This Is Not a Potluck | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 62

This week on The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni dive headfirst into one of their favorite shared joys: hosting dinner parties. THIS IS NOT A POTLUCK EPISODE. But don’t worry—this isn’t some Pinterest-perfect flex-fest. We’re talking real stories here: the Swedish meatballs that were…something else, the apple cider that somehow made it into the Thanksgiving gravy, and the cherry pie that earned Tim some serious pregnancy cravings points.

They also get into why dinner parties matter, how their approach has evolved since having kids, and what makes hosting feel so uniquely vulnerable and rewarding. There’s a surprising amount of research, too:

  • Did you know higher-pitched music makes food taste sweeter?
  • That dinner parties trace back to Ancient Greek symposiums (aka wine-fueled TED Talks)?
  • And yes, that playing music while you cook actually improves your food?

There’s a dive into The Office’s iconic dinner party episode (“That’s what she said!”), a ridiculous tots-in-a-bar story, and an improvised “menu-matching game” where playlist vibes determine what’s being served. Would you serve steak with Sinatra or mussels with Fleetwood Mac? You decide.

Whether you’re planning your next party, dodging another potluck invite, or just here for the stories, this episode’s got something warm, messy, and a little bit sweet—just like Tim’s birthday cakes.

🎧 Listen now!

The Travail Basement Bar The Office Dinner Party Theme Night Dinner Date | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 48

What happens when you combine Tim and Jenni Severson, a date night, and a dinner party themed around The Office? Pure magic—and a little chaos. In Episode 48 of The Kids Are In Bed, we’re breaking down our unforgettable experience at Travail’s Basement Bar, where the cocktails flowed freely, the food was top-notch, and the awkward comedy of Michael Scott and crew came to life in a unique tasting menu.

Here’s what you can expect:

An Office-Inspired Culinary Adventure
The dinner party was a multi-course tasting menu with paired cocktails, featuring everything from a chicken pot pie to a Frosty-inspired dessert complete with crispy potato bits. Each dish was a nod to iconic Office moments, like Michael’s Foreman Grill mishap and the chaos of the Fun Run. The standout? A perfectly executed beet salad (and that’s saying something because we’re usually anti-beet).

Cocktails & Chaos
We sat at the bar—prime real estate for watching the magic (and booze) unfold. Highlights included “the best cocktail” Jenni has ever had out of a thrifted tea cup and beet cocktail with a sweet pear foam. Watching the drinks come together was a show in itself.

Performance Art & Parkour
The night wasn’t just about food. From parkour to an impromptu Fun Run that took us sprinting through the restaurant (yes, really), the evening felt like being dropped into an episode of The Office. And the trivia at the end? Let’s just say not everyone there was a diehard fan.

Laughs, Nostalgia & New Friends
Between meeting strangers who accidentally showed up on the wrong night (but stayed anyway) and reliving some of the best Office moments, the night was full of quirky surprises. Plus, Tim’s Dunder Mifflin T-shirt even got him compliments from fellow fans, proving its magic once again.

If you’ve never been to Travail, consider this your sign. Whether it’s an Office night or any of their other themed experiences, you won’t regret it.