Wait to shop, cook ahead, focus on simplicity, divide tasks… Food Guru lifestyle gives his advice for welcoming guests during celebrations.
We have to face it. We’re not all Martha Stewarts. With the whims of last Christmas forgotten, we’re already picturing ourselves dressed to the nines, graciously welcoming our guests into a festive (and not kitsch) interior and seating them at a tastefully set table where a meal worthy of a formal reception is served. proud: royal family. But reality has more than once defeated our ambitions like a failed soufflé. One wrong move and the snowball is unstoppable: we’re rushing to work, we don’t have time to get the poultry smell out of our hair, and the decor is sloppy. Not enough to offend the guests, but enough to annoy the host.Alice Roca, the guru, to welcome (a little more) calm this year lifestyle and book author Reunited (1), gives his advice.
Stop being A superwoman
For Alice Rocca, the key to a peaceful Christmas is organization. “We also have to learn to let go and accept that everything will not be perfect. I have learned this over the years. This search for perfection was tiring for me and my loved ones,” confides the specialist.
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Predict your purchases
Alice Rocca prepares her menu in advance. After deciding on a meal, the specialist takes care to order his produce from his merchants. Having two shopping lists, one for shelf-stable foods and one for fresh produce, is also an ideal solution.
Delegate
While pulling away can be difficult for the most perfectionist among us, getting help is an inevitable step towards not feeling overwhelmed on the big day. Alice Roca explains.
Focus on simplicity
The simplicity of the menu is key. “Seafood is a perfect example. you can easily prepare beautiful plates and have fun with different types of sauces and spices. Then I serve vegetable foie gras and other expected dishes.” No need to spend hours behind the stove.
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Indeed, some recipes can be made several days in advance, like foie gras, which requires at least a week of rest after preparation. Some desserts also lend themselves perfectly to the game of expectations, such as frozen nougats that have been refrigerated and then served alongside a red fruit coulis on the big day.
Follow the cooking roadmap
Despite the simplicity of the dishes we have chosen, spending time in the kitchen during a feast is inevitable. To ensure that she is not overwhelmed, Alice Rocca follows a well-organized schedule; “I make a chef’s road map, in which I cut out all the stages of my recipes.” So we structure our schedule around prep, prep and rest times for each item on our menu and let ourselves get carried away.
Minimalist decor
As for the interior, it is preferable to take care of household chores in the previous days, at the risk of getting lost, overcome by sudden mania, in futile affairs on the same day. It is not necessary to abuse in terms of decoration. the tree, the wreath and some wreaths already put the house in a festive mood. However, we are thinking about pre-ironing the tablecloths and napkins and then putting the party, confetti and candles on them. All you have to do is really enjoy your New Years.
(1) Combine, recipes and inspirationBy Alice Rocco, Éditions First, 359 pages, €32.
Source: Le Figaro
