EP 8 - Dinner Party

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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 the series has sparked an interest in cooking or in 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 
• Fuit and Veg - Char and Flames

Hosting a memorable meal is more than just food.  Here are my key tips for helping make it a success.

People : Invite interesting people who contribute to the group.  Maybe it's just your usual friends or family, but if you invite anyone else, consider the impact they might have on the group.  Religion, Politics and Moral beliefs are things that can make an enjoyable meal turn into a heated debate!  Some people can be a bit too loud at times (like myself).  Consider if you want a chilled evening, or one filled with fun and laughter, everyone is different and it's important all guests enjoy the meal!

Ambience : This is so important! Your guests taste your food last.  I will break it down in to key compontents.

• Invitation - how are you going to send it? A letter, a bunch of flowers, a gift?
• The Table is decorated, I like local things on the table, maybe flowers or even a talking point.  Consider the lighting and the atmosphere of your event. 
• Music - Have you playlist ready before they arrive, I like to pace mine to remind me about cocktails, food courses etc.
• Welcome drinks!  I like to make special cocktails that have a story behind them
• Time of day and location - A sunset is always a great backdrop.  Consider the sun, shade and prepare for rain if you are in the UK!

Menu Planning : Don't try an impress people with you food, cook with confidence instead.

Too many meals can be spoilt by overly pretentious food that lacks the skill to execute it.  Keep it simple and make sure you have time for your guests.  They don't need to see you stressing or standing all day at a stove. Here are my menu tips;

• Easy Starter that can look great and be made in advance.  This is why I love Gravlax.  Plate it before they arrive.  Cold starters are a great choice
• Main dishes that require braising, slow roasting and can't be overcooked are a good choice.  I like pork belly, lamb shoulders and ox cheek.  You can really put in the time and effort before the guests arrives, making it in advance, so it just needs bringing back up to temperature.  MISE EN PLACE CHEF!
• Desserts - I like to change the pace of the evening and usually invite guests to the campfire and finish the dessert there, it gives a great relaxed atmosphere and allows people to settle in for an extended evening. 

Phones - Don't turn up to a meal for instagram.  Be present, enjoy the company and do it for yourself, not for online followers.  Sorry, this is a pet hate of mine, I have spent too much time with "Influencers" who are more interested in capturing content and only do things as it will look good.  By all means, take a photo of us enjoying the time together, but maybe post about it another time, or don't post at all.  Some of my best meals are the ones where nobody knows about them.  It shows we were only there for the meal and nothing else.  That's authenticity and that's a favourite 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 became friends with due to ChefCampers.  He was behind the camera on most of the early stuff and a massive help.  From picking us up from Germany after an engine failure, to turning 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 he chose to spend it with us was a real privilege.  He valued integrity, honesty and we had 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 looking at a nice view and cooking together on the fire.  It was sensational and I couldn't even tell you what we ate. It was the meal that was memorable, not the food.