Previous Story
The Rise Of The Dinner Party
We all have friends or colleagues round for dinner occasionally and if a recent survey is to be believed we are making much more of an event out of such gatherings. It would appear that dinner parties have become a significant opportunity to impress and a great way to get one up on those around us.
The Survey
The survey by French mustard makers Maille has found that hosts are going to greater and greater efforts to put on a spectacular spread and are increasingly experimenting with new cooking methods and cuisines and using new ingredients. Society as a whole may be eating too much processed and convenience food but when it comes to a party the microwave meals are cast aside in favour of more extravagant fare.
Food Revolution
The revolution in entertaining may be largely a result of the number of cooking programmes on television and the focus on fine dining. Hosts now want to serve top restaurant quality food and are even turning to specialist retailers to source the ingredients that they need to complete their culinary creations. The survey reveals that three-quarters of the respondents bought ingredients from specialists in order to show off!
The Budget
Respondents report spending over 6 hours on food preparation and an average spend of £102.17 on the meals. Some spend up to £200 in order to ensure an impressive result as friends have almost entered a cooking war in a modern incarnation of keep up with the Jones’. With so many broadcasts showcasing the work of celebrity chefs there is certainly plenty of material to inspire.
Healthy Eating
Whilst it is a little unsavoury for hosts to be laying on dinners merely to impress I think that the survey results are actually very good news. At least some people are taking an interest in food, cooking things from scratch and leaving the convenience meals firmly on the shelf. Of course you don’t have to spend a fortune to create an impressive and truly tasty meal and few people could afford an extravagant outlay very often but perhaps these cooks’ new found skills will lead to healthier eating on a regular basis.
The Importance of the Kitchen
There does seem to be a trend towards an interest in good food and certainly the kitchen is now the hub of most homes. The survey in question illustrates the desire to experiment and impress whilst other research has revealed that a good kitchen is the number one priority for house buyers. The right kitchen will increase the value of a property and so homeowners in general and vendors in particular are really focusing their attention on that room.
Whilst a good kitchen is a big benefit its primary function is to produce food. Searching for the right accessories and units is one thing but everyone would benefit from producing healthy home cooked food. Further to the Maille survey, I sometimes wonder if many people want a great kitchen merely to show off rather than to cook in but perhaps I do them a disservice!
Sally Stacey is a keen writer and enthusiastic cook who is pleased to see a return to home made food
