Then, about twenty minutes before the start, do the final round: get the warm dish in the oven on a low setting, bring the cold things out so they lose their fridge chill, and pour yourself a drink. If you're still slicing bread when the whistle goes, the evening has already got away from you.
What do I do if people arrive at completely different times?
Build a table that doesn't depend on a single serving moment. Food that is designed to be eaten at room temperature looks just as appealing at nine o'clock as it did at seven, so late arrivals don't walk into the wreckage of a meal they missed. Keep a small reserve in the kitchen too, a second tray of something, so you can refresh the table once rather than constantly topping it up.
How do I stop a watch party turning into a dinner party I have to cook?
Say what it is when you invite people. A sentence like "come at seven, there'll be snacks and a big tray of pasta" sets the right expectation far better than a vague invitation that leaves everyone guessing. And take people up on their offers: assign them something specific, like ice, bread, or a pudding, so the help is useful rather than three bags of tortilla chips that all arrive at once.
