That don't impress me much

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 2:35PM, 15 June 2010 by Joanna Cary - Food blogger

There's something dispiriting about finding the words 'serve your guests' in a recipe.

If it's a chef writing - and Raymond Blanc is a particular offender, albeit in an alluring French accent - the chances are the recipe won't be much good for a domestic kitchen, particularly when there's an invited audience to see your every shortcut or mistake.

There's only half an hour between getting home and your friends arriving expecting dinner, which makes the puddle of four-hour jus a no-no

Chefs forget that there's no underling to prep and clear, that the storecupboard may well not contain quite that many flavours, and that there's only half an hour between getting home and your friends arriving expecting dinner, which makes the puddle of four-hour jus a no-no. Lobster curry with tamarind, roasted coconut, ginger and coriander, anyone? It's Skye Gyngell, there's a list of ingredients as long as your arm, including 'four very fresh, live lobsters'. Instant recipe for a totally stressed-out evening.

On the other hand, if it's a cook's recipe - say, Delia, Nigel or Nigella - then you often get the sort of gussied up food that is inimical to good eating, the sort that is supposed to impress visitors. I give you 'Duck breasts with pomegranate and mint' (Nigella's 'perfect dinner party' recipe, since you ask). There's a strong hint that it's okay not to cook unless there's an audience, that it's okay to eat ping pap from the microwave-via-the-supermarket when nobody's looking.

One of the best meals I've ever been served by a friend was scrambled eggs on toast with smoked salmon and a little salad. Literally everyday food. But: eggs and greens from the garden, home-baked bread, salmon caught and smoked by her husband. She wasn't trying to impress, she was sharing what they would have eaten had we not been there. It was more hospitable than any amount of prissying around with exotic, half-understood fashion ingredients. No stress, no recipe, no trying to impress. But making a huge statement about good food and about friendship.

Comments

SammieN

16 June 2010, 10:15PM
SammieN

If you buy chef's cookbooks, you expect to get complicated dinner party recipes, as chefs are usually cooking in restaurants for guests... I don't think there's any need to get stressed or make a big fuss about making dinner for friends - I think something simple like lasange or a roast goes down well. However, a lot of people (myself included) enjoy the challenge and time spent in the kitchen making things you wouldn't usually cook. If you enjoy it, go for it, if it stresses you out, do simple and satisfying.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Bombisky

11 July 2010, 1:22AM
Bombisky

Why do all Chefs say a BIT of liquid when it is a drop my mother used get really angry with me if I said a bit of liquid

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Gillian Scotland

15 July 2010, 12:00AM
Gillian Scotland

Don't invite people, simple Less stress You can eat whatever you want dressed in what ever attire you want And leave when you want and then come back again Bliss

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Jo H

28 August 2010, 12:12PM
Jo H

We often invite friends over for a meal. Eating good food in good company in the comfort of our home is the best thing that I know especially where small kids are involved. My one and only rule is to keep it as simple as possible. I even like to involve my friends, especially close ones, to give a hand while I'm cooking. No need for fancy and expensive ingredients neither. With seasonal fruit and vegetables one can make very impressive dishes. Even a simple dish can be delightful eaten with people that you like!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Jo. x

1 September 2010, 11:20AM
Jo. x

I totally agreed with SammieN. I relish looking over cookbooks to cook new unique things. I wouldn't go as far as lobster curry with live lobsters in the article, but often, you want to try a recipe out or sometimes you dont want 6 different servings of a meal that you can't cut down. Feel free to do a buffet or a good Ploughman's if you don't like cooking but I also think guests appreciate the effort put into their meal :)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons to sign up:

You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.
You can sign up for our weekly newsletter (sent out on Wednesdays) - it's packed with recipes, special offers and competitions.