Martha Stewart's Controversial Trick To Get Party Guests To Leave

Hosting guests is one of many ways to extend Southern hospitality to those in your circle. It sounds simple enough to invite and bring some of your favorite humans together over a meal, right? However, anyone who has opened their door to others for dinner knows that these events open up a whole host of potential etiquette pitfalls.

To steer clear of the worst manners missteps, we’ve taken notes from Southern grandmothers, and have memorized the seven commandments of Southern entertaining. We recently reminded ourselves of the 17 things we actually shouldn’t do before guests arrive, according to etiquette experts. And most recently, we learned a "unique" piece of hosting advice from one professional entertaining ace: Martha Stewart. 

The 82-years-young lifestyle guru and host of Martha Cooks visited the The Drew Barrymore Show on December 8 for a heart-to-heart with Barrymore. After catching up on Barrymore’s couch about topics ranging from dating to being a "late bloomer" to ordering takeout—Stewart admitted, "You know, I’ve never had food delivered to me?"—the duo hit the kitchen to whip up a batch of Spicy Caramel Popcorn. Stewart learned this dressed-up popcorn formula from a friend, Lisa Wagner, she confirmed. (We adore recipes that have been passed down or along!)

As Stewart coached Barrymore through how to make the cayenne-spiked caramel popcorn, which we think would be a lovely host gift, by the way, Barrymore peppered Stewart with questions that are very relevant with the holiday hosting season in full swing.

"If you’re throwing a dinner party, and somebody shows up with friends that they didn’t tell you were coming, what would you do?"

"Make another seat! What are you going to do, say, 'You have to go home'? Be practical," Stewart replied. "What are you going to do?” You can get irritated, but not visibly. It might be somebody really nice!"

This manners move checks out, according to our guide to seven things we hope the modern Southern host always remembers. (Make sure there is enough seating, just in case!)

Stewart's answer to Barrymore's second conundrum—how to get guests to leave at the end of a dinner party—was a bit more unconventional and most definitely comical.

"Frankly, I just say, 'I’m going to bed. See you,'" Stewart said. If they keep hanging out, she advised, "Turn the lights off," Stewart laughed. "Set off the fire alarm… that’s one way to get rid of them."

Turning in early, flipping the lights off, or setting off the fire detector aren’t exactly Miss Manners-approved, but if you followed Stewart’s suggested lead, it would definitely make for an unforgettable evening!

If all of this hosting talk has you feeling intimidated or unsure about welcoming guests back into your abode, study up on how to throw a party—and actually enjoy it. It sounds like Stewart has that mastered.

To cap off their time together, Barrymore asked Stewart, "Is there anything you want to do in the immediate future?"

"Have a very nice holiday, and wish everybody out there some peace in this world," Stewart said. Cheers to that!