Humble Pie

B

bklyn-joe

Active member
Ahhh, the hubris of man!

First I want to apologize to sandra-in-australia. Your suggestions were incredibly helpful and I really appreciate them and the time and consideration your postings on this represented. In re-reading the string I felt I my text may have come off a little brash and possibly inconsiderate. If that was the case I am truly sorry for it.

As the clock counts down to Saturday's London dinner here in NY the weather is doing a spot on imitation of the grey & rainy town and I find myself facing a menu quite different from where I began.

Gone are my whims of jerk scallops, a key lime napoleon, the plaintains, a cheese course from Neil's Yard Dairy (sniff, sniff) and I have learned to never again reveal a menu to non-cooks before the dinner. Three rounds of increased restrictions and "suggestions" have stripped out most of what was fun and inventive. What I am left with is a single course of:

-- Pistachio Crusted Tilapia with Roasted Garlic Aioli (joanietoo suggestion)

-- Sautéed Spinach (Red Cabbage sub)

-- Roasted Yam Medallions (plaintain then pumpkin fritter sub)

-- Brioche & Butter

And the final humiliation is a "suggestion" for a (gasp) store-bought cake!!! (and that was over a Lychee Champagne Granita!) In truth I'm surprised the fish didn't meet with a nut allergy cancellation! So in humility and defeat I humbly solicit suggestions for a stellar patisserie in London. Perhaps if I can find something sublime there it will help restore some of the "Ooooo" factor for me.

Thanks to everyone who posted suggestions and comments. They all really helped me to conceptualize what would have been an amazing meal. Now all I can think of is Marie Antoinette...

 
Joe, your guests are to be congratulated on their fine taste in hosts. The menu

sounds fabulous...and you've covered one of my sticking points: Color. Your dinner plates will look as lovely as the food will taste.

Not to mention the fact that you got to use hubris today. It's a win-win situation.

PS: You could do worse than "a stellar patisserie in London."

 
Lychee Champagne granita! Sounds fab--you can send me your guests' portions, please. smileys/wink.gif

Good luck!
Why not invite other friends over sometime and do the original meal?

 
Hi Joe...

Not to worry, no need to apologize, it's just that I have lots of experience cookingin London and I know what the pitfalls can be...

I'm experiencing a few more stumbling blocks over here, but never mind, you learn what the local stuff is like and run with it...

As for good cakes, Selfridge and Harrods both have great foodhalls with excellent patisserie selection.

Patisserie Valerie has beautiful stuff, but the quality is not so stellar - Maison Blanc also has very nice cakes, but they're on every corner, so maybe not so "special"

On Picadilly there is also Maison du Chocolat, which if you're looking for chocolate, this is THE place to go -

Have a great trip, looks like now you'll have plenty of time for the sightseeing!

OH, when you're packing, keep in mind that the Brits don't beleive in air conditioning, and even in Oct it can still be warm and very humid/damp in London...

 
Ah Joe, you've hit upon one of my "secrets"

You are so right, NEVER reveal the menu in advance!!!

You not only ruin the suspense and surprise as each course is revealed and presented, but yes, there are those people in our modern society who feel they have a right to dictate what shall be cooked for them, and how, to their gracious hosts.

 
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