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In determining his latest dinner party menu, David Tanis lets the main course take the lead. Slow-roasted duck with mashed white beans and olives is the centerpiece of this dinner party menu. Slow-roasted duck with mashed white beans and olives is the centerpiece of this dinner party menu.Credit...Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times By David Tanis Feb. 28, 2020 62 So many things can determine the making of a menu: the weather, the season, the diners’ tastes and, of course, what looks good at the market. Or maybe it’s simply dictated by something you have been craving to cook and eat. Whim and whimsy (and changing your mind) can be part of the process, too. Whether it’s a dinner party or a casual dinner, your goal should be a collection of cohesive elements. You want flavors that will complement one another and at least a loose plan for how it will all go together. Will it be an orderly progression of single dishes — a first course, a main course and dessert? Or will it all go on the table at once, as with, say, pasta al forno and a gorgeous green salad? That’s the menu, and that’s the meal, and that’s fine. At my house, we often start out in the kitchen with drinks and stand-up snacks, then move to the table for the main course. Other times, we may like to spend a little more time at the table.