I used to do a great deal of entertaining. Most of it involved food. Usually it involved providing dinner for up to 12 (the number in my 'dinner party circle'). However I prefered 10 which was the number that would fit very comfortably around my dinner table. As it was not uncommon for a couple not to be able to come there was rarely a full complement anyway. That was all so long ago. Now unless I have visitors staying I rarely cater for more than three or four.
I was wondering to myself the other day whether this was because giving dinner parties has gone out of fashion or because of changing social intercourse. On consideration there are various factors.
Many of the social crowd that I was part of have died or left the Island. Most of my friends are of a similar age to me and, frankly, much as we all love getting together and even sharing food together, none of us wants to spend two days preparing and cooking a meal for a dozen people. So life is much simpler.
The reason this subject popped into my mind was that, despite getting rid of most of my cookery books, the remnants still account for 18" of bookshelf.
I last gave friends dinner last weekend and I am just about coming to terms with the fact that we thoroughly enjoyed the meal (you can tell when people are just being polite!) and that the wonderful "home made" beef steak pie was 'home made' by one of the local butchers. The three local butchers that I and my friends shop at all vie for which can make the biggest variety and the best beef and steak and kidney pies. Not only that they all make their own lasagnes and all manner of things. It's one of the advantages of having local butchers one of whom at least still has a farm with it's own livestock.
Ah yes. Our "dinner party circle" of 10 friends used to meet up regularly and we would socialise at each other's homes every month with a 3 or 4 course meal. Whereas I used to provide a lavish meal once a month, it is now generally once or twice a year. Even then I cheat with bought in components of the meal instead of all cooked from scratch. The company is still the best part though.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that I'm not alone JayCee. I am fortunate that, despite many being deceased, I still have many friends with whom I socialise. I had morning coffee with two friends and then lunch with another (all at my preferred Woodlands venue). This afternoon I was at the charity shop. This evening my pal Anna will be phoning. I love living on my own but I don't think I'd cope with 'being alone'.
DeleteSome dinner party groups get a bit competitive. However one I know of chooses an old (pre-1980) recipe book for each meet up, the host makes the main course from it and the guests each bring a dish (from it) of their own choosing. They make only the quantity of the tecipe so its sort of a tasting menu.
ReplyDeleteSo far as I am aware (but, being a man , I could, of course, be wrong) none of our group were competitive. We were all pretty competent cooks and just provided as interesting food as we could.
DeleteWe still entertain fairly frequently and our friends reciprocate. Our preference is for one or two couples at a time, which means that everyone can be involved in the conversation around the table. Our dining room table seats eight and sometimes there are eight of us, but four or six is our preference. We still cook the entire meal from scratch but the dishes are a little less elaborate than in times past. This form of socialization is a great part of life. Sometimes we invite people for lunch instead of dinner and that’s much easier.
ReplyDeleteOddly, David, if I meet friends for lunch (as I did today and do frequently) we always meet in town. As noone I know drinks alcohol at lunchtime (an evening dinner without wine wouldn't be complete unless you are the driver!) the dynamic is slightly different because instead of going home to bed you are 'getting on with life' after the meal so relaxing isn't quite the same.
DeleteDo you wear a toque when slaving in the kitchen? I have never really been into dinner parties but I guess that it is a nice way to bring people you like together for conversation and laughter.
ReplyDeleteI was given a toque many moons ago and for a while I wore it with pride. I'm sure it will still be knocking around somewhere.
DeleteYes giving dinner parties has gone by the way in our home too. Mostly because it is just too much work for us now. Instead we go out to lunch with friends. No messing in the kitchen and no washing dishes or at least no stacking the dishwasher. We have got lazy in our old age.
ReplyDeleteDiane, as I said I still do dinners but for fewer. Lunches out with friends is quite common. Morning coffee at The Woodlands is an even more regular occurrence.
DeleteI am much the same. I've had dinner parties for 50 in the past, but these days I prefer just 4. I've just heard that Tr*mp's mother came from your island. That's quite some legacy!
ReplyDeleteCro, I am in awe. I've never catered for more than 20 for a meal and that was a rarity. The only near 50 I can recall was my 60th birthday and that was a BBQ in the garden and conservatory.
DeleteWe used to but don't now. We rarely have large family gatherings now - if we all get together there are about thirty of us, but we are too far-flung and too busy to organise such meetings now. I fear we are approaching the 'meet only at funerals' stage. Cheerful thought!
ReplyDeleteJanice, I don't have enough family on the Island to have a large family gathering.
DeleteI love dinner parties, but can't really host one in my flat since my dining table is too small and tucked in a corner of the kitchen. That's why, when I do have parties, I usually concentrate on drinks and fingerfood, and everyone can wander about between my living room, study and kitchen (all of which are relatively small).
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to cooking for several people, I have never cooked for more than six at a time, and my usual number of eaters is two - O.K. and myself.
I think I'd really enjoy one of your dinners, Graham - both the food as well as the company!
I think the company is more important than the food so when I do have family or friends over, I like to keep it simple.
ReplyDeleteI think you answered your own question. It's just too much work to make huge dinners. We are in a drive thru, take out era.
ReplyDeleteAge and dinner tables have a charming relationship that evolves as birthday candles increase. From what I read on blogs, the younger crowd is into dinner parties. In my elderly world, when the number of guests decreased by one, our gatherings stopped.
ReplyDeleteMay aka Salty Pumpkin Studio