Lessons from the Kitchen

I love cooking and after receiving some fabulous compliments the other night I thought I would use this blog to blow my own trumpet a bit and pass on success tips.

Compliment 1. I will never ask you to my house for dinner – I will take you to a restaurant – your food is so good.
Compliment 2. One day I will come to you for cooking lessons.

Despite enjoying these compliments, I don’t consider myself to be that fantastic a chef. What I do very well though is to plan a dinner or lunch party exceptionally well – and this turns into a lesson.

So, what makes my parties a success? I spend a lot of time planning - and this is the process I follow:

· Invite the guests
· Decide on the budget
· Set the menu and wine/drinks requirements according to the budget
· Check the food and wine inventory and hit the shops for what is required
· Check the resources: flatware, cutlery etc
· Make changes to menu if appropriate (cant get certain ingredients)
· Do the meal project plan ie. Pre-cooking, timing, wine on ice, drinks in the fridge, the table, flowers etc
· Enlist aid of daughter where applicable (she is a great cook, by the way)
· Cook up a storm
· Greet guests and have a wonderful time.

Hmmmmm. Sound familiar? Just what all the business books tell us to do - plan, plan and plan, execute the plan, make changes where appropriate and deliver the goods.

And what do I get out of the parties? A great meal that I loved cooking, great conversation and great time with my friends – success – mission accomplished!

In case you want to know, I served the following:
· Foie Gras (for my French friends), smoked salmon mousse with Melba Toast
· A parfait of fresh tomato and sweet red pepper soup with vanilla cream
· De-boned chicken stuffed with yellow pepper, fresh herbs and sausage meat, cooked on a bed of carrots, celery and onions.
· Veggies: Sliced courgette with lemon olive oil, creamy polenta
· To finish: fresh pears poached in red wine, lavender and honey served with crème anglais.