Dinner Party Menu Suggestions?

[Platypus]

Home made Tiramisu made with proper Amaretti buscuits and lots of alcohol. Make the night before or first thing in the morning so just whip out of the fridge when ready; Knocks spots off anything bought or had in a restaurant. Takes 5 mins to make.

Dip Amaretti biscuits in pure brandy/coffee/kalua/whatever then line glass bowl with them and add further 1/4 cup of alcohol/coffee mix on top. Cover with 250g-500g of marscapone mixed with 2 egg yolks and vanilla essence. Sprinkle with chocolate. Put in fridge overnight. Never failed me yet.

Nice one, thanks!

[Platypus]

Maybe you should share your ideas, so we don't waste our time.

But I don't want to stifle your creativity

[Bear]

To be honest - there's a lot of variables. Particularly in terms of the varied tastes of the diners. Unless i know the diners very well i tend not to do a joint of meat as i like it red, others like it black etc.

I'm a firm believer in the season and weather dictating what you eat to. This is the summer, nothing too heavy required, fresh produce is in abundance.

A nice Italian menu springs to mind:

Starters

Bruscheta, a french stick sliced, toasted and rubbed with garlic. This is done during the day and left until you want them. Prepare a mixture of toppings in advance, toms, mozzarella, pesto, roasted peppers, etc etc. 10 mins before you want to serve, top the bruscheta and stick under the grill for 5 mins, serve.

Mains

Lots of choices but i do a really really tasty risotto which is actually best made in advance (3-4 hours ahead) and then heated up when required. Made with gammon and lots of veg. Serve with some crusty bread. I make it in a huge pot and bring the whole thing to the table, people then help themselves. 1 pot wonders are great for saving time and effort.

Pudding

Again, light and fresh is the key for summer. I would suggest a Lemon Ricotta cake served with a vanilla mascapone cream (not suitable for dieters!). Again, all made in advance and brought to the table as required.

In all, you would be away from the table for little more than 20 mins!

I can provide detailed recipes for all the above if you want them. Now to think about the wine....

[Tensai]

Chicken Jalfrezi
Keema naan
Pilau Rice

Ice Cream & cold beer.


HTH

if you're in any way worried, the key is to get your guests trolleyed before the meal is served. That way they will be happy with anything, and would probably prefer a donner kebab with evrythng mate[slur.....]

[Pondlife]

I can't believe no ones mentioned pot noodles yet.

How very strange

[Charles Foster Kane]

Raw pork or rancid tuna. The subsequent food poisoning/diarrhea will enable your guests to lose around 12 pounds in only 2 days. They'll be most grateful.

[Weltchy]

Starters: -
A tomato and moz salad can be prepared wel in advance (buy a nice pesto sauce to dribble over before serving, or maybe quickly dry fry a few pine buts or something).
Or make a nice soup which can be cooked earlier and just reheated before serving.

Good choice. Caprese is one of my favourite Italian dishes, and makes a perfect starter. Always try to make sure to use buffalo mozzarella, which is pure white in colour, as opposed to the cheaper cows milk mozzarella, which is a pale yellow colour. Likewise, if your in or near Naples, pick up the real fresh stuff.

[Bear]

Good choice. Caprese is one of my favourite Italian dishes, and makes a perfect starter. Always try to make sure to use buffalo mozzarella, which is pure white in colour, as opposed to the cheaper cows milk mozzarella, which is a pale yellow colour. Likewise, if your in or near Naples, pick up the real fresh stuff.

And don't buy the crappy supermarket mozzarella, even their 'best of' ranges are poor and flavourless.

[TheBigYinJames]

And don't buy the crappy supermarket mozzarella, even their 'best of' ranges are poor and flavourless.

Mozarella loses it's flavour within an hour of grating it, so buying pre-grated is bound to be disappointing. If you can't buy it solid and grate yourself, then go to the deli at the last possible moment.

[Bear]

Mozarella loses it's flavour within an hour of grating it, so buying pre-grated is bound to be disappointing. If you can't buy it solid and grate yourself, then go to the deli at the last possible moment.

I never buy pre-grated. Unfortunately, i was talking about the solid mozzarella in the supermarket - very poor stuff.