Have you ever been in a situation where you need to prepare the PERFECT dinner and everything goes like planned? No, me neither.
I love to cook. Not on a daily basis and not with 100,000 restrictions. I love to cook for my appreciative and non picky friends and family members. I don’t mind a minor restriction here and there. Taste is very subjective and there are things which are a big no-no on my list as well. I have never tried snails, the thought of the slimy thing going down my throat is just too repulsive and I hate liver, the smell of it alone can bring me the pukes.
Yesterday was the annual dinner N. and I host for his part of the family to celebrate his name day (name days are in Greece a bigger thing than birthdays). This is a tradition which we (masochists) started when we first moved to the suburbs, 6 1/2 years ago.
Being a perfectionist myself I wanted to please everyone. By pleasing everyone (this is impossible, in case you were wondering), I had to cook something different (who wants to be served the same food every year), tasty as hell, gluten-free, diabetic friendly and garlic free. The latter being the most restrictive for me. I wanted it to be perfect.
I went to a delicatessen store, two super markets, the farm market and the local butcher to get everything I needed and started to cook at midday.
Today’s verdict:
- If you cook for 8 hours straight chances are that you will probably a)fall asleep during dinner or b) pass out while serving the 8th dish.
- When you NEED it to be perfect you can be sure for one thing: IT WON’T!
- A successful dinner has one main prerequisite: RELAX and enjoy!
xxx
T
wonderland by tatu 
Poles have namedays too! Bigger deal than birthdays. So… preparation was hell, but… what dish turned out best?
I am a very tough judge when it comes to my own cooking, but I guess the dessert (the easiest and less hassle of all): lemon cream with some chocolate shavings…
I know what you mean! When I moved to Iceland we started to have gatherings with food for my in-lows. The only good thing is that they are quite conservative – I can make the same dishes forever; and all ladies are very good at making food – so no wish to be perfect – I would newer be :D. Sometimes I get bored with the same food and carefully try something new – in that case I make one more dish – some traditional alternative just in case 🙂 From my 4 year experience good planing of preparation and no seeking of perfection are the key to less stressed party
yes, you are right! I think the ‘no seeking of perfection’ is the key to a more relaxed dinner setting! Thanks for reminding, xxx
This is so me – how I relate… a simple BBQ
I don’t know how my response ended there….anyway as I was trying to say…
a simple BBQ for me ends up a Marathon cooking fest.
Nothing is simple in my eyes 😦 though I wish it would be so.
Dinner parties – I freak at… even if for 4 people!
Everything must be perfect…just right..even the kitchen …the benches must be uncluttered prior to guests arriving…hell they mustn’t know that I’ve been sweating a storm all day preparing???
Relaxation comes after the food has been eaten and then and only then I relax…
tis sad but true
Good and very relatable post T xx
yes, my passion for good food and cooking make me seek perfection each time. If only I could be more relaxed, I am sure I would enjoy it much more,xxx