How To Be A Fuss-Free Host

Food writer Diana Henry on why having guests at Christmas should be simple – for all concerned

- Diana Henry

This is how much effort I have put into having friends round: guests once turned up early to find me standing in the kitchen in my bra and knickers (lightly dusted in flour) stuffing tortellini. On another occasion we didn’t eat until 11pm because I’d made my own strudel pastry and it ended up taking most of the day (and most of the evening too). One Sunday I got up at 5am to put on slow-cooked pork for lunch and was then so tired I didn’t want to talk to a soul when my guests arrived.

It’s always been about the food. I would settle on a menu and then add just one more side dish, or decide to churn my own butter or make some tincture for a cocktail.