Day 61
Our first Trial Dinner Experience went quite well. The guests, who also included family and friends, were, I can say, very pleased with the table layout and menu. I explained every course before they ate, detailing where and how I came up with the preparation for each dish. I introduced a welcome beverage, a hors d'oeuvre, an appetizer, a salad, a main course, followed by dessert, tea, and coffee. I explained that the type of experience around our table was meant to be relaxing and not overly formal – a sort of casual formal or formal casual, whichever sounds better. The other thing I mentioned was that the food was to be in good portions and taste good. This is how we were brought up: around a table full of delicious food to either graze or eat from. I will not be adopting the concept of "two peas in a pod" in the middle of a plate. And everyone needs to go home to have an actual dinner.
Upon finishing dinner, I simply wanted feedback from everyone individually, so I prepared some questions for them to answer. I wanted both negative and positive feedback, as this will be the only way to rectify and improve the dinners in the future. One thing that I actually forgot myself and remembered almost towards the end of the dinner was the lighting; it should have been dimmed. A few people mentioned this on the questionnaire. Others suggested that rotation around the table during courses could be a good thing. That would be nice if the full group of twelve knows each other; perhaps if smaller groups book around the table, they would prefer to be in their own groups. However, I could ask them on the night once everyone is seated. On the whole, it seems that the guests loved the food, and based on the ratings, I could say the overall food rating was 9/10. They all mentioned too that the setup and ambiance were very welcoming and relaxing. I will definitely take all the ideas and views into consideration to make each dinner experience an even better one.
Spinach, Feta and Bramble Berries Salad in a Olive Oil
and Sour Grape Dressing
Arabic Chocolate Coffee Mousse
Saffron, Rose and Pistachio Cake
