Great Meal

Great Meal

lf you are planning a special meal for your boyfriend or husband, there is nothing as romantic as a candlelight dinner. An elaborate candelabrum holding several candles throwing their mellow light on the gleaming tableware can present an exquisite sight.

Bowls of flowers all around the room, jars of fragrant pot-pourri, verdant indoor plants, a discreet agarbatti exuding a mild perfume, all add a special effect to the dining area. To remove cooking odors, use the exhaust fan or spray the home with an air-freshening spray.

Do give heed to the sensitivity of your guests. If, for instance, you have a few staunch vegetarians in your assembly who blanch even at the sight of a boiled egg, it is best to avoid strong-smelling meat dishes in your menu even if you have other vegetarian fare for them.

Beef and fish dishes are best avoided altogether, the first for not hurting religious sentiments and the second for not turning delicate stomachs with its strong distinctive odour.

A seasoned hostess will keep the conversation at the table pleasant and cheerful by carefully steering off controversial topics away from her guests. Smoothen ruffled feelings and be considerate of the shy guest who will need to be drawn into taking part in table talk.

Religion and politics are volatile subjects which should be skirted around at a meal, for these can raise tempers and end up in ugly brawls which spoil the mood of the whole gathering.

Most meals are served in the buffet style these days for want of space in modern homes. Buffet meals can be laid on the main table or on side boards. In the latter case, guests serve themselves and sit at the dining table or in other suitable places.
Importantly, prepare your guest lists with care so that your invitees have something in common between them to tacilitate easy conversation. It is unwise to club an elderly couple with teenagers at a meal table although admittedly, sometimes the most incongruous of partners get along like wildfire.

If you are planning a sit down meal, plan your seating arrangements with care so that neighbours can talk together amicably. The host and hostess should gently guide the guests to the seats earmarked for them.

A relaxed host and hostess offer the perfect atmosphere for the meal. Organisation and planning will ensure that the 2 are ready for their guests with everything under control.

There is nothing more disconcerting for guests than seeing tired, frazzled hosts who make it seem as if they have slaved at the meal.

Calling friends over for a meal is not so much for the food as for the socialising it involves. When the atmosphere is warm, caring and affectionate, guests feel welcomed and go away feeling completely satiated not just in body but in the spirit as well.

So, do remember to add these special embellishments to your meal for they are guaranteed to make your visitors vote you the best hostess they have encountered.