I couldn’t wait to host this month’s themed dinner party—it’s no secret I love hosting, and these nights have become so much more than just dinner with friends. They’re a creative outlet, a reason to connect, and a chance to bring a little extra magic into the everyday.
This month’s theme? Food Flights. The idea came from my friend Steph, who saw hard-boiled egg flights trending on TikTok. At first, we all scratched our heads—what could we do with this? But once I started brainstorming, the possibilities were endless.
Here’s how it all came together:
Setting the Scene
When I think of a “flight,” my mind immediately goes to those cozy restaurant and bar vibes—soft lighting, candles, and a curated menu. Since my apartment lacks a dining room table, I decided to transform it into our own little bar-lounge experience.
I started with a mood board in Canva (a host’s best friend!) and landed on the name “Flights Bar & Lounge” (Original, I know!) From there, the vision came together:
- Lighting: I grabbed some portable, battery-operated table lamps from the dollar store. These little lamps added the perfect soft glow and made my space feel warm and inviting. I’ll definitely be using these to cozy up my home more often.
- Flowers Everywhere: Bud vases filled with fresh flowers were the star of the decor. I placed them on the kitchen island, side tables, and even in the bathroom—paired with votive candles for that extra touch. (Pro tip: Costco is great for affordable flowers!)
- Menu: A little acrylic frame from the dollar store held the menu, showcasing the drinks and flights for the night. It’s such a small detail, but it made the whole event feel polished and on-theme.
The Food & Flights
For our main dish, my boyfriend and I went with Chinese Food Favorites—our personal faves, to be exact. Originally, I planned to cook everything myself after searching for recipes on Pinterest, but an old local favourite restaurant re-opened, and their food is unreal. Fresh, homemade, and too good to pass up. So, we ordered in and focused on the fun stuff: presentation! And thankfully everyone shared the same sentiment on the food!
However, I couldn’t not make something myself…
I came across Airfryer Egg Rolls and thought that’d be easy enough. And since there would be a lot of food, I didn’t want to make the typical large egg rolls you get from take out. So I made mini, bite size rolls! And they turned out great. I was able to make them a couple hours ahead and just reheat them in the airfryer before plating.
I followed this recipe by A Pinch of Healthy and it turned out really well! https://www.apinchofhealthy.com/air-fryer-egg-rolls/
Now the fun part, the presentation!
- Takeout Boxes: I found those iconic Chinese takeout boxes (you know, the ones from TV and movies) on Amazon. Since we don’t get them in Canada, they were a must-have to elevate the look.
- Custom DIY’d Flight Boards: My boyfriend, being the talented carpenter he is, made beautiful cedar boards for our flights. They’re stunning, reusable, and added a personal touch to the night.
- White Sauce Bowls: I wanted to make the sweet & sour chickens balls more elevated, so I grabbed these white sauce bowls off of Amazon to place one ball and a dollop of sauce in it.
- Chopsticks: Wouldn’t be chinese without the use of chopsticks! Now I don’t know if chinese restaurants around us actually use chopsticks.. But we’ve been eating a lot of sushi lately so we saved up chopsticks to use instead of forks.
Of course, it wasn’t only about our flight—our friends brought their A-game with creative flight ideas:
- Appetizer Flight: A tiered board with deep-fried dill pickles, hot honey chicken balls, breaded jalapeño poppers, and spanakopita. It was a savory dream!
- Innovative Pasta Flight: Breaded chicken taco shells filled with pasta, each with a different sauce. Genius, right?
- Dessert Flight: Homemade tarts, including lemon curd, classic butter, s’mores, and white chocolate raspberry butter. They were almost too pretty to eat (almost).
Tips for a Memorable Themed Dinner
Hosting doesn’t have to break the bank! Here are some tips I swear by:
- Dollar Store Finds: From acrylic frames to table lamps, you’d be surprised at what you can find on a budget. Need extra dishware, glassware or serveware? They got it. Though sometimes it can be hard to find particular items depending on the season.
- Fresh Flowers: A little goes a long way. Snip them down to fit bud vases for an elegant touch. Or keep them in a nice vase. It doesn’t have to be complicated!
- Replate Takeout: If cooking everything isn’t realistic, don’t stress! Order your favorites and focus on the presentation.
- DIY Touches: Whether it’s handmade boards or a printed menu, little details make the experience feel thoughtful and personal.
Why Themed Dinners Are a Must
This dinner reminded me why I love these gatherings so much. They’re more than just a meal—they’re a chance to connect, laugh, and challenge ourselves to get creative. Plus, it’s amazing to see how creative everyone gets with their dishes and presentations.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a themed dinner with your friends, go for it! Even if it’s just quarterly, you won’t regret it. It’s like a potluck, but so much more fun—and so worth the effort. I have some tips on how to throw your own themed dinners here!
Until next time, cheers to flights and friendship!
