Question of the Day: What is the most important part of a dinner at home?
What do you think?
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18 Comments:
Time. Always. No doubt about it. There must be kitchen time (for unhurried preparation), and even more table time (for eating and talking about it afterward.)
Dr. Lemonglow at 2:46PM on 05/06/07
People. I love when I have a group of people I care about sitting and talking in the kitchen while we all prepare a meal. I like to think that prehistoric man did the same thing. At the end of the day of hunting and gathering they all sat close by the fire and put together the meal for the clan. Food nourishing and sealing the bond between them. I can cook anything but when there are people I feel more satisfied than usual.
JerzeeTomato at 9:45PM on 05/06/07
Like with any good meal... dessert is the most important part. ":-p
jsholar at 8:27AM on 05/07/07
I have to agree with Dr. Lemonglow ... it's all about time. I had bacon-wrapped stuffed pork chops yesterday that my BIL had cooked for us. He'd started them on Thursday, marinated them till Saturday when he built them, then grilled them on Sunday and finished them in the oven before serving them. There's no room in his tiny kitchen/dining room for us five adults to sit, but the living room worked well for good conversation over the stuffed pork chops, Idaho bakers and baked beans with whole bacon strips in it.
Russell Cronkite, former Chef at the Blair House (the U.S. President's guest house) has two great books on this kind of thing; A Return to Sunday Dinner and A Return to Family Picnics.
LunaPierCook at 8:40AM on 05/07/07
Family and friends!
Colorado Jim at 10:08AM on 05/07/07
I love to do the little special touches that make eating dinner at home more fun. I'll serve burgers in a basket with fries or make special condiments to go with every day foods. We don't miss eating out at all!
ThatGirl153 at 10:12AM on 05/07/07
The entree. I live alone and take as much time as I want to make the best darned entree I can. Most of the time I don't bother with salads, soups, bread, dessert or other accroutrements - just focus on the main dish and have seconds if I'm still hungry!
Livingtoeat at 11:34AM on 05/07/07
definitely family & friends, but my grandson would say 'mashed potatoes'!
NanaJoie at 11:42AM on 05/07/07
that someone else does the dishes.
Dish at 2:15PM on 05/07/07
Loved ones, a well-thought meal, a good class of wine/cocktail, light appetizers, and some laughs.
AlexRaine at 4:02PM on 05/07/07
While I tend to agree about time, really it's the family part to me. All being there, together and breaking bread.
Husband at 6:10PM on 05/07/07
Booze.
The Guilty Carnivore at 6:15PM on 05/07/07
Living alone, I can prepare & eat my favorite foods every day
JEP at 6:29PM on 05/07/07
The smile on my husband's face when I've really hit on something delicious.
Or a good steak, properly broiled, and a nice glass of cabernet. It's nice to enjoy the affordability of eating high-quality meals at a fraction of restaurant prices.
FKC at 7:23PM on 05/07/07
sitting on the couch, playing with my laptop, while i gaze (and smile) at my honeybunny in the kitchen, cooking something good. oh, and drinking wine, of course.
peekytoe at 11:12PM on 05/07/07
It's the whole package-- time spent together, good conversation with beloved people, and good food. It doesn't have to be anything fussy. Barbecued chicken a grilled vegetable and potato salad are great.
Calichef at 3:48AM on 05/08/07
I agree that all these things are important. I think also that having a consistently clean kitchen helps. When my kitchen is clean, I find it much easier to follow my bursts of culinary inspiration (just whip out a cutting board as opposed to having to wash it first) and also to feel free to invite people over on a whim, which is often how the nicest evenings begin.
caley at 7:08AM on 05/08/07
Taking your time and making things with love. A sharp knife. A chance to improvise on recipes. Having your ingredients prepped so you can enjoy some wine and time with your guests. Also, I try to introduce something new like a special cocktail or ingredient.
hohnsolo at 4:21PM on 05/08/07