Decline of the rough and tumble dinner party

When I was a student, it was pretty common to be invited to a person’s home to sit on mismatched chairs and eat spaghetti on mismatched plates.

In post-student life, some people have gotten all fancy and started having ‘civilized’ dinner parties that set an unattainable standard for formality, complexity of food, and so on. I think it is plausible that this intimidates those of us who are less skilled and less well-equipped.

As someone who doesn’t expect to live in any place for more than a few years, I do not want to buy large numbers of matching things. I think I also preferred the cheap-wine-fuelled informality of student parties to the comparatively arid quality of many ‘adult’ parties. Some of that may be linked to the social sterility that Official Ottawa thrives at cultivating.

If things go unexpectedly well, my time in Ottawa will soon be over. Whether that is achieved or not, I think I should host a some-people-sitting-on-the-floor and no-fancy-appetisers-in-sight party sometime soon.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

7 thoughts on “Decline of the rough and tumble dinner party”

  1. I also enjoy the informality of the thrown together gathering. Less pressure, more fun for host and guests. My student days are well behind me and we do have matching plates. But that spontaneity can continue.

    This year I invited friends over for brunch three times after a morning hike – easy and casual. I did not prepare the meal before hand. We simply had the ingredients out and then prepared the breakfast after the hike. Everyone pitched in to help cook. Eggs are relatively quick and easy.

    On another occasion I invited invited 7 male friends for dinner and a sing a long. No worries on the meal. I bought the ingredients arrived home 15 minutes before my guests. We pitched in and cooked together. I was nervous about the singalong aspect afterwards but that worked out as well.

    Let’s keep the spontaneous alive.

  2. haha. was Emily Jones’ frying man “out”? :)

    your random gatherings are pretty rockin’, but nothing beats a momma lunch/brunch spectacular!

  3. I should arrange such a party for an upcoming weekend, though perhaps when I am a bit less excessively busy.

  4. I am having an informal gathering this Saturday evening, June 4th. Readers from Ottawa are encouraged to drop by. Email me or leave a comment with your email and I can send the details.

  5. The party happened and went well, I think. I may try to organize another once job search craziness has ebbed a bit.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *