Food and drink Archives - Kate on thin ice

This month I’ve been involved in quite a number of social gatherings, two of which I had the pleasure of influencing. One was an amazing BBQ I hosted in the gorgeous sun last week and the second being a far more emotional occurrence, the passing of a close friend’s mother. I helped organise the ceremony and provided the most of catering. But, if there is one thing I’ve learned, regardless of the occasion, however joyful or tearful it is, the drinks and nibbles always bring people together. So, we gotta do it right! Side note, I managed to source an amazing funeral director at the last minute through LocalFuneral.

Anyway, so, it’s the concept of the “apéritif dinatoire” or “apéro dinatoire” as the cool kids call it. Drinks & Nibbles party, Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres, Drinks & Buffet, etc, call it what you want, you’ve probably taken part in this one as well. It’s basically an extended Apéritif, fuller and longer, that replaces a formal, sit-down dinner with so many little nibbles that they form a full meal. And booze, of course.

Nibbles

Less formal, less constraining in terms of prep, and more convivial than a classic meal, the Drinks & Nibbles night is bound to be a winner for most occasions. Want to give it a shot for your next party with your friends? Here are some of our tips and tricks for organising your Apéro dinatoire.

Tip no 1: Organise your time well

The formula of the Drinks & Nibbles party is certainly cooler and more relaxed than a classic dinner. However, you do not want to take the preparation lightly if you wish to avoid a few setbacks and disappointments. So, remember to organise your schedule so that everything goes for the best. Anticipate what culinary preparations require a certain cooking time, how much time you need to arrange your verrines and other presentations, the chronology of different catering elements, etc… For more serenity, don’t hesitate to delegate some tasks such as welcoming guests, keeping an eye on the oven, etc…

Nibbles

Tip no 2: Choose the right nibbles and the right presentation

Did you think organising an Apéro dinatoire was going to save you from the dinner-style headache of choosing the right ingredients and recipes? Think again dear friend. Drinks & Nibbles means loads of nibbles and prep. You can of course choose to prepare everything yourself in advance (just remember tip no 1 and plan your time well!). But you can also opt for readymade formulas. Good thing is, they are often already presented in an elegant and refined fashion. Head to M&S for tasty nibbles made with good ingredients or Cook for the frozen option if you want to plan well in advance.

Nibbles

Presentation is not to be neglected. Remember than carefully arrange verrines or platters can take some time and patience, and you will need to account for that! Arrange all your nibbles on one table if possible, and remember: the volume is bigger than that of a regular pre-dinner event, so offer side plates and forks or spoons. The real stuff is always nicer (you could have a variety of different small vintage plates for colour and so that every guest can recognise his or hers!) but if you are running short try and get some quality plastic crockery, or melanine picnic ware which is more solid and cheaper than china.

Nibbles

Tip no 3: Diversify drinks!

For an Apéro dinatoire, your guests will spend a lot of time on nibbles. But they need hydration too! And here, the more guests you have, the more variation you could have in tastes and requirements. Rather than impose one drink on everyone, widen the scope of offers: champagne, rum, whisky, fruity cocktails, etc. Don’t forget the people who don’t drink alcohol, and have different offers here too (cucumber water, juice, soda…). Calculate your stocks well to make sure the party doesn’t get dry!

Tip no 4: Create a vibe, add some ambiance!

One of the great things about a Drinks & Nibbles party is that your guests don’t have to sit on their fixed chairs and talk with their table neighbours. Dim the lights, choose a playlist of the latest tunes or timeless classics, decorate your reception area nicely (fairy lights, candles, flowers…) and be the first to put some spirit into the party. More on the shy side? Find your most outgoing buddy and entrust him or her with the mission!

I have big connections with London. I was born there although my childhood was spent in Yorkshire after my first 11 months on the planet. My uncle lived there and we would visit him regularly. Later both my brothers lived in London and I remember a lovely Christmas there walking in Hyde Park on a snowy Christmas morning. Dining in London back then was ordering haddock and chips from the local takeaway.

Dining in London is on my mind as I think about my forthcoming milestone birthday. I want to do afternoon tea at the Ritz. It would be a new experience and if I don’t do it now I am not sure it will happen. I love the whole concept of afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches and pastries not to mention scones (however you choose to pronounce that word!) with indulgent clotted cream. I also like the idea of experimenting with different teas as I hardly ever drink tea so that would be a novel experience. Since I will be there for a birthday, champagne will be waiting for me too. When I dine out I like the whole ambience of a place and I like stylish surroundings and the idea of chandeliers and mirrors whilst I luxuriate in a day off sounds just perfect.

I have eaten out in London over the years and my favourite place to eat is the Savoy again because the dining room is stunningly beautiful. The service is so very good. As for the food, it is so difficult to highlight any course that I have enjoyed most as I have never had a bad one. I do recall a particularly inventive cheesecake but then I am a huge fan of any cheesecake.

As I started to write this post I remembered a long held dream to visit Kettners in Soho. Soho always has such a fun vibe to it anyway. However, a family memory is what makes me want to go to Kettners for the first time. My Dad once went out with my uncle and his boyfriend to Kettners after a day at a sporting event. Dad never forgot the fun of that night. As I understand things much alcohol was consumed. My uncle’s boyfriend was quite strait-laced but apparently jumped up and span around a lamp post At the time Dad was married with small children and a busy police career. I think it was a night when he felt carefree and he still spoke about that night in his final year with us.

Taking a look at the Kettners website, it does not surprise me that it has a saucy past. It looks so stylish with mirrors and warm wood furnishings. I love the fact that so many celebrated creative have dined in this place. I had to stop looking at the French-inspired menu as I was salivating at the mere thought of dining in London at Kettners. What started as a bit of a whim to eat there has now become a definite intention. Even better you can stay overnight so it’s time for me to start planning my trip and perhaps incorporating a theatre show too.

Click here if you want to investigate your own dream dining in London experience.

Where would you recommend for dining in London?

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The Royal Wedding inspired many across the UK to hold their very own party in celebration of the spectacular union. What a day it was too – perfect weather and very much the fairy tale wedding. With a guest list including some of the biggest A-listers from across the globe, it was easy to see why other people wanted to have their very own garden party at home to celebrate.

Garden Party

We finally seem to be getting some warm weather, which means it is the perfect time to start planning for your summer garden party. Even if the Beckhams cannot make it, all you need is some nice weather, some nibbles and maybe the odd glass of Pimms! So what are you waiting for? Here is your checklist to make sure your party is one to remember:

Decorations

You cannot have a garden party without a few decorations to set the scene, so get the eco-friendly banners and bunting to display around your garden. Go to this site for some ideas or you can even make your own from bands of coloured paper.

Put it on ice

Stock up with plenty of ice to keep your drinks nicely chilled throughout the day. You can borrow ice buckets to make sure that you have enough to go round, so people do not need to keep walking back to the fridge.

Music

A bit of careful musical planning will help set the mood, so get your summer garden party playlist sorted with some of your favourites and the big summer hits of the year.

Food

You could offer to do a BBQ but unless someone enjoys being the BBQ chef, it only gets in the way of having fun. So just get some ready to eat buffet food for your guests to tuck into. A nice selection of sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls, pizza and salad should keep everyone happy. Don’t forget to put some ice lollies in the freezer to cool everyone down if it happens to be a scorcher!

Drinks and mixers

Most people will bring their own drinks to a party out of courtesy but they never know how many to bring. Take too many and you look like you’re a heavy drinker and take too few and you soon run out. So as host, it always helps to have some extra drinks for people in case they run out. Make sure that you stock up with a range of mixers and if you are doing Pimms or gin then you might want to get a nice set of fruit for people to have in their drinks. Don’t forget some nice drinks for the designated drivers like flavoured water and ginger ale – a bit nicer than a glass of fizzy pop.

Garden Party

Party games

If you like to have fun then party games should be on the agenda. From beer pong to board games, you can get everyone into jovial spirits with a few fun games to play. You could even host your own personalised quiz about funny moments involving your guests!

Seating

You might need to borrow some chairs to make sure that everyone has somewhere to sit but you can also have makeshift benches and throw some blankets on the ground for people to sit on. Ask your guests in advance to bring any fold up chairs with them.

Gardening

Get your gardening done the day before the party so that your garden looks lovely and the perfect setting for the ultimate summer garden party!

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Exotic foods are that little bit different and definitely a very good reason to travel overseas to try something new and unusual.

We are a family of foodies. My Dad always encouraged me to eat local food when we were on holiday. His theory was that you could not possibly know what you liked if you did not try things. Also if you do not give things a go, you just might miss out on something very tasty indeed. His adventurous nature came from his years with the Navy I think where he visited Greece, Libya, Malta, Egypt and so many other far-flung shores

My mum was a cook by trade so had a natural interest in food too and would try to replicate things we had tasted on holiday when we returned home. She brought both my brothers up to be really good amateur chefs and both of them have turned to the preparation of food to make money in one way or another over the years.

So as a family we are pretty well-travelled but the one thing I would love to try are the exotic foods from Barbados having heard about them from an old college friend who hailed from that particular Caribbean island. I love rum and I would like to learn how to pair it with foods.

Barbados is exciting when it comes to cuisine as there are African, Asian, Indian and European influences. Food might be cooked using a wok, a grill or the wood stone oven.

There are a diverse selection of cafes and restaurants and you may be surprised to know that Bajan food can be quite different to that on other Caribbean islands .

Bajan seasoning sounds wonderful with its notes of thyme, marjoram, green onions and parsley.

The national dish is Cou Cou and Flying Fish which is certainly a name to capture the imagination. Cou Cou consists of cornmeal and okra mixed with salt, peppers and Bajan hot sauce.

Inevitably fish is huge in Barbados and I would love to try fish balls often sold from the side of the road. There is nothing better than eating in the great outdoors. It’s not just about the Flying Fish either so I would love to experiment with different tropical fish dishes including one that combines macaroni and cheese with fish. I would never think of that combination so would definitely give this one a try.

I love sweet potatoes already but the idea of covering them in sugar and serving with pineapples and cherries really intrigues me.

I am more convinced of the merits of plantains fried and topped with cinnamon but as I say travel broadens the taste-buds so bring on the culinary Bajan delights.

Now I just need to check out the other events and things to do in Barbados so am off to check out the luxury all-inclusive holidays from Destination 2 and then start saving up.

Where would you like to travel next to try some exotic foods?

At this time of year, it’s impossible to walk into a supermarket without being confronted by aisles full of chocolate Easter eggs. From tiny milk chocolate Easter eggs, all the way to large decadent dark chocolate eggs accompanied by melt-in-your-mouth truffles – hard to resist these delectable treats, even when you’re trying to be healthy.

But just where did chocolate eggs come from? And why are they associated with Easter? The puzzle has been solved – how egg-cellent!

Welcoming the Spring

It may surprise you, but the idea of Easter – in one form or another – has been around since the Medieval period. There’s references to Easter eggs in Anglo-Saxon culture, Persian society, and Pagan rituals.

Eggs have long been associated with spring, symbolising the transition from winter to summer. Anglo-Saxons celebrated the reawakening of nature, fertility and the goddess of spring (called Eostre), by burying eggs. Persians, on the other hand, displayed decorated eggs on Iranian New Year (known as Nowruz). While Pagans viewed celebrated the Sun God, representing new life – it’s believed Christianity absorbed this custom and the egg became a symbol of the resurrection.

Thoughtful Gifts

It wasn’t until centuries later that eggs began being given as gifts and looked more like the Easter eggs that we’d recognise today.

As far back as 13^th century England, people gave eggs as gifts to the church on Good Friday. Fast forward a few centuries and dyed eggs were frequently given as presents.

There were also more extravagant egg offerings. During Henry VIII’s reign, he was gifted a silver encased egg from the Vatican. While in the 19^th century, Carl Fabergé designed his famous Fabergé eggs for the Russian Czar.

It wasn’t until the 17^th and 18^th centuries that the modern idea of the Easter egg arose. Crafted as toys and bought by the wealthy, eggs were filled with treats were gifted. But it was the Victorians who truly cemented the idea – those clever Victorians! They would fill an egg-shaped object with chocolates, paving the way for chocolate Easter eggs.

Delicious Chocolate Eggs

The very first chocolate Easter eggs were made in Germany in the early 18^th century and became popular throughout Europe, spreading to France and the UK. Then, as family-time and traditions became more important, the Victorians embraced the chocolate egg, gifting them to children.

It wasn’t until after WWII and the end of rationing that chocolate Easter eggs really egg-sploded, and the market became saturated, creating the Easter tradition we all know and love, with brands like Thorntons producing millions of eggs every year.

And there you have it! Enjoy your delicious Easter treats!