To fuck or to cook?

[Sidd Finch]

The dinner for 40 (actually about 25 or so) was a success. Messy, but a success.

Conceptually, I went with French food, but that could be eaten more buffet or tapas style than sit-down. Several tarts, both savory (onion) and sweet (choc-hazelnut, strawberry,* and pear-almond). A number of veggie dishes (celery root, carrot, asparagus-green bean, and a couple of others). Main coursey items included brochettes (French for kabobs -- the pork/pinapple/bacon wrapped prune ones were a real hit), potato gratin (mmmm.... equal parts potato, cheese, and creme fraiche.... a heart attack in every casserole), baked tomatoes (which honestly were mediocre, I should have used a different variety or cored the ones I used), and the piece de resistance -- a pate of duck, chicken, and bacon wrapped in puff pastry.

Puff pastry is such wonderful stuff. A complete hassle to make, but more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

I think I will be eating only salad and raw vegetables for the next 3 days.



*with preserves made by our own Fred Muggs.