FOOD & WINE DISCUSSION
meneia
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:27am
Party Planning - British Food
I'm hosting a royal wedding party, and trying to figure out what to serve. I was originally thinking high tea type food (scones, dainty sandwiches, small cakes) but then I got to thinking about mini yorkshire puddings, so thought about doing savoury canapes. And then I thought "Well, since everyone will be coming straight from work, why not make a proper dinner" but the only things I can think of as typically English are fish and chips or bangers and mash. Do you think a dinner is a better idea than canapes? What could I cook that is traditionally British? It's started to cool down here now, so I can use the oven.MIREILLE'S CALENDAR
Click here to view Mireille's CalendarACTIVE FORUM TOPICS
RELATED
FRENCH_WOMEN ON TWITTER
- RT@ChefCarmenG my new restaurant Carmen at the Danforth will open in Portland,... http://t.co/MWad1iVq — 4 days 4 hours ago
- How to use up the frozen blueberries from last summer still in my freezer? http://t.co/OC7JLV7H — 4 days 4 hours ago
- @lydng No, the one and only is in the Big Apple — 1 week 4 days ago
- Croissant class anyone... head to Mille-feuille http://t.co/Pdnki8kd — 1 week 5 days ago
- @culinarylibrari K's CI is a fancy title for what I referred to in my book as "use your head".... I don't take (cont) http://t.co/a0j4JEhL — 1 week 5 days ago
STAY AU COURANT
Sign up for the newsletter to receive news, special features and more.
Visit the fan page on Facebook
meneia
POSTED: Fri, 04/29/2011 - 5:34pm
Party Post Mortem
The party went well. I had two last minute cancellations so ended up with too much food, but otherwise it would have been about right. I ended up doing a cheese platter, mini sausage rolls with mini roast potatoes, scones with jam and cream, and didn't end up pulling out the McVities chocolate digestives as everyone had already had enough (I orinally thought the wedding was on the Saturday, so had to go with things which wouldn't take much time to prepare instead). I did buy a bottle of Veuve Cliquot, and I'm glad I did as it was delicious. I thought the ceremony was lovely and Westminster Abbey looked great, I liked Kate's dress, but I didn't understand the maid of honour's dress. All in all it went well.meneia
POSTED: Tue, 04/19/2011 - 6:58am
Finger Foods
I like the idea of doing a range of finger foods. I'll have to do Eton mess and cucumber sandwiches, and one of my friends is enthusiastic about the idea of making scones. And I could also do homemade sausage rolls and a couple of other savouries to make it more filling. We're lucky here in that the ceremony starts at 8pm local time on the Friday night, so it's ideal for a party. I'll also check out that website for more ideas. Thanks.vickie2
POSTED: Tue, 04/19/2011 - 11:50am
Great website
Hi Meneia, I wanted to share a website with you: http://www.teatimemagazine.com/index.aspx I subscribe to this magazine. Both the website and the magazine have wonderful afternoon tea recipes and ideas. Enjoy your party and let us know how it turns out!vickie2
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:29pm
Food
How about doing "heavy hors d'oeuvres," which is what we (in the US) refer to when describing substantial and filling finger foods? Could you do some sliced bangers on a platter along with some savory canapes, salad, etc.? I think it really depends if you want everyone to sit at a table or just sit casually on the couch/chairs. I would do what is easiest for you so you can mingle with your guests and not get stuck in the kitchen. Your party sounds so fun! Enjoy!Ava
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 5:36pm
I think afternoon tea is in keeping...
Plenty of cucumber sandwiches (buttered to the very edges - and crusts removed - cucumber sliced wafer thin with a mandoline); scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam, definitely Eton mess (as suggested by Marilyn), champagne (or elderflower champagne for those driving), lashings of tea! Dainty pastries, cup cakes & macarons.You could try this website for ideas on what to serve (each afternoon tea is different but full of lovely inspiration)... http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/
Don't forget the silverware, cake stands, bone china, linen table cloth & napkins...paperchains & flags!
Have fun!
Marilyn
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:24am
British food
I suppose the best known one is roast beef with yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables (don't forget the gravy!). Pudding could be apple pie and cream. The afternoon tea idea is quintessentially British, of course, and to be honest is my favourite. If it is really hot you could go down the cold meats and salad route, potato salad, coleslaw, green salad, tomato salad, cucumber salad etc. Pudding could be Eton Mess (a mixture of meringue, cream and either raspberries or strawberries). Hope that helps.Vintage1944
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:05am
What fun!
A roast of some kind...chicken,beef.lamb with Yorkshire pudding,potatoes,carrots etc.Or you could stick with the finger foods idea and do both savoury and sweet.Do what is simplest for you .You want to enjoy the festivities too.We plan on rising at the ungodly hour of 3a.m.,as that is when the broadcast starts here.Our menu will be quite Montreal style,lox,bagels,cream cheese,lashings of good strong coffee and Mimosas.Or maybe scrambled eggs and toast or Eggs Benedict.
I wonder what others are planning?
Marilyn
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:31am
Jean
You must be mad!!! I think there is more excitement in the USA/Canada about this wedding than there is over here!! Whilst we appreciate that other countries love our Royals some over here tend to think that, in this age of credit crunch and national debt, the money could be spent more usefully. I can see both sides. I'll watch some of it but to be quite honest it will be to people and fashion watch. There is such a load of media hype and dragging up of past royal problems that I feel sorry for the couple getting married when they know that every move will come in for media criticism. But whatever you do enjoy, I will have a bottle of sparkling on hand and will toast you all.Vintage1944
POSTED: Tue, 04/19/2011 - 12:11am
Marilyn
We are mad.We love a good show,here.The media frenzy is rediculous,.and often cruel.I saw a short bit of a show on the Royals and it was all critical.They are surely under unkind scrutiny.
We will have bubbly,too.We will toast you.OXO
Ava
POSTED: Mon, 04/18/2011 - 6:04pm
I agree...
... though thankfully I have managed to miss most of the media circus surrounding this event. Most amusing though to see they've been ferreting out far flung relatives and third cousins twice removed in a bid to make her seem 'normal'. Of course she's normal! She's just like the rest of us ... but she was fortunate to have had parents with enough money to send her to a school where she just happened to attract the attention of a young prince ... and so the 'fairy tale' continues.And of course, what this country needs (or so the cabinet thinks) at a time of crises is a jolly good fairy tale - or rather Royal Wedding (or even double wedding if you include Zara Phillips and her beau ... which most people have conveniently forgotten about).
The media are quite frankly, at the best of times, animals and I do rather hope that they won't make Miss Middleton the next Diana (or clotheshorse as Diana ended up being). Don't get me wrong ...I liked Di as much as the next woman and just happened to be in Paris the very weekend after the crash ... the sadness and shock of the whole thing ... the news stands emblazoned with 'adieu princesse'. The stillness and silence of the city.
Anyhow, I'm sure this wedding will end in a happy way, as there will have been a huge vetting process and the consideration of whether she is suitable or not for 'Royalty'. They won't want to make the same mistakes twice. As we can already see, Kate has been 'moulded' into a new 'Kate' in preparation for her role.
Will I be watching the wedding? Probably - what woman can resist a peek at 'the dress'! Besides, I love the horses and elements of the pomp & ceremony - only in Blighty eh!