topic Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous? in Kitchen

Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Regal Bee — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 20:59:06 GMT

I am cooking Italian for our company tonight. (Bucatini) I always get a bit nervous which is nuts since I have been cooking for years and I am considered a good cook....by my husband, anyway.

I really think getting a tiny bit nervous is good....keeps me on my toes.

Do you get nervous cooking for company or are you calm as a cucumber?

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

luvdoodles — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:10:17 GMT

The only company I got nervous about was my MIL. She was always very judgemental with everyone. She has since past. I prefer serving company in the Summer and use the grill. Everything seems to turn out good on the grill. Enjoy your dinner and company. Sounds good to me.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Coquille — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:12:40 GMT

@Regal Bee You are not alone! I've been cooking since I'm 12 (a long time ago, another lifetime😬) and everyone loves my cooking. They always ask me to cook for them. My daughter, is a better cook than I. She was thinking of becoming a chef but decided to be a lawyer instead but she always finds time to cook. I am always a little nervous when I cook for people. I think a little of that is in all of us. Maybe , that's what makes us better. We want to please and if we do, that validates us! Especially, cooking for others. As good as we might be, we always want approval. I think mostly everyone does in one way or another. I'm sure your dinner will be great. If you didn't care, it probably wouldn't be good. So work hard but find a way to enjoy yourself. I'm sure the dinner and you will be great!

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Diva on The Q — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:15:40 GMT

I don't know if I would use the word nervous, but, I do get a little anxious whenever I have guests for brunch, dinner, etc. I think it's that I want everything to go well. I always hope everyone enjoys themselves when they come to visit. I think a little nervous energy is natural. Hope all goes well tonight!

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

AuntG — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:22:38 GMT

A little bit, and I shouldn't because the people we have over aren't a fussy bunch.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

blackhole99 — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:36:46 GMT

No and I should. One time I was having a dinner party and decided to make turkey breast stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach. I had no idea how hard it was to debone a turkey and it took more time than I allotted to prepare the meal.. To make a long story short, the meat turned out great, I was able to serve everything on time and everyone raved about it. I never made that dish again though.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

KentuckyWoman — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:45:16 GMT

Yes indeed, I do get a bit nervous when I cook. I know what my family loves but when we have friends over it is especially stressful. We do most of our entertaining in the summer. My husband is the grillmiester and he is also a good cook. I don't touch the grill though. That's his baby. I do the sides and desserts.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

drizzellla — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 21:56:06 GMT

I always serve a recipe that I have made many times and it always goes well. I have had far too many recipes that were dudes with my own family. So I make sure I cook something that is a winner. And then I don't have to worry.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Chicagosuburbangirl — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 22:09:54 GMT

Yes, very much so.

For me it's the timing. Getting everything to the table while it's hot is a stressor.

After that I just relax and enjoy my guests.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

dex — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 22:16:06 GMT

@Regal Bee ..be sure to let us know how it went and maybe include the recipe.I have never had that dish.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Mominohio — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 22:31:12 GMT

No I don't anymore. When I was young I did.

I learned the trick is to stick with what you know and what you do well.

I Don't invite more people than I can handle, and don't invite people (if you can get away with it) that will be picky or judgemental. I Don't go beyond my comfort zone, or look to be impressing people with things that aren't in my wheelhouse.

It's never a good time, if you are sensitive, to try new things or get in over your head with complicated menus or too many dishes.

And if there is dish that becomes a flop, it isn't going to be the end of anyone's world. People should be coming to enjoy the company and fellowship, the food should just be an enhancement of that.

If one is really concerned because of lack of skill or time, there is always catering or food prepared by a restaurant brought in to keep the stress level down.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

house_cat — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 22:28:10 GMT

I don't get nervous....... until the doorbell rings and then I start second-guessing all my choices.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Gooday — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 22:41:21 GMT

I'm a good cook and an organized cook. I stick to the basics and what I do well.

However, at 65 (it's not that old I know), I have lost the enjoyment in it. I can't do more than two couples at a time and mostly we have one couple because she is always having us over.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Mominohio — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 23:33:23 GMT

@Gooday wrote:
I'm a good cook and an organized cook. I stick to the basics and what I do well.
However, at 65 (it's not that old I know), I have lost the enjoyment in it. I can't do more than two couples at a time and mostly we have one couple because she is always having us over.

@Gooday

I hear you!

I prepared food for 50 a few years ago for my son's graduation. I was having an open house, and was firm about all the food being home made.

I though it was going to kill me.

Weeks of pre preparation, and my mom and I in the kitchen for 12 hours the day before.

It was a huge success, and I only had the one kid, so whew! never again for that!

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

homedecor1 — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 00:00:42 GMT

No actually I totally enjoy it! I host a ladies lunch once a month which I really look forward to as I love to cook!

I've always hosted every big holiday and special occasions at my home up north. Now my sons are doing it with their wives -- at first it was kinda "hard to let go" but now I'm enjoying being a guest.

I'm a very organized hostess. Everything is prepared the night or day before (except for the main course) but by the time my guests arrive -- Its ready to go!

I clean up as I go and I have a "list" of things to do for the gathering. My menu is always hanging up on the fridge so I don't forget anything!

Enjoy! Sounds delicious!

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Sooner — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 00:04:02 GMT

I make a list of everything to do and the time to do it, so I'm pretty cool! I have no problems trying a new recipe either because I've cooked enough to make it work some way!

I also try to make things that finish in the oven or can hold for a while so I'm not scurrying around at the last minute. Maybe a shrimp dish where I have it done, let it sit on the stove and put the shrimp in just a few minutes before I serve it. Pork in the oven is great too.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

Carmie — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 00:38:10 GMT

I don’t get nervous and l love to cook, but I would be a happy person if everyone would stay out of my kitchen while I am cooking.

It seems everyone has to be in there blocking my way, asking if I need help asking about recipes and bugging me.

I always put appetizers in the dining room and invite everyone to sit in there...you can see into my kitchen from there, but everyone still hangs out in the kitchen no matter what I do or suggest.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

homedecor1 — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 00:32:52 GMT

@Carmie

I'm laughing at your post because I'm always complaining I miss my big kitchen now that I downsized to a galley style (open concept den/kitchen area)....yet, when I entertain almost everyone congregates in those 2 rooms and there is room for at least 30!!!

I hear ya ... I tell them please get out!!! They mess up my "entertaining karma!" lol

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

CLEM — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 00:34:03 GMT

I used to be really good at it. I once even made lunch for one of the Rockefeller's who was head of the Rockefeller Foundation. We had applied for a grant where I worked and I was told by the Dean of the School that I was in charge and could use any caterer. In my youthful arrogance I decided I could do it better myself. Also present were the deans from 4 other schools and a chairman of a department.

Well, it was a great success to the point that Mr. Rockefeller jumped up and kept pumping my hand and thanking me. I guess he loved food.

Nowadays, I have 3 friends coming to lunch next Tuesday and I am all freaking out about it.

Re: Cooking for Company/ Guests....do you get nervous?

sol_luna — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 01:03:41 GMT

NO. I'm confident about the recipes I make for guests.