A good host is organised but not pedantic, relaxed but still attentive. Simple food that can be prepped beforehand is crucial, lending a casual carefree atmosphere that your guests will not appreciate until after they have gone home, and reflected on what an effortlessly pleasant time was had by all.
Dips and nibblesAn
Australia Day lunch hosted by R, A and C was a classic textbook example. Despite A, T and I arriving late, our hosts were gracious and welcoming. There were delicious tidbits to nibble upon on arrival, lunch was simple but tasty and delicious, and everyone was relaxed and unharried.
Fresh crusty breadCubes of top-quality
beef rump and peeled green prawns had been purchased then marinated and threaded onto skewers that morning.
Prepped-up surf and turf kebabs (prawns and beef)
As lunchtime neared, the chef politely excused herself and within fifteen minutes, lunch was cooked and ready.
Three minutes on the grill panA fresh colourful salad of
tabbouleh was livened with chilli-basted chargrilled zucchini (courgettes) and smashings of creamy goats cheese.
Call it surf-and-turf, beef-and-reef or whatever rhyming nickname you please, but the
prawn and beef kebabs were tender, tasty and utterly delicious.
Simple tasty Australia Day lunch:surf and turf kebabs with tabbouleh saladPlates were cleared and dessert materialised.
Oranges had been peeled and soaked with a
Cointreau sugar syrup, then baked in the oven to warm the boozy citrus.
A scoop of caramel swirl ice cream was all that was needed. Silence descended but for the clang of spoon upon ceramic, and then the furtive sound of a finger licking the bowl clean (sorry, that was me).
Oranges baked with Cointreau and served withcaramel swirl vanilla ice creamThanks R, A and C for a delightful lunch and the most fascinating pre-dessert show-and-tell I've had for a long long time.
And let's not forget the excellent food of course. Encore! Encore! =)
