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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 19, 2006 19:01:41 GMT
Hi, I recently bumped into a friend I hadn't seen for years and invited herself and her hubby round for a meal. She was sooooo excited and pleased and said she's run it over with him and give me a ring. She's just rang, accepted the invitation for which they are both really looking forward to. THEN CAME THE BOMBSHELL.......she casually dropped into the conversation that her husband was......[glow=red,2,300]A CHEF WITH HIS OWN RESTAURANT  [/glow]. Please, please has anybody got a spectacular, relatively easy recipe that tastes like nothing else on the planet?  !!!! Unless it can be prepared the night before, I'm only going to have a couple of hours to prepare and cook!!! Yours desperately, SS x  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 19, 2006 19:07:54 GMT
Aaaarrgghhhhhh!!!! Poor you but sorry I'm a rubbish cook. Could you tell him you're some very obscure sort of foodie fanatic and give him a plateful of raw um, something......or buy a takeaway and pretend you've cooked it? P'raps if he's a chef he'd like something really plain and ordinary? Or a table of finger food and dips? GOOD LUCK!
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Post by beejay on Oct 19, 2006 19:12:45 GMT
Susie, I haven't really got any suggestions but I would say:
!. Keep it simple rather than going for something fancy to impress;
2. He probably gets fed up with people trying to impress him or getting in a tizzy.
They are coming to see you & that's what's important.
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 19, 2006 19:15:34 GMT
Oh oh oh oh oh oh....thanks chaps...plain and ordinary....ermmmm......beans on toast |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2006 20:30:59 GMT
A chef with his own restaurant (maybe it's a chip shop) ;D
What dish are you most complimented about then go with that. what about apple crumble for desert you can buy the crumble topping ready to put on top so all you need to do is cook the apples for about 10 minutes then put them into a dish and put crumble on top and cook as instructed on package. Good luck you could serve with cream or custard.
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Post by lottielady on Oct 19, 2006 20:46:36 GMT
Do what I do and CHEAT!!!! Go to M&S and buy something fancy ready made - they do some lovely salmon dishes with watercress sauce , you can get the veggies ready done too and their tangy lemon cheesecake is fab! No stress dinner party!
Lazy Lottie!
X
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Post by skarloey on Oct 19, 2006 20:54:50 GMT
What about a veggie dish? I've got a DE-LISH chickpea roast (chickpeas, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, walnuts, sweetcorn etc wrapped up in puff pastry). Let me know if you want it!
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Post by Jonah on Oct 19, 2006 21:03:00 GMT
ooh Skarloey, you're making me hungry!  I don't envy you Suzie, I would be in a terrible tizz as I am a nervous wreck. But I would probably stick to something simple and easy like a Shepherds Pie with lots of steaming veg on the table to help yourself to. Now it's getting colder out there, I find that sort of thing nice and comforting [always do a veggie one for me and meat for the rest of them], plus you can chuck it all in a leave it alone - well I do anyway!! ;D You could have a nice traditional pud and fruit salad as another option in case it is something they don't like. I'm off to raid the fridge............ |
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Post by skarloey on Oct 19, 2006 21:10:32 GMT
Hi Jonah, I'll dig the recipe out tomorrow  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2006 21:37:15 GMT
I have a couple of friends who are chefs, and they never get invited out anywhere because people are scared they will turn their nose up at the cooking. They don't. They are just pleased that someone else is doing the cooking for a change. Believe me just cook some fairly simple stuff with really good ingedients and he will be really impressed,honestly. How about a simple starter. Some good Parma ham served with a beautifuly ripe pear, cut in half,cored and then sliced and fanned like avacado. Serve with a teaspoon or two of ginger mayonnaise (Helmans - grate a 2" piece of ginger and squeeze a dozen drops of the juice into about two tablespoons of mayo - leave for a coiple of hours for the flavour to develop) a little heap of watercress and a couple of thin slices of walnut bread and butter. Simple, and very effective. Can be prepared in advance and plated up. Main. Coq au Vin or a really good good Beef Stroganoff - long slow cooking - so just dishing up when ready. Served with buttered cabbage and another seasonal vegatable.Cook the casserole the night before, it will taste even better, and then just reheat and do the veg. Dessert. French Apple Pie. Make a thick apple puree with Bramleys - flavour with cinnamon and sweeten with brown sugar, Put onto pastry base and then thinly slice some (2-3) eating apples and arrange on top of puree - no sugar or anything - cover with pastry - egg wash and sprinkle with demerara. Serve at room temperature with some pouring cream or creme fraiche. Delish  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2006 22:34:28 GMT
I have a couple of friends who are chefs, and they never get invited out anywhere because people are scared they will turn their nose up at the cooking. They don't. They are just pleased that someone else is doing the cooking for a change. I'm in complete agreement with Dee. I have an acquaintance colleague friend who is Michelin rated <and I'm not talking tyre depth levels> who I have had to cook for. I tell him "you are about to get a Yorkshire delicacy"! When he asks what's that.....I tell him "You'll be just be flippin' grateful you're getting anything". Never had a complaint about my food from him, though the napkins, cutlery and lighting etc do get taken to the (very humorous) cleaners, together with anything the lovely Mrs C rumbles up because it's inevitably Indian derived! Look at it like spending Christmas with a billionaire - they have everything but appreciation - Your own meagre effort is so much more appreciated than chucking £'s at it...... |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 20, 2006 8:02:31 GMT
Oh BOY Susie! That's a challenge. As already advised, cook something simple, that you know you can do well. Try not to let it worry you and just remember that he is probably pleased to have someone else cooking for him! He's not Gordon Ramsay is he?
