Dinner Party

It happens every time. A friend or a family member invites us over to eat. Something simple, a dinner party maybe, or just a casual get together with a few friends. And then it occurs to them, “Oh no, we’re making dinner for a Chef!” Immediately, the host panics, okay, maybe not a full on panic, but a fear sets in. “What is he going to think of my cooking? He’s going to think it’s horrible.” It doesn’t matter if you’re actually a good cook; you get self-conscious anyway. So maybe you scramble a little, scour your kitchen for extra spices, dig through old cookbooks, throw some parsley on the plate for a little garnish, try to fancy things up a little bit…

I recall a dinner party my friend threw years ago. A few of my friends and I would alternate houses and throw some kind of theme night. Tea parties, wine gatherings, cheese bingeing (I may have to go into more detail on the cheese binge night another time). But this particular night was hot dog night. And I don’t mean some Oscar Meyers and mustard. These were more than just hot dogs, they were HOT DOGS! Big, meaty, juice dripping down your chin when you bite into it kind of hot dogs. And the spread, oh, the spread of vegetables and condiments varying enough that even a Chicagoan would approve of the smorgasbord present that night.

When I very enthusiastically accepted the invitation to that night’s festivities I inquired about bringing along my new chef friend, who I had only known for a couple weeks at that time. My friends, of course, were very open to new guests. But then it sets in, the realization that someone who cooks at one of the best restaurants in the city is coming over, it’s the first time you’re meeting him…and you’re feeding him hot dogs. Then doubt sets in, maybe you should renege on the invitation; invite him on a night when you’ll prepare something a little fancier. But no, it’s too late, he’s accepted. What do you do now? The answer is that you don’t do anything. You sit back, you enjoy the evening because once everyone has arrived you nervously watch as the chef opens his mouth and throws more hot dogs down the hatch than you could ever imagine one person doing. Result: your evening as a host is a great success.

Here’s the secret. You invite people over for dinner, the chef included. The menu for the night is steaks on the grill, veggies dripping in delicious butter sauce, a home made chocolate cake for dessert, and you’re scared he’s going to think its awful. Let me tell you why it’s not. Aside from the fact that a good steak on the grill is pure ecstasy, the reason that he’ll love the meal is because HE DIDN’T COOK IT! He cooks for people all day and yes he enjoys it but you gave him the opportunity to put the knife down, sit back with a beer in one hand and a fork in the other and enjoy that rare occurrence of someone else cooking, which is probably the best night you could give him.

So, now you know; now you can relax. Go ahead, plan those dinner parties, take a deep breath, and stop worrying, because we’ll be there, alcohol in hand, ready to enjoy a home cooked meal.