How do you entertain one dinner guest while you're cooking?!
How do you entertain one dinner guest while you're cooking?
I'm inviting a man over to my apartment for dinner. I'm going to cook something that will take about 45 minutes to prepare. I don't want him to help- I just want to impress him with a nice homecooked meal (as he's my guest).
I know we can talk and I'm sure he'd be fine with just that- but is there something I can do to entertain him while he waits for dinner? Or should we just talk? I don't want to make him feel awkward just sitting there.
Any suggestions?
THANKS in advance!
Answers:
I would prep most of the meal before he gets there. Open up a bottle of wine while in the kitchen and have some conversation while your putting the finishing touches on your meal. It is also a great topic for conversation; cooking.
My kitchen is my favorite room in the house, and no matter how many guests I have, we all seem to end up there. Prepare as much in advance as you can, and set the table, etc. Ask him to come keep you company while you cook; offering him a glass of wine or beer or whatever. Have a light appetizer ready for him to nibble on while he smells the enticing cooking smells. It's a nice informal way to get to know each other better. Have some nice music playing on the stereo in the background.
Ok this is a great time to get to know him, while you are cooking you could either give him something easy to do, like make salad...or just give him a glass of wine and show off your skills......be easy going, make something fun to make and eat.....and have a good time.
You should definitely have him come into the kitchen while you cook. If you have a stool or a chair, put him there with a drink, either ice water, juice, or beer or wine and some appetizers that won't ruin his appetite, like cheese and crackers or better carrot and celery pieces maybe. Try to have dinner started so he does not have to wait more than about 20 minutes for you to finish. Then do most of your taking at the dinner table.
you could cook naked ! problem solved
give him a glass of wine and ask him to chat with you while you cook. He'll love it
Well, try to prepare before he gets there as much as possible to cut down on the time. Even if you chop things up ahead of time, etc. Then just have him talk, and make sure the table is prepared, maybe he can open a bottle of wine, or have a drink. I think the important thing would be to have something small for him to snack on available, like an appetizer while you are talking. Even if it's just a little tray of cheese and crackers. People will be more relaxed if they are sitting back with a snack and nice drink.
I like the answers before but want to add this...do you have any conversation starter like a nice art book, coffee table book, etc? Something that he can lightly glance at and comment on might entertain him enough as he sits to the side in the kitchen and watches you cook. Perhaps you know of his favorite music or could introduce conversation by playing a new CD for him that he can look at and listen to as you cook.
I would talk and maybe have some music playing(not to loud though).
Tell him you want to Yahoo Answers to solve your problem. Then tell him about the answers you received. That will fill up at least 45 minutes, probably more.
He will appreciate your sense of humor and honesty.
Don't burn the food!
Give him a drink and ask him to keep you company in the kitchen. You can talk and cook at the same time. And have a glass of wine (if that's his choice) with him.. Noone should drink alone.