Food and Hospitality

Food is our common ground. It is a place where we can meet, enjoy a good meal and each other’s company. The food served does not have to be fancy, soup and sandwiches or BBQ’d burgers and dogs are good choices for outdoor dining or casual lunches or suppers.

In short, it is not what you serve but how you serve it. By that I do not mean you need to spend a lot of time and money on presentation. Good china and crystal are not essential to have an enjoyable meal with friends and family. The basics are simple, as long as the plates and glasses are clean, the rest is up to the host.

There is no need to worry about a fancy centre piece or what wine to serve what really counts is how your treat your guests.

Now, being appropriate in table setting and menu choices is important. For example, if you are having family over for a backyard BBQ that is one thing however, if it is a formal dinner party with your boss and spouse that is something else.

Regardless the same rules apply. First you need to know if your guest have any food allergies; if they drink wine and whether they are vegans, vegetarians or carnivores. You can then design a menu that ensures they will not get sick, be embarrassed because they do not like or cannot eat what you have prepared.

This embarrassment can get the evening off to a bad start. Do not be concerned about asking people you do not know and this applies to asking yoru sister about her new friend’s food choices. A little knowledge ahead of the meal can go a long way.

When someone serves a desert or main course that is on your list of favourite foods, you simply feel better and perhaps even more at home.

A good rule to follow when serving the meal is not to brag about what you are serving, the same goes for your partner or spouse. It is okay to say, Don makes a good cheesecake but not to say Don makes the best cheesecake in the world, because, while it could be true, it just as easily may not be and your guests may also think they make a pretty fine cheese cake so the competiton at least mentally has begun. Avoid this.

The purpose is to relax and enjoy, the food enhances and if it is good real food that your guests can enjoy everyone will unwind and the conversation will flow.

Food is a fine way to get to know other people; it is the bond we all share.