If one is entrusted the task of hosting a dinner party to felicitate the Nobel Prize winner, the best way to do it is to prepare a menu that is easily eaten while standing around, so that the guests can mingle and move around in groups. First, the prize winner’s work and the steps leading upto the Prize should be highlighted with a short film or documentary with voiceovers by the host or a close colleague, usually a mentor or someone slightly junior to the guest of honor.
A leaflet can be distributed explaining the winner’s work in brief and a short recap of his work history to the assembled guests. Banners should be put up congratulating the winner and ideally some special effort should be put in to make them meaningful by having them signed by people who have guided or mentored the winner.
Such attention to detail will make the celebratory dinner truly memorable to the prize winner. The host can also arrange for colleagues of the winner to say a few words each about their work experiences with him and relate any humorous anecdotes to break the monotony and keep the guests entertained while also felicitating the guest of honor. While such speeches are given, the pre-dinner drinks can be served by circulating wait staff. Once the other speakers finish, the guest of honor can speak for a few minutes and the end would be the ideal moment for the assembled guests to toast the guest of honor and congratulate him on his winning the Nobel Prize.
The menu should be conducive to being consumed by people while standing around and as the guests are surely to be the winner’s contemporaries, they will need to mingle around and network during dinner. So the starter, entrée, main course and the dessert need to be easily eaten and fuss-free. So the main course should consist of bite sized pieces of whatever meat is used so that it makes for comfortable eating while standing around.
As the guests are sure to be from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, it is upto the host to make everyone feel comfortable and cater to any special needs. So the host has to prepare for such eventualities, if the party is going to be an open affair and the guest list cannot be strictly monitored as such events often are. A congratulatory and commemorative memento is usually gifted at the end of such a felicitation. It falls to the host to find a special and appropriate gift for a memento.
He or she can consult his colleagues to identify a gift that would have a special significance and try to arrange that. For instance, a classical music lover might appreciate a live performance of his favorite artist, if it can be arranged or a disc by him can be specially signed congratulating him on his winning the Nobel Prize and delivered. Something like that would make for an unforgettable occasion and make it doubly special.
This article was written by Rupal.
Tags: dinner, hosting a dinner, nobel prize dinner