Ina Garten’s Genius Dinner Party Hack Will Change the Way You Host

Ina Garten has taught us everything from how to keep our kitchen knives sharp to how to ice a cake without getting crumbs in the frosting. And recently, I was listening to the chef extraordinaire speak on Oprah Winfrey's new podcast and I stumbled upon yet another genius hack.

Towards the end of their 45-minute conversation (and, really, the whole episode is worth a listen!), Oprah asked Garten: “Do you still like hosting a dinner party?”

“I do but they've gotten smaller and smaller,” the Barefoot Contessa responded. “I used to like really big parties but now I like really small ones, like six people around a round table,” adding that she wanted her guests “to really connect with each other.”

Oprah agreed, noting that her ideal number of dinner guests is six to eight. She then turned to the chef for advice on keeping everyone engaged in the same conversation—because let’s be honest, nothing dampens a dinner party like being stuck in a one-on-one chat all night!

“I do!” Garten exclaims, adding that this tip is one that she has developed over many years. “I always assess who the two most talkative people in the group are, and I always have a round table so I have them seated at opposite sides of the table.”

The reasoning for this strategic guest placement? “Because if the two talkative people are sitting next to each other, they end up talking to each other and everybody else is left out. But if the talkative people are opposite each other and the quieter people are on the other quadrant, everybody's part of the same party.”

Smart, right? Oprah certainly thought so, exclaiming “That is a good idea!”

After all, as the chef and cookbook author puts it, the real reason we host dinner parties isn’t about the food—it’s about connection. (Though let’s be honest, one of Ina’s signature dishes wouldn’t hurt either!)