This week we're launching our Gatherings from The Kitchn series, with my Italian polenta supper the first of many dinner parties we'll share with you this year. What makes a great dinner party? Besides food, wine, and friends, what are the easiest ways to set a dinner party atmosphere? Here are my own top 5 habits for setting a dinner party atmosphere; these are all really simple things -- you may do them too without even thinking about them! -- but I'm curious to share, and for you to tell me if you do things differently! Here are my top 5 tips for creating a really good dinner party atmosphere...

I spent about four hours last Saturday hunkered down at one of the bars in Manhattan to transition from day to night over some good wine. The wine really was something, actually.

But the cheese? For such a special place that takes such pride in wine service and quality, they made the most unfortunate cheese error. And it could have been remedied so easily! I'm hoping that by sharing their mistake, you won't make the same one. More

I don't throw many (or any, really) formal dinner parties, but I still found this diagram helpful, if for no other reason than it illuminates Downton Abbey's dining etiquette. More

Two years ago I took a cooking class in Paris with Paule Caillat, a charming and knowledgeable cooking teacher. As our delicious lunch drew to a close, Paule hopped up from her seat and said something that surprised me then but that I often think of now... 

Q: I'm often in the kitchen at gatherings hosted by friends and family, sometimes helping out, sometimes just chatting with the host while they cook. The past few months I have observed many cooking no-nos, but feel like it is not my place to take over or correct the cooking error. Or is it? More

Q: I'd love to make cookies or other edible gifts for my kids' teachers, but heard that many teachers may just prefer gift cards. Any teachers reading The Kitchn? What would you like for holiday gifts?

Sent by M More

Eating a plateful of spaghetti (or any other long noodle for that matter) with even a sliver of dignity can sometimes feel next to impossible. Example: when is the last time you ordered spaghetti on a first date? That said, human beings have figured out a thing or two over the last few millennium when it comes to consuming this favorite food, primarily with the help of chopsticks or their Western cousin, the fork.
More

At home, soup-eating is usually a casual affair, with no special rules or etiquette. But have you ever wondered about the proper way to eat soup, especially at a formal dinner or fancy restaurant? From where to rest your spoon between bites to how to politely get the last drops of soup from the bowl, we have the answers. More

I have a friend who eats her pizza with a knife and fork. She's European, so she has impeccable formal table manners and whenever I eat pizza with her, I admit that I feel like a philistine, for I eat my pizza by picking up a slice in my hand and bringing it straight up to my mouth. How do you eat your pizza? More

Have you ever been a guest at someone's house for dinner and been served a meal that is a complete turnoff? This is of course a common scenario when traveling and encountering a new cuisine but it can just as easily happen at your boss' dinner table. Maybe it's way, way, way spicier than you can handle, or the meat is strange or unfamiliar, cooked a little too rare, or not cooked at all. Simply not liking a certain food is one thing, but having your stomach roll at the thought of eating a dish that was proudly put in front of you by your host is quite another. So, the question begs to be asked: