What is your idea of a good dinner theme?!
What is your idea of a good dinner theme?
What is your idea of a good dinner theme? i need honest opinions for my creative cooking project. i have to have a five course meal that fits in this theme, HELP!
Answers:
My fave is Italiano, but I'm sure you'll get A LOT of that. Go with something unique like a Southern BBQ theme, or some Hawaiian dishes... try foodnetwork.com for some great ideas!!
well, you can do so much! Mexi night, Asian night, Italian Night..or American night. Make apptizers, a meal and desert..
Like mexi:
tortilla and salsa, Salad, Enchiladas or tacos, with beans and rice, and flan or ice cream with churros...
i would do like a italian salad[1st course],then like a bread and butter for the second course,for the main i would do like pasta in fettachine sause and as the desert a big chocolate pie or cake
Five courses are usually pretty fancy affiars. I think you could still do it w/ a buffet style, if you wanted to... maybe French, July 4, All-American, Asian, European, Islands Living (foods from Hawaii to Jamaica)...
1. Soup
2. Fish
3. Entree
4. Salad
5. Dessert
I love Italian food, so I would have to go with Italian. And if you want to represent the true 5-course Italian meal, this may help.
So what's the structure of the traditional Italian meal? There are actually five components. Not every meal contains all five, but many do.
* The antipasto: A traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on, called an antipasto, which translates into English as "before the meal." The antipasto may consist of a bowl of marinated olives and some fresh fennel for dipping in extra-virgin olive oil, with a wedge of fine Parmigiano-Reggiano and some bread. You can also serve drinks, such as wine, sparkling water, prosecco (the Italian equivalent of champagne), or cocktails (such as Campari and soda). You can serve this part of the meal at the table or, better yet, on the patio or in front of a roaring fire.
* The primo: The average American family feeds four from a pound of dried pasta. But in Italy, pasta is a first course, or primo, served as an appetizer, not as the main event. There, a pound of pasta yields six, or even eight, first-course portions. Soup, rice, and polenta are the other main options for the primo.
* The secondo: After the plates for the first course have been cleared, it's time for the main course (called il secondo, or second course). Chicken, meat, or fish are the usual choices, and portions are generally small. These main courses are usually fairly simple, especially if a rich pasta or rice dish precedes them. Italian cooks usually serve a grilled steak, a roast loin of pork, or maybe some sautéed fish. Sauces are usually light or nonexistent.
* The contorno: A platter of vegetables usually accompanies the main course. This side dish highlights the simple goodness of the vegetable ― for example, potatoes roasted with garlic and herbs, peas cooked with bacon and onion, or maybe some oven-roasted asparagus with olive oil and salt. The word contorno loosely translates as "contours" and refers to the fact that the vegetable course helps shape and define the meal. It's how the cook connects with the season. Asparagus, peas, and artichokes herald the arrival of spring. Peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes celebrate summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, and mushrooms signal the arrival of cooler fall weather. Carrots, winter squash, and Savoy cabbage round out a winter meal.
* The dolce: A dolce, or sweet, ends a traditional Italian meal. On most days, the dolce is a bowl of fruit. Some hard Italian cookies, called biscotti, and dessert wine for dunking is another option. Italians serve more elaborate cakes, tortes, and custards on special occasions.
mix and match cuisine:
mexican
italian
chinese
etc,
I, for one, enjoy the Hawaiian/tropical theme. They sell tropical flavored marinades at most supermarkets, so you could make chicken or something for the main course. Pineapples make a good dessert. I suppose you could also incorporate them into a salad if you wanted to. Do some research on tropical or Hawaiian cuisine to find out what else you could make.
I know that's not much... but I hope it helps ^-^
Hawaiian popped into my head so here's the dinner menu:
Appetizer
Grilled Bacon wrapped shrimp with pineapple/ mango chutney
Vegetarian alternative- Baked brie with the pineapple/ mango chutney on top and wasa crackers
First course:
Mixed salad greens tossed in a balsamic vinegrette with Lump Crab cakes on top
Vegetarian alternative- top greens with pan fried goat cheese circles thats been breaded in panco bread crumbs
Second Course:
Roasted Pork tenderloin marinated in garlic, olive oil salt and pepper served with orange marmelade glaze. Grill fresh pineapple slices to garnish. Serve on top of smashed potatoes.
Vegetarian Alternative- Grill fresh vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, red onion, green and red peppers) season with salt and pepper. Serve with wild grain rice.
Third Course:
Make a fresh fruit and cheese platter to cleanse the palate. Use kiwi, pineapple, oranges, manoes, pomegranate, strawberries, etc. Use cheddar, provolone, swiss and colby cheeses.
Dessert:
Pineapple upside down cake
Grilled pineapple slices topped with chocolate ganache and whipped cream
go jamaican! it will surprise anyone!
try a fruit plate first. bananas and strawberries are actually fitting for this menu. if you have to spice it up use cinnamon.
then a fresh salad with baby greens, tomato, pineapple chunks(small), cilantro (chopped finely), fresh mango, and any other veggies you like, fresh jalapeno (if you want some sweaty foreheads - that's not always bad!), and a mango/pineapple vinaigreatte (if that's not avail, use raspberry vinaigrette).
assuming you can take a little heat, try a little jerk chicken on the side. (easy with mcccormick's at the grosery store). for the veggie, do either green beans with almond slivers or asparagus with butter and garlic. compliment the main dish with dinner rolls.
at the same time, serve sweet potatoes with ground cumin and nutmeg, it will taste kinda like pumpkin pie. most people like that flavor, but some find it unappealing.
after the main course, do banana's foster - a traditional jamaican dish.. i improvised on the receipe (bananas, bacardi 151 [then you light it] it's worth looking up) by adding a little grand marinier, but when the flames die down (yeah, it's supposed to do that, and it is a great dessert with a romantic 'flare', let the meal take its course. :) it's a great ala mode kinda dessert.
mardi gras
Miniature american favorites---mini cheese burgers, mini apple pies, mini cheese fries. mini baked macaroni and cheeses, mini chicken drumsticks. Make a list of all american favorites thinj of maybe 5 that should go together like Happy Days type stuff and then make them minis.
I would go out of the box with this if it's for a course. Gourmet up a something that is considered "regular" food. For example if you wanted to do Mexican:
1. Chilled pineapple and avacodo soup (I know it sounds yucky, but I have made it and it's delish!)
2. Mexican seafood cocktail
3. Ancho chili crusted beef tenderloin with hicama chips
4. A tray of Hispanic cheeses with tropical fruit
5. Coffee Flan