Meal to impress boyfriend's parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more thing (13:59 here) - presentation matters. Do you have nice-looking serving dishes for each item? They don't have to be fancy china - in fact, I think serving dishes that are fun conversation pieces or have some personal history behind them (inherited from your grandmother, picked up on a trip to Italy 5 years ago, etc) are the best, but they should be nice-looking and somewhat coordinated in style (not matchy-matchy, but perhaps all earth tones or all modern style). Or you can use mostly plain dishes with one or two statement/conversation items. Pretty dessert plates for whatever dessert you choose - these can be completely different from your entree dishes. Offer coffee with dessert also.

Think ahead about how you will serve: will you serve plated meals, buffet (serving platters on a separate table from where you're sitting) or family style (serving platters on the table)? Any are fine, but it affects what you'll use to serve. If you're plating the meal, put some effort into arranging the items nicely on the plate, with an appropriate garnish. You could have a bread basket on the table - bakery-fresh artisan bread with Kerrigold or similar high-quality butter (or a dish of dipping oil if you prefer).

Lastly, fresh flowers on the table are a nice touch, but make sure they don't obstruct the view across the table, you all want to be able to see each other. If you have music on in the background, make sure it's not loud or intrusive.

OMG!

[Anonymous]

"Everyone does pasta or roast chicken or steak...what about Indian? http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=11181813 or http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/05/floyd-c...cken-tikka-masala-recipe.html. With a simple basmati rice. Maybe some samosas or a veggie too. Naan (packaged is fine). "

Indian food stinks up the house. See other thread about the house that reeks of curry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more thing (13:59 here) - presentation matters. Do you have nice-looking serving dishes for each item? They don't have to be fancy china - in fact, I think serving dishes that are fun conversation pieces or have some personal history behind them (inherited from your grandmother, picked up on a trip to Italy 5 years ago, etc) are the best, but they should be nice-looking and somewhat coordinated in style (not matchy-matchy, but perhaps all earth tones or all modern style). Or you can use mostly plain dishes with one or two statement/conversation items. Pretty dessert plates for whatever dessert you choose - these can be completely different from your entree dishes. Offer coffee with dessert also.

Think ahead about how you will serve: will you serve plated meals, buffet (serving platters on a separate table from where you're sitting) or family style (serving platters on the table)? Any are fine, but it affects what you'll use to serve. If you're plating the meal, put some effort into arranging the items nicely on the plate, with an appropriate garnish. You could have a bread basket on the table - bakery-fresh artisan bread with Kerrigold or similar high-quality butter (or a dish of dipping oil if you prefer).

Lastly, fresh flowers on the table are a nice touch, but make sure they don't obstruct the view across the table, you all want to be able to see each other. If you have music on in the background, make sure it's not loud or intrusive.

I love this post!

I would suggest making a boeuf bourgignon. It's pretty straightforward and is a classic crowd-pleaser. This and everything PP suggested!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One more thing (13:59 here) - presentation matters. Do you have nice-looking serving dishes for each item? They don't have to be fancy china - in fact, I think serving dishes that are fun conversation pieces or have some personal history behind them (inherited from your grandmother, picked up on a trip to Italy 5 years ago, etc) are the best, but they should be nice-looking and somewhat coordinated in style (not matchy-matchy, but perhaps all earth tones or all modern style). Or you can use mostly plain dishes with one or two statement/conversation items. Pretty dessert plates for whatever dessert you choose - these can be completely different from your entree dishes. Offer coffee with dessert also.

Think ahead about how you will serve: will you serve plated meals, buffet (serving platters on a separate table from where you're sitting) or family style (serving platters on the table)? Any are fine, but it affects what you'll use to serve. If you're plating the meal, put some effort into arranging the items nicely on the plate, with an appropriate garnish. You could have a bread basket on the table - bakery-fresh artisan bread with Kerrigold or similar high-quality butter (or a dish of dipping oil if you prefer).

Lastly, fresh flowers on the table are a nice touch, but make sure they don't obstruct the view across the table, you all want to be able to see each other. If you have music on in the background, make sure it's not loud or intrusive.

OMG!

Hey, she said she wanted to impress! Are any of these things required? No, of course not. You can have a wonderful dinner without any of it. But if you do want to impress someone, these are the kinds of details that get noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm cooking for my boyfriend's parents this Saturday and I've only met them once before. They're both excellent cooks who love food and are picky about quality. I'm a competent home cook, nothing fancy, but I am very good at following instructions so hit me with show-stopper recipe ideas!

I particularly want to bake something for dessert because I'm a good baker and I love baking...just no idea what. I don't really want to use old staples like roast chicken, pecan pie, etc.

Rack of lamb is very easy to make and always a hit... with those who eat lamb So you need to ask BF if they are OK with lamb.
I buy the Australian racks from Costco, rub with spices I have in the house, and sear, then roast according to the recipe on the package - 16-20 minutes at F400° for medium rare.
A standard 8-rack feeds 4 very well, leaving room for dessert.
I love risotto as a side dish for lamb chops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm cooking for my boyfriend's parents this Saturday and I've only met them once before. They're both excellent cooks who love food and are picky about quality. I'm a competent home cook, nothing fancy, but I am very good at following instructions so hit me with show-stopper recipe ideas!

I particularly want to bake something for dessert because I'm a good baker and I love baking...just no idea what. I don't really want to use old staples like roast chicken, pecan pie, etc.

