The Exotic Teapot

A group of friends and I have decided to have a dinner club, with each of us taking turns as hostess. I volunteered to be first, why I do not know. I have a small home with a dining table that only seats 8 and a tiny kitchen. Where do I even start, what type menu should I have that I can prepare in advance, how I am going to seat all these people?

If you've got a garden even small, you might want to consider doing it outside so that people don't feel on top of each other.

Quick buffet in the house and then down the pub, that's what I would do!

I would prepare food in advance like making a chilled dessert and salad the night before then all that is needed is to have the main entrée dish, that includes vegetables, be roasting in the oven while guests arrive. Set up the meal buffet style like someone else suggested and place seasonings on your coffee table and dinner table to allow guests to sit either at the table or on the sofa and nearby chairs. You could use a small table or counter top for serving cocktails, offering limited choices.

How about a fondue dinner? Use the dining table as a fondue set up. Inform your guests in advance that they will be sitting on pillows on the floor.
All you need to do is have the oil/water for steaming and frying, several cheese variations to melt for appetizers and chocolate liquid for dessert. Plus the food items should be chopped and seasoned in advance. You’ll probably need several fondue pots (I’d borrow them from friends).

As a hostess, you could deliver the small plates, decorated platter of foods to cook and bring a different choice of wines depending on which course you are on.

Together they could all use the fondue pots to make their choice of appetizers, main entrée and lastly desserts.