Having a chef cook in your own home is one of the easiest ways to host well. You get to be a guest at your own table. But the evenings that go best usually start with a little thought about a few practical things, long before anyone thinks about the menu.
None of these need firm answers when you first get in touch. They simply help the conversation start in the right place.
What is the evening for?
A birthday, an anniversary, a reunion, a quiet dinner for clients, or simply a reason to gather people you like. The occasion shapes almost everything: how formal it feels, how long it runs, and whether the food should be a talking point or sit quietly in the background.
How many people, and who are they?
A rough number is enough to start with. It is also worth mentioning anything that matters about the group, such as children at the table, guests who are adventurous eaters, or someone who will be quietly hoping for something familiar.
Dietary needs, early
For a private dinner, allergies, intolerances and preferences are part of the conversation from the very beginning and are designed into the menu, rather than handled with a separate plate on the night. The earlier they are shared, the more natural the menu feels for everyone.
The room, the table and the kitchen
Ross cooks in your kitchen and serves each course to the table, so it helps to know a little about the space. How many people can sit comfortably, roughly what the kitchen is like, and whether there is anywhere for guests to gather before dinner. None of this needs to be grand. It just helps the evening be planned properly.
The pace of the evening
Some dinners are long and unhurried, with several courses. Others work better as something shorter, perhaps canapés and a couple of courses. Think about when guests will arrive and when the evening should wind down, and the number of courses can follow from that.
October at the table
If your dinner is this month, it is a good time to be planning. Pheasant comes into season on 1 October, squashes and wild mushrooms are in season, and English apples and pears bring something fresh to the end of a meal.
Sources
- Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust: Quarry shooting season dates
- BASC: Shooting seasons
- British Dietetic Association: Which fruit and veg are in season in the UK?
Have a date in mind? Send Ross what you know so far. Nothing is fixed until you are happy with it.