Roast chicken and pecan pie. Because you mentioned them and have obviously made them before. If you're entertaining people, focus on making things that you've made before. (And remember that you are not auditioning to work as their personal chef. You have already "auditioned" to be with your boyfriend, and he picked you. Now just be yourself.)

This. Make Ina Garten's roast chicken with the carrots, fennel, thyme, and onions. Triple the number of carrots because they are amazing. It's easy and very impressive and SO delicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry... but just curious... why do you have to impress them?

+ 1,000 Will your boyfriend cook a meal to impress your parents?

Oh so what?

OP likes to cook and wants to be a good host. Stop being so literal and tit for tat.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself, OP. Simple food prepared well is divine.

[Anonymous]

Just do stuff you know...maybe make a new desert. Basque cake is great.
On a side note. I cook a lot and it's hard to talk/entertain new people while getting a meal ready. Think about going out...Ris is very nice just don't leave the parents in the car!

[Anonymous]

Thanks all, these are great! I'm thinking of doing Brie puff pastry, lamb chops, and souffle. The latter two I've done before so I'm confident about them, and I looked up the pastry recipe and it looks pretty simple.

Anonymous wrote:One more thing (13:59 here) - presentation matters. Do you have nice-looking serving dishes for each item? They don't have to be fancy china - in fact, I think serving dishes that are fun conversation pieces or have some personal history behind them (inherited from your grandmother, picked up on a trip to Italy 5 years ago, etc) are the best, but they should be nice-looking and somewhat coordinated in style (not matchy-matchy, but perhaps all earth tones or all modern style). Or you can use mostly plain dishes with one or two statement/conversation items. Pretty dessert plates for whatever dessert you choose - these can be completely different from your entree dishes. Offer coffee with dessert also.

Think ahead about how you will serve: will you serve plated meals, buffet (serving platters on a separate table from where you're sitting) or family style (serving platters on the table)? Any are fine, but it affects what you'll use to serve. If you're plating the meal, put some effort into arranging the items nicely on the plate, with an appropriate garnish. You could have a bread basket on the table - bakery-fresh artisan bread with Kerrigold or similar high-quality butter (or a dish of dipping oil if you prefer).

Lastly, fresh flowers on the table are a nice touch, but make sure they don't obstruct the view across the table, you all want to be able to see each other. If you have music on in the background, make sure it's not loud or intrusive.

This is great!

[Anonymous]

With the brie, I recommend an Alsatian white -- either a riesling or pinot gris from Willm, or Trimbach, or Hugel should be easy to find. Or maybe a Virginia viognier (White Hall or Horton aren't hard to find around here. Pearmund is good if you can find it.)

With the lamb, I'd do either a Rhone wine (Chateauneuf du Pape if you can afford it, Vacqueyras or Gigondas if that's more your budget), or a Zinfandel from the Dry Creek or Alexander Valley. For both the southern Rhone and northern California reds, 2010 and 2012 were excellent vintages, 2011 not so much.

Those are just a few suggestions, but they'd go well.

[Anonymous]

There's a fabulous recipe on Epicurious for roast tenderloin with pepper crust and roasted garlic horseradish sauce. It's very easy, but incredibly tasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry... but just curious... why do you have to impress them?

I am sorry....but just curious.....why be so negative?
It’s nice to impress parents. They love it, and a good meal is the way to anyone’s heart. Don’t try to rain on someone’s parade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I agree with the others, I also think it's fun to try new things. I'd recommend mixing 1-2 new things with other staples that you've made in the past.

For starters, a good meat/cheese plate when they arrive is always a hit. Get a few good gourmet cheeses (go for a mix of styles, like 1 brie, 1 bleu, and 1 sharp cheddar or gruyere type thing), a couple of sliced meats (proscuitto, salami), and some bunches of grapes. Have a small basket of good crackers. This is the kind of thing where quality of ingredients really shines.

For dinner - seafood usually impresses, IF you can get something good this time of year. A big slab of Norwegian salmon (not the typical farmed Atlantic), dry scallops, or maybe something with clams?? It should be something that takes a trip to a specialty fish market, not your local Safeway. If you don't want to do that, or can't find something really good, maybe a pork tenderloin? Or fillet mignon?

Dessert - chocolate mousse! Easy, delicious, and you make it ahead. Or creme brulee - quite easy, mostly make-ahead (just brulee the tops right before you serve). Again, the quality of ingredients really shine in these types of dishes.

A massive amount of cheese for four people. Id do one cheese only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I agree with the others, I also think it's fun to try new things. I'd recommend mixing 1-2 new things with other staples that you've made in the past.

For starters, a good meat/cheese plate when they arrive is always a hit. Get a few good gourmet cheeses (go for a mix of styles, like 1 brie, 1 bleu, and 1 sharp cheddar or gruyere type thing), a couple of sliced meats (proscuitto, salami), and some bunches of grapes. Have a small basket of good crackers. This is the kind of thing where quality of ingredients really shines.

For dinner - seafood usually impresses, IF you can get something good this time of year. A big slab of Norwegian salmon (not the typical farmed Atlantic), dry scallops, or maybe something with clams?? It should be something that takes a trip to a specialty fish market, not your local Safeway. If you don't want to do that, or can't find something really good, maybe a pork tenderloin? Or fillet mignon?

Dessert - chocolate mousse! Easy, delicious, and you make it ahead. Or creme brulee - quite easy, mostly make-ahead (just brulee the tops right before you serve). Again, the quality of ingredients really shine in these types of dishes.

A massive amount of cheese for four people. Id do one cheese only.

NP here. Having three types of cheese is not a "massive amount". And you don't do a cheese board with just one type of cheese.