Hosting a proper dinner for the first time

5 things, already decided.
Work down the list. Tick off what you own. Every row opens on Amazon, where the current price and the real delivery date live — we never print a price here.

1. 01 of 05
   I already have this

   Enough matching plates and cutlery

   Six of everything is fine until it is eight. Mismatched is charming; not enough is not.

   What to check before you choose. Count the guests and add two. Check whether the set is dishwasher safe before you commit.

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   Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

2. 02 of 05
   I already have this

   Serving dishes and serving spoons

   Food that stays in the pan it was cooked in is the difference between dinner and a proper dinner.

   What to check before you choose. Check that at least one dish is oven-to-table safe so you are not transferring hot food.

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   Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

3. 03 of 05
   I already have this

   A carving or chef's knife that is actually sharp

   A blunt knife in front of guests is slow and genuinely dangerous.

   What to check before you choose. If you already own a decent knife, a sharpener is the better buy. Check the steel type if you want it to hold an edge.

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   Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

4. 04 of 05
   I already have this

   Wine glasses and a spare corkscrew

   The corkscrew is always missing, and it is always noticed at the worst moment.

   What to check before you choose. A waiter's friend is more reliable than a winged opener. Buy glasses in a set larger than your guest count.

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   Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

5. 05 of 05
   I already have this

   Table candles and holders

   The single cheapest thing that makes a table look like an occasion.

   What to check before you choose. Unscented at the table, always. Scented candles fight the food.

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   Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

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