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 20, 2006 8:58:25 GMT
Susie I just had a vision of your dinner table with all the dishes adorned with your lovely flower arrangements! Drape some herby/edible leafy/flowers around the savoury courses and some OTT flowery thingies on the dessert course and it won't matter what they taste like!(Obviously I'm sure they'll be fine). The Chef will be overcome by your brilliance, he'll want you to do the same in his restaurant and you'll have a whole new career! Good, eh?
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 20, 2006 9:23:46 GMT
Oh BOY Susie! That's a challenge. As already advised, cook something simple, that you know you can do well. Try not to let it worry you and just remember that he is probably pleased to have someone else cooking for him! He's not Gordon Ramsay is he? OMG..... ....I hope not..... |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 20, 2006 9:24:41 GMT
Susie I just had a vision of your dinner table with all the dishes adorned with your lovely flower arrangements! Drape some herby/edible leafy/flowers around the savoury courses and some OTT flowery thingies on the dessert course and it won't matter what they taste like!(Obviously I'm sure they'll be fine). The Chef will be overcome by your brilliance, he'll want you to do the same in his restaurant and you'll have a whole new career! Good, eh? Ermmmmmmm..  ..........thanks for that  |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 20, 2006 9:32:23 GMT
I tell him "you are about to get a Yorkshire delicacy"! When he asks what's that.....I tell him "You'll be just be flippin' grateful you're getting anything". Excellent CC......knew I could rely on you......I shall learn that off my heart.... ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2006 10:55:32 GMT
I agree with everything that has been said so far - essentially, cook within your capabilities, and go for the warm, welcoming, homely feel. On the food side, I think lots of fresh bread is always welcome, lovely to nibble on with cheeses, which we have before the pudding (I think that is a French tradition). Whatever you choose, remember to enjoy the occasion ... |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 20, 2006 11:26:34 GMT
He's not Gordon Ramsay is he? OMG..... ....I hope not..... Oh Susie I was JOKING! Of course he's not Gordon Ramsay - GR has loads of restaurants doesn't he? And surely you know your friends surname!!!!! ;D I hope it all goes well and look forward to hearing from you afterwards.  |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 20, 2006 11:34:35 GMT
Hee hee hee..........so was I P . His name's John ;D S x |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 20, 2006 14:26:14 GMT
Phew!!! Are you sure John's not a pseudonym? ? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2006 19:22:32 GMT
Susie
He'll be so dazzled by your beauty that he'd eat sh*t with sugar on and not notice ;D
Like the beans on toast idea but if you want to make it really [glow=red,2,300]exotic[/glow]try grilling some bangers, cut them up and bung them in the beans with some chopped mushrooms then plop that lot on toast and grate some cheese on top. Fantastic !!
I would take on board the advice of everyone else - just keep the food simple and something YOU like and you know how to cook. I'm sure you'll "wow" them !
FA x
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 21, 2006 14:51:41 GMT
Hmmm, FA, I've taken on board what you've said and after much deliberation decided to completely ignore it ;D ;D Sh*t with sugar on................what wine would you serve with that S x |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2006 15:12:43 GMT
Probably a bottle of Buckfast Tonic Wine or a nice corked bottle of sweet sparkling red |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 21, 2006 15:14:12 GMT
Thanks for the tip Dee ;D ;D
Thought FA might donate a bottle of his carrot whisky ;D
S
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2006 15:15:01 GMT
Hee hee hee..........so was I P . His name's John ;D S x John? Not John Tovey - gasp! John Burton Race - OMG! |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 21, 2006 15:16:49 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]DON'T DO THIS TO ME........... [/glow] |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2006 15:40:24 GMT
Sorry Suzie (((hugs))) |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 21, 2006 15:48:22 GMT
Who's the first chap Dee? Is it either of them then Susie? |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Oct 21, 2006 16:11:53 GMT
Naughty Plocket ;D You be really p*ssed off if it was John E Depp ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 21, 2006 16:22:36 GMT
So when is this occasion Susie? I'm looking forward to hearing all about it! And it can't be John B R as he's in Dartmouth isn't he? If it's John E Depp - who cares what you eat - just take LOTS of pictures.......
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!!!! Unless it can be prepared the night before, I'm only going to have a couple of hours to prepare and cook!!!
..........thanks for that 