The holidays have come and gone. Thanksgiving is a distant memory. The festive wreaths and strands of lights have come down. We’ve rung in 2022. It would seem, for now, that an occasion for throwing a dinner party for you and your closest friends is off the board for January and February.

What do you do when you can’t find a square on a calendar that demands a party? Throw one anyway. After all, there’s no rule that says you can’t host a dinner party simply for the sake of hosting one. If that’s your plan, we’d like to share a few of our top tips for an elegant winter dinner party: an occasion with no overarching holiday theme to fit into, only great food and togetherness.

A Good Night for Comfort Food

We’re not talking about serving up a big bowl of macaroni and cheese. Hearty meals and elegance can go hand in hand. Your slow cooker is the key to preparing meals full of richness and warmth that are still fit for much more than a family dinner on some idle weeknight. Pot roast, pork roast, duck confit, or even Thai and Indian curries can be low maintenance yet sophisticated dishes that are sure to wow your guests and keep them well-fed on these winter nights.

White Snow, Red Wine

The wine flows freely at any great dinner party. For a brisk winter soiree such as the one you have in mind, however, every wine aficionado should know that medium-to-full-bodied reds are the order of the evening. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot are always crowd-pleasing choices, as is a nice bottle of pinot noir. Whichever wines you choose to enjoy with your meal, why not serve them from our disposable wine glasses? Don’t run the risk of messy accidents that leave stains and shattered glass. Our beautiful but resilient single-use drinkware is perfect for your reds—or even, if you insist, your whites and rosés.

Pure Beauty in Your Centerpiece

The food may be the star of the dinner party, with your stylish single-use plates serving in the supporting role, but the centerpiece is a fine foil to the main cast. Centerpieces often try to capture the spirit of the holiday for annual events: a cornucopia for Thanksgiving, boughs of holly for Christmas, all things sparkly for New Year’s Eve. One of our top tips for an elegant winter dinner party is not to overthink the centerpiece: purchase or design a piece that simply looks beautiful with no overarching theme to fulfill.

Serving in Style

It’s not an elegant party without elegant plates. However you curate your midwinter event, Smarty Had a Party has an entire kaleidoscope of colors and designs, from the austere to the baroque. Browse our collection today for wintry one-night tableware.