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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.)

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.

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!

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.

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.