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Friday, November 12, 2010

French fine dining experience at home


 A five-course french fine dining set up would comprise of s appetizers, soup,salad, main-course, dessert, wine, coffee and tea. It is a very elegant and classy affair, those who like entertaining should try it once . I will assist you with the appropriate table setting to accentuate the dining experience and  I would give you the full insight into the cutlery and crockery settings
 It is wonderful  to do a whole French style sit down course meal as it truly is the ultimate in dining elegance. Your table therefore, would definitely have to be a visual treat for your guests.  I would however like to stress though that there shouldn’t be too much happening as that could make it cluttered and become more of a distraction than an enhancement.
You could focus on one centre piece which could be a floral arrangement or you could do a combination of candles and flowers, if you have some lovely silver candle holders to show off.  You could of course have table mats with matching napkins folded in a decorative manner or neatly rolled up with some interesting napkin rings. Another option would be to have little place setting cards with your guest’s names written on them to indicate where each person would be seated. You could also have an individual motif like a little flower or candle votive for each  place setting.
As regards the cutlery and crockery, that would have to be arranged course wise. Traditionally the appetizer would be served first, followed by the soup, then the salad, main course and finally dessert. So the cutlery to be used up to the main course would be placed on either side of the plate and the dessert fork/spoon and a teaspoon for tea/coffee would have to be placed on top (space permitting). You will need to make sure that the correct knife is placed for the main course depending on whether you are serving poultry, meat or fish.
Appropriate wine glasses would be placed on the right hand side as well depending on whether you are serving red or white wine. If different wines are going to be served then the glasses should be changed accordingly. If you’re serving champagne then you would also require a champagne flute. Make sure all the alcohol is served at the right temperature. Red wine at about 19 or 20 degrees and white wine and champagne, chilled. Salt and pepper shakers can also be placed on the table and should be easily accessible.
Apart from being beautifully decorated do keep in mind that the entire setting needs to be functional as well, your guests should have adequate room to maneuver around the table and not be worried about knocking things over. So in conclusion your focus should be on your guests having a memorable and relaxed evening over an elegantly planned soiree.
Hope you will have fun setting it up as i have enjoyed writing it down for you
keep smiling

     
 

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

cocktails !!!

 

     
     HOT TODDY
    Ingredients
    1. 2 measures Scotch whisky
    2. 1 teaspoon honey
    3. ½ measure freshly squeezed lemon juice
    4. 250 ml hot water
    5. 1 green tea bag
    Preparations
    1. Add the honey and lemon juice to a mug and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until the honey becomes very runny.
    2. Pour the hot water into the mug and add the green tea bag. Leave the bag to infuse for 2 minutes, before gently squeezing against the side of the mug with a teaspoon and removing.
    3.      Add the Scotch whisky to the honey, lemon and green tea, and stir well.
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    WHISKEY SOUR (you can use any other base liquor for sour experience)
    Ingredients:
    1. 25ml whiskey
    2. 25 ml lemon juice
    3. 2 tsps  sugar syrup
    Preparation:
    1. Pour the bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
    2. Shake well.
    3. Strain into a chilled  glass.
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    WHISKEY LIMEY
    Ingredients:
    1. 25ml bourbon, rye or blended whiskey
    2. club soda
    3. ginger ale
    4. lemon twist for garnish
    Preparation:
    1. Fill a highball glass with ice and add bourbon.
    2. Fill with equal parts club soda and ginger ale.
    3. Stir and garnish with a lemon twist.
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    WHISKEY ROYALE
    Ingredients
    1. 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky,
    2. dash of apple schnapps (or clear apple juice),
    3. ginger ale,
    4. sliced green apple,
    5. crushed ice.
    Preparation
    1. Half fill a chilled champagne flute with crushed ice.
    2. Pour in the Scotch Whisky and then the apple schnapps.
    3. Top up with ginger ale.
    4. Place a slice of green apple into the drink.
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    RED SCOTCH
    Ingredients
    1. 25ml of scotch whiskey
    2. tomato juice
    3. juice of half lemon
    4. Worcestershire sauce
    5. Tabasco sauce
    Preparations
    1. Shake together 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky, tomato juice, juice of half a lemon, dash of Worcestershire sauce, dash of Tabasco sauce.
    2.  Fill a glass with ice and pour the mixture over and decorate with freshly ground black pepper.
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    GREEN MIST
    Ingredients
    1. 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky,
    2. 1 measure of Crème de Menthe
    3. juice of a quarter of a lemon
     Preparations
    1. . Shake the ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass.
    2. Decorate with a slice of kiwi fruit and a sprig of mint.
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    HELLO ALL HAVE FUN WITH THE COCKTAILS !!!!!!!!