By Helen Baldus

There are certain activities that most New Yorkers simply do not engage in, even though there is nothing particularly odd about the behaviors; in fact they are a daily occurrence for most Americans: driving (who can afford parking and tickets?) and cooking (who has the time or the counterspace?). Which leads me to the prospect of hosting a dinner party. Are you nuts? What would anyone sit on?

Well, for two New Yorkers, Zora O’Neil and Tamara Reynolds, who host “The Sunday Night Dinner in Astoria,” the act of hosting a dinner party for 20 people in a tiny NYC kitchen and a relatively small apartment has become de rigueur.

What started out as a way to share yummy food and quality Sunday night television programming (i.e. The Sopranos) among friends has morphed over the past six years into an underground bi-weekly Supper Club where they send out an email to over 400 people inviting them to share a dinner in one of their homes. The first 20 people to RSVP get in, plus $30 (which covers the costs) and a bottle of wine (or as much as you plan to drink). Nuts indeed.

Let me preface all this by saying that I am not one of the typical New Yorkers I mention above. I actually like to cook. And do. Almost every day. But just thinking about hosting a dinner party makes my head spin. There’s the shopping, the cleaning of the apartment (only to have to clean again the next day), and the DISHES. Need I say more?

But maybe it’s not so nuts after all. Upon attending The Sunday Night Dinner in Astoria (on Saturday night) this past weekend, I think that Tamara and Zora are truly on to something (as their recently published cookbook, Forking Fantastic: Putting the Party back in Dinner Party reveals). Hosting a group in NYC does not need to be such a big deal. Their motto? Keep it fun, keep it simple (who cares if none of the chairs or plates or cutlery match – in fact if need be, ask your guest to come with a chair), but most importantly, make it delicious (and ask for a small donation so you are not breaking the bank).

Tamara and her husband Karl converted their living room into a café environment with two large, candlelit tables (and mismatched chairs). Some of the guests were regulars, some were newbies like me and some were even tourists (a couple on vacation from England who had heard about the dinner series). What on the surface might have seemed stressful – inviting 20 people into your home for dinner – was in fact, incredibly easy going and fun. Everything was served family-style, which encouraged conversation, the wine flowing freely. The menu was fantastic – Pan con Tomate, Hoppin’ John, Grilled Oysters, Karl’s Killer Slaw, Butter Braised Green Onions, and more. But most importantly: They hired a dishwasher for the night (a friend). It was DIY at its finest.

Thanks to Tamara and Zora, I think I have officially gotten over my aversion to hosting a dinner party. I’ve already finalized the guest list…Assuming that nobody minds bringing their own chair.

What I’m:

Reading         Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, Richard Wrangham

Watching       In Treatment (Season 2)

Eating           Tacos at Carmelita Deli & Grocery in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Listening to    Best of The Black President, Fela Kuti