culinary inspiration required

[bk1]

Hi all,
I am looking for some ideas for a lunch I am having next week for six French English teachers. I will not have much preparation time on the day itself as I will be at work until 11.30am and they will come at 12 30 ish
Should I offer wine ? They will be returning to work after lunch
I want to serve a main lunch dish and a home made dessert. Obviously as English teachers they all have an interest in British culture etc, so I was thinking something a little different to the norm for them.
What would you suggest ? I look forward to your ideas

[Elkay]

What about poaching some salmon the evening before and serving it cold with salads, maybe including a potato salad? Also make an apple pie the evening before but reheat that and serve it with custard (our French friends love Birds custard!) Not sure about the wine - maybe chill a light rose and offer it?

[Ali]

I love this: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4251/chicken-cacciatore

Dead easy to pre make the sauce and just sauteeeeee the chicken fillets in during the hour that you have spare before they arrive. You could pre-bake some tatties in their skins and heat up after, or do some pasta, or rice or or or A bit of salad for the side always brightens things up too?

How about a banoffee pie for afters? (But not with my plasticine caramel lol - btw your suggestion of regurgitating it worked!!!!)

Orane juice and coke on hand for easy drinks? Perhaps a bottle of wine lurking just in case?

[bk1]

I was thinking a breast of chicken caesar salad with a lemon cheesecake for afters. With the weather getting chillier I am hesitant that it may be too Summery so was thinking maybe I should do something hot for main dish.
Loving the ideas so far as I am a keen cook and will try any suggestions you come up with at some point.
should I do a cheese course ?

[HelloThere]

Baked potatoes always go down well when we have French pals round as they don't seem to have them so much here. Always makes it feel more like a hot meal too....

[4STIX]

any chippy's near you bk1 !!!!

[Pasha]

Sept 27, 2012 17:49:56 GMT 1 Elkay said:

What about poaching some salmon the evening before and serving it cold with salads, maybe including a potato salad? Also make an apple pie the evening before but reheat that and serve it with custard (our French friends love Birds custard!) Not sure about the wine - maybe chill a light rose and offer it?[/quot

Yeah-- salmon is brill -- but better there --is mackerel and cheaper too- cook it --and when cold --flake it off the bone and skin -- touch of anything ya like with it -- brill with salads --

real yummy on cold toast/butter!!

[Ali]

Adore Mackerel in the blender with a bit of cream n butter, seasoning, and spread over a lovely crusty French baguette mmmmmm

[<-Rinky-Dink->]

What about some lean pork loin chops, dipped in egg and then in
seasoned (herbed if you you like) breadcrumbs, served with Ratte potatoes cooked in their skins, and a green veg? Pudding .... either
Elkay's suggestion of apple pie, or, apple crumble (or any other fruit you fancy), the french round here love my apple crumble. Served either with custard or cream?

The pork could be prepared the day before and kept in the fridge, so could the apple pie/crumble.

Bon Appetite....

[Em]

French are often some what timid eaters, spicy is out of the question as often what we would call mild is an excuse for a fire engine!! lol
Your doing a meal in October a salad as a main dish is a no no. A starter ok.
Wine tricky, apperro too, but doubt you have time to do all as they are in their lunch hour. I would have a bottle of red, white, or rosé on hand for those who want it.
The usual format for a quick lunch at a french friends is, crudité maybe with prawns, ham, or hard boiled egg, or paté with toasts, etc. Main course hot or either meat or fish. Cheese with some form of salad and bread. Dessert of some sort inc. fruit desserts the crumble here is served cold the reaction of french when you serve it warm is amussing! Finished with coffee(the real stuff not nescafé).
If you only have an hour what your doing needs to be reasonably easy and some thing that won't ruin if left a little time in oven while they eat their starter.
Hope that helps.
Em