and Gen Zers are less likely to host extravagant dinners or abide by stifling social expectations, but the dinner party isn’t dead. It just evolved again. Peerspace identified five new trends for private dinner parties outside the home.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people turned to intimate, often informal, dinners that yielded quality conversation and bonding in a time of isolation. Even after social distancing restrictions were lifted, the craving for a sense of connection remained. Today’s hosts are focused on intentionality and closeness, and that sets the tone.  So go ahead. Throw away the dinner party rulebook filled with “shoulds” and “musts.” Dinner parties are more creative and fun than ever before. Now, rather than just working with what hosts have at home, they also are looking further afield, even into private venues that allow them to experiment and accommodate ambitious ideas. Read on to get inspiration for your next get-together. Supper clubs bbernard // Shutterstock Supper clubs have been around since the 1930s, when Milwaukee native Lawrence Frank opened the first in Beverly Hills, California. These establishments combine attributes of restaurants and social clubs, often offering food, drinks, and live music with an air of exclusivity.  To many–especially in the Midwest–the term “supper club” is still associated with restaurants, but lately, a resurgence from Los Angeles to Minnesota is decidedly more modern. Part dinner party and part restaurant, these private affairs can take place at the chef’s home, a restaurant closed for the evening, or any other private venue. Chefs can test out new culinary ideas and interact directly with guests. Bonus: Because of the low overhead costs, supper club prices are usually surprisingly low. Sushi-making party