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#Post#: 4735--------------------------------------------------
Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: Celestia Date: June 7, 2018, 12:42 pm
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Here's an old story. Every year, my parents have a cocktail
party and invite a huge group of people. They provide drinks and
some appetizers, and guests are invited to bring whatever they
feel like. We get homemade dumplings, dips, chips, storebought
pinwheels, desserts...you name it. People dress up to some
extent but it's not strict and it's a mingling event, with
people standing in the yard, kitchen, living room, wherever and
moving back and forth.
One year I had just learned how to bread and bake chicken
tenders and I wanted to make them for the party. (I was home
from college, so 19 or 20.) My mom and I were talking out how to
divide kitchen time and I suggested that I'd bread them ahead of
time, and pop them in the oven just before start time so they'd
be fresh.
My mother was HORRIFIED at the concept that I might be taking
things out of the oven and finishing prep as people started to
arrive. She felt it was just Not Done and by the time people
arrived everything had to be completely ready so the guests
didn't see any prep. She vetoed it, I baked my chicken early,
and it was cold by the time the party started.
What say you guys? Is it poor manners to be finishing prep with
guests around? Does the formality of the event make a
difference?
#Post#: 4736--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: Rose Red Date: June 7, 2018, 12:55 pm
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It's not poor manners to me. It's just taking things out of the
oven when the food is at it's peak of piping fresh and hot. I
assume people are not going to start eating as soon as they take
off their coat; there's getting settled and mingling first.
I'm not sure if formality matters much as long as there are
appetizers for guests to nibble on while the main is finishing
up cooking in the oven.
#Post#: 4738--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: Sycorax Date: June 7, 2018, 1:40 pm
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I certainly wouldn't think anything about taking something out
of the oven, even during the party, to replenish a hot
appetizer. I mean, you don't want the hosts to be stuck in the
kitchen for the whole party, but that's not what this is.
I wouldn't grill the burgers for a cookout before the party,
either.
#Post#: 4741--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: Venus193 Date: June 7, 2018, 2:14 pm
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That sounds like it comes from the days when the kitchen was far
away from the dining room so that no cooking smells reached the
guests. Stuff and nonsense.
If I were making food for a party on the day of I'd want to make
sure it's served piping hot.
#Post#: 4747--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: bopper Date: June 7, 2018, 3:27 pm
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You have to balance between being a host and cold food.
So in your case, your parents were hosting so I see no issue
with you taking food out of the oven so it is hot.
if you were hosting, you wouldn't want to be cooking and in the
kitchen and not be able to greet your guests...but popping
something out? no issue
#Post#: 4753--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: QueenFaninCA Date: June 7, 2018, 5:13 pm
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Just popping something in an out of the oven? Totally ok. I
think guests know that hot food doesn't magically turn hot by
itself. And fresh out of the oven is way better than having kept
warm for I-don't-know-how-long.
#Post#: 4760--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: cleargleam Date: June 7, 2018, 5:53 pm
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*I* think "fresh out of the oven" would have been fine.
If you're not a professional caterer and you don't have a
cooking/cleaning staff at your disposal, there's a limit to the
bar you can reach. And who wants chicken tