Come dine with me! By Mary Lou Burge

July 21, 2010

Is it just my imagination or is the entire population obsessed with food these days. I suppose it’s hardly surprising given the fact that every evening we switch on the TV to find Jamie squeezing his lemons, Nigella licking her spoons or Heston trying to light our gastronomic fires. But as much as I enjoy watching how the other half cook, the interesting factor here is that these culinary demi-gods appear to have ignited a bit of a competitive streak amongst us. Be warned, sloppy shepherds pie and fruit salad just won’t cut it in the entertaining stakes these days – even if it is with a good bottle of plonk.

In my research for this article I happened to take a look at Mumsnet.com which only went to confirm my suspicions that once the Yummy Mummy Set have done with their worries over faulty buggies, volcanic ash free holidays and where to educate their children they put their minds to food. To emphasise the point there was an entire blog discussion on what to serve up on Election Night – brown toast, Eton mess, and bananas & custard were the key dishes on the menu – and all being freshly prepared with not an E number in sight!

Let’s face it, over the years we’ve all got a bit lazy. The dinner party circuit died off. We became too tired, too busy to cook for friends. Easier to eat out or grab a Takeaway on Saturday night. On the odd occasion that we did entertain it was easier to pick it up somewhere than make it ourselves. Does this all sound familiar or am I just speaking for myself! Well the recession has put paid to all that. ‘Staying in’ is now very much the new ‘going out’ and sales of top name cookery books have gone through the roof as have the sale of speciality ingredients. Icecream makers, magimixes and breadmakers are flying off the shelves as we prepare to recreate Michelin star restaurant standard food in the comfort of our own homes and at a fraction of the price. The bar has been well and truly raised.

Trying not to sound too much like a Domestic Goddess, I can say that after much trial and error I have now mastered the art of ice cream making, can bake the odd cake without major incident and have impressed myself with the quality of my curries which historically would have come in packet form.

This top class food showcase is by no means just a female thing. You may be lucky enough to have a partner who knows his scallops from his jellied eels and can take control in the kitchen whenever there’s an opportunity to show off his masterchefing abilities. And I know quite a few big boys who would easily give Delia a run for her money. This of course leaves the hostess free to look ravishing and entertain her guests without the worry of her cheese soufflОs collapsing in the oven. These talented Adonis’s do however seem to be rather few and far between. My Darling Beloved is much more interested in the eating side of things than the mechanics of how on earth it found its way on to the plate.

And the rivalry doesn’t stop at the food. The lengths people are going to in an attempt to out do each other in the entertaining stakes is astonishing. It’s no longer just enough to eat, drink and be merry. It seems your soiree must now have a theme with supporting venue, table decorations and fancy dress. Just in the last few months I have been to a Masked Ball, a Burns Night supper, a Valentine’s dinner, an Australian party and an Election Night buffet. In fact I’m beginning to think that some of my dear friends would be happy to celebrate the opening of an envelope!

Of course there is nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy competition and as a Nation we are somewhat programmed to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’, but I wonder whether this newly emerging obsession with entertaining has more to do with a genuine desire to just have a good time in tough times. Whatever your true motives might be, good food, good company and good fun is vital in getting through life’s little difficulties. So whip out those tablecloths, polish the cutlery and get swotting up on your terrine making. If you haven’t already, it’s time to take your friends into a gastronomic heaven and party like you’ve never done before – and we’ll try not to mark you out of 10!

Posted by carole | Filed Under Contributor Column