I have had amazing dinner parties with zero planning. Maybe it's because of different cuisine. In my case the first zero planning dinner party I went to was a n

I have had amazing dinner parties with zero planning. Maybe it's because of different cuisine. In my case the first zero planning dinner party I went to was a nabe (hotpot) party. On the way to the friends house we all (10 of us) pitched in like $3-$4 each, we stopped at the supermarket, got a few things, go back to the friends house, dumped them in the hotpot. Yes, you need a hotpot but a burner + pot is < $20 in many parts of Asia (and in the USA too if you go to an Asian supermarket) I've done the other kind too with more planning and a day or 2 of cooking too. Just suggesting that you can also do it without the planning and hours of cooking.