Cooking for friends, British style!

Posted by admin on June 4th, 2010 filed in Expat life

Cooking for friends is always a little stressful. You never know what they expect, how hungry people are or if you’re long-practiced masterpiece will turn out as you’d hoped. But throw in unfamiliar surroundings, a tiny oven and a smattering of Thai friends who are more at home with a tom yam than a hotpot, and things get a little hot in the kitchen.

Yes, I decided to cook a traditional English Sunday roast this past weekend for an assembled party of nine guests. In the UK my efforts are a source of tremendous pride (national I think) and I was desperate to put on a good show to persuade my companions that the green and verdant country I call home is not a culinary wasteland.

Conditions were not ideal, not through anyone’s fault I might add, but one small oven with a single level to prepare meat, potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and gravy required sufficient logistical dexterity to give a Swiss watchmaker a migraine. However, in the end everything turned out very well (slightly burnt puddings aside) and everyone was extremely complimentary. And with flowing wine and the best possible company, what else could matter?