My Dilemma. Having a friend of dh for spontaneous, casual dinner tomorrow. We have not seen him

B

barb_b

Well-known member
for over 25 yrs. He is in town, his parents ran into my parents at the supermarket, you get where this is going. We are very much looking forward to catching up.

BUT, I called him to ask if he has any dietary restrictions, (I thought it was a nice thing to do... : )

He proceeded to thank me, and say that his wife (who I do not know, and was not able to fly in), would be so happy that I asked this, because she is a professional chef!

NOW, what to serve!? He said he does not care for Cilantro.

Now, what should I make? It will be very casual, nothing fancy. But, I am feeling this pressure! (Self induced!)

Thoughts?

Barb

 
I think you should relax. Seriously! Even Anthony Bourdain talks about what...

...professional chefs prefer to eat at home: comfort food -plain and simple!

Chefs deal with their restaurant jobs (if that is what they do) all day and half the night. After nibbling on fwah grah and rich sauces all shift, they really LOVE a terrific pot roast with roasted vegetables and gravy over buttermilk mashed potatoes.

I say, go with your best pitch! Keep it within what YOU like to eat (minus the cilantro) and serve what you do best! I think you have a good chance of receiving great praise!

Michael

 
Serve whatever you had in mind before you found out his wife was a chef smileys/wink.gif

Unless it contains cilantro. As Michael says, he's probably craving a good home cooked meal, and you're a good home cook! So put forth your favorite weeknight meal.

The point is to get re-aquainted and the food is secondary. You don't want to miss the conversation by being in the kitchen fussing.

Have fun!

 
have fun! if cilantro is the only no no, you have it made. maybe something regional.

 
I say try that balsamic pork loin out on him, agree with Joe, it's about catching up and enjoying

your company. smileys/smile.gif Since you just made it, it's fresh in your mind and you can grind it right out.
Laarb might be fun too. Easy make ahead

Have fun!

M

 
Great advice here Barb. Relax! Your a great cook

and whatever you serve will be great I feel certain. But I put myself in your shoes and thought what would I do in that situation? My mind raced through a collection of my favorite recipes and you know what I came up with fast? Burgers and mac & cheese. I have a Caprial Pense recipe for lamb burgers that are wonderful and a mac & cheese recipe from Martha Stewart both on the gourmet side. I love putting the perfect appetizer and salad to go with the main. Simple comfort food on the gourmet side. I have made this combo many times when I've had someone over for dinner that I felt a bit intimidated by. I feel like I'm not trying to show off but it's clear I can cook! You'll come up with that combo that you feel great about and all will be fine. Take a deep breath and relax. And I'll betcha his wife would love to be there with you all.

sigh...your = you're

 
who doesn't like cilantro?!?

a lot can happen in 25 years. The cilantro thing is really strange. Personally this would be a major red flag for me. I'd reconsider the whole thing.

(kidding)

 
seems like the whisky / tequilla debate

people who say tequila is disgusting (as I did for many years) have probably never tried "good" tequila... Same goes for whisky (no "e")

But if cilantro tastes like soap to you, don't eat it. Different strokes. I was just kidding... Though I will always have my doubts about cilantro critics and hold them of dubious character... (kidding) ((or am I?))

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/dining/14curious.html

 
OMG . . .

I have to agree with orchid and Janet in NC . . .

There are things I chose NOT to eat (few), but cilantro I can't tolerate. I am one of those who extremely tastes dish soap with anything more than the least of cilantro in a dish. From what I've read it is a genetic thing (though my siblings love cilantro) that causes a chemical reaction.

I try to be tolerant and polite, but sometimes it's difficult. The taste of cilantro can ruin, for me, an otherwise wonderful dish. And, unfortunately, in most dishes there is no way to segregate the cilantro from the other ingredients, the way someone might pick out other distasteful ingredients, like mushrooms.

My reaction is so adverse that I have a hard time at the farmers' market when there are stacks of cilantro. I can't even tolerate the smell. I have to move on - quickly.

Don't blame me/us. I still love my siblings who will not eat peas, brussels sprouts or lima beans - and they forgive me that I won't eat green beans! (We had green beans ALL the time because it was one of the only vegetables my siblings would eat . . . my siblings hated the veggies I liked, so I spent my whole life having to eat veggies I disliked.) SIGH.

 
barb, What about Thomas Keller's Roast Chicken or Ted Allen's Salmon Recipe. If you want either

I will link.

 
see the (kidding) part

and the link. No OMG necessary... I LOVE cilantro btw. I feel bad that "you people" can't enjoy it. No soap here... (is that a good thing?)

for the uninitiated, the "you people" is a joke too... WOW! I'm on a roll today. "tough crowd" (adjusting my tie)

 
Just check out the 'Menu' section here, or some of the Tried and True recipes

Whatever you serve, just be sure and have a killer dessert (aka chocolate).

 
I saw it . . . nothing against you . . .

Cilatnro is just one of those things that sets me off. It seems to me a discussion that rankles! If you (not you) like it you can't understand why others don't and visa versa.

Honetsly, I don't understand why my siblings won't eat peas and for all those years I had to eat green beans!!

 
green beans I'm with you...

now green bean lovers. There are some really disturbed individuals smileys/wink.gif

 
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