Join us for the final episode in our cookery school, where we'll teach you essential dinner party cooking skills and share some fantastic outdoor cooking tips to help you host a memorable meal.
Episode 8 : Notepad
Make Memorable Meals Happen
I hope you enjoyed episode 8. Here are the notes and a recipe below.
The final! Well done, you made it!
I hope this cookery school series has sparked an interest in cooking or food in general. This is simply an introduction and I think it covers the basic essentials.
5 principles of flavour
Indirect and Direct BBQ Cooking
5 Stages of Fire - Learning to cook on wood
Mise En Place - How to cook like a chef
Meat - Tough or Lean, cook it properly
Fish - Cure & Smoke
Fruit and Veg - Char and Flames
Hosting a memorable meal goes beyond just food. Here are my key tips for making your dinner party cooking a success.
People: Invite interesting individuals who contribute positively to the group. Whether it’s your usual friends or family, consider the impact any new guests might have. Religion, politics, and moral beliefs can transform an enjoyable meal into a heated debate! Some guests can be a bit too loud at times (like myself). Think about whether you want a chilled evening or one filled with fun and laughter. It’s essential that all guests enjoy the meal!
Ambience: This is crucial! Your guests taste your food last. I will break it down into key components.
- Invitation: How will you send it? A letter, a bouquet, or a thoughtful gift?
- The Table: I love local touches on the table, maybe flowers or even a talking point. Consider the lighting and atmosphere of your event.
- Music: Have your playlist ready before they arrive. I like to pace mine to remind me about cocktails, food courses, etc.
- Welcome drinks! I enjoy crafting special cocktails that have a story behind them.
- Time of day and location: A sunset is always a stunning backdrop. Think about the sun, shade, and prepare for rain if you’re in the UK!
Menu Planning: Don't try to impress people with your food; cook with confidence instead.
Too many meals can be spoiled by overly pretentious dishes that lack the skill to execute. Keep it simple and ensure you have time for your guests. They don’t need to see you stressing or standing at the stove all day. Here are my menu tips:
- Easy starters that can look great and be prepared in advance are ideal. This is why I love Gravlax. Plate it before they arrive. Cold starters are a fantastic choice.
- Main dishes that allow for braising, slow roasting, and can’t be overcooked are great options. I enjoy pork belly, lamb shoulders, and ox cheek. You can truly invest time and effort before guests arrive, making it in advance, so it just needs to be heated up. MISE EN PLACE CHEF!
- Desserts: I like to change the pace of the evening and usually invite guests to the campfire to finish the dessert there, creating a relaxed atmosphere that allows everyone to settle in for an extended evening.
Phones: Don’t show up to a meal for Instagram. Be present, enjoy the company, and do it for yourself, not for online followers. This is a pet hate of mine; I’ve spent too much time with "Influencers" who are more interested in capturing content than enjoying the moment. By all means, take a photo of us enjoying our time together, but maybe post about it later, or not at all. Some of my best meals are those that nobody knows about. It shows we were there for the meal and nothing else. That’s authenticity, and it’s a favorite ingredient of mine.
That’s the end. Make Food Memories Happen. Enjoy the food, but more importantly, enjoy the company. Food is a foundation of friendship for me.
This series was dedicated to my late great friend Mark Bunce. He was the first person I connected with through ChefCampers. He was behind the camera for most of the early content and was a massive help. From picking us up from Germany after an engine failure to showing up with random gifts, he encouraged me to create video content and loved to help. He believed in my vision and understood my approach to life. He never wanted to be on camera and was one of the most authentic people I have come across. He was aware that his time was limited, so the fact that he chose to spend it with us was a real privilege. He valued integrity and honesty, and we shared plenty of good meals that nobody knows about.
Make Food Memories Happen. Mark flew out to see us in Spain for 48 hours, so we spent a whole day enjoying a nice view and cooking together over the fire. It was sensational, and I couldn’t even tell you what we ate. It was the memorable experience, not just the food.