LIFESTYLE SUMMER ENTERTAINING SHOULD BE CHILL
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The weather is warming and COVID restrictions are lifting, and getting together with friends and family is more important than ever. Neighbourhood Media’s own Robert Everett shares his thoughts on opening your heart and pantry and achieving simple success.
I LOVE to cook and inviting friends over to eat has always been ACCEPT FAILURES (and serve them anyway) one of my favorite things to do. However, dinner parties and We all have failures, but does it really matter if it looks like it’s BBQs can stress me to the point where, once the last pot is already been eaten? washed and the dishwasher has been loaded, I have been known No. to exhale a passionate “never again!” My Steamed Orange pudding incident of 2018 has gone down That’s why I have some hard and fast rules when it comes to in the annals of dinner party infamy amongst my friends and still hosting dinner parties, and they have held me in good stead and causes mirth to this day. I may never live down serving something made life much easier. that looked like a steaming pile of something KEEP IT SIMPLE. else, but the laughter it caused made it worthMy first rule is simple: keep it simple. while. DINNER PARTIES CAN Beans on toast is maybe too simple, but unless Embarrassing? Yes. AND OFTEN ARE A STRESSFUL you’re cooking for your boss or Nigella Lawson Tasty? Absolutely. the food at any dinner party is and always should IT’S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION MINEFIELD, SO LESSEN THE STRESS be secondary; it is the conduit, the excuse for Setting a table, or decorating the garden or AND RUSTLE UP AN OLD FAVORITE conversation, friendship and a good evening. terrace makes the simplest of servings someYOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW Sweating away in the kitchen for the day only thing special. I have a tendency to go a bit far to be too tired or frustrated to enjoy some good when I’m setting my table for friends, but for me YOU CAN NAIL. company is no fun for anyone, so keeping things that’s the fun part. Candles in jam jars, swathes as simple as possible leaves you free to enjoy the of Rosemary in terra-cotta pots from the Reject reasons for inviting friends over in the first place. Shop (if not the shed), a dozen vases and misAnd this brings me to my second rule: matched teacups from Vinnies with a few flowers and tea-lights. TRIED AND TESTED It is a chance to really set a mood for the evening’s entertainment Whether it is the traditional BBQ in the garden or a sit-down and conversation. at home, now is not the time for experimentation. Just because I have repurposed pretty much everything in the house at one Nigella can do it with one eye closed while writing her latest best time or another in the pursuit of knocking up a centrepiece that seller doesn’t mean us mere mortals can as well. makes the table look inviting. There is no right or wrong way to Do what you know. achieve this. Whether pauper or prince, using one’s creativity to Dinner parties can and often are a stressful minefield, so lessen garnish the table and the food is such a fun way to delight guests the stress and rustle up an old favorite you absolutely know you and welcome them. can nail. Bon appetite!
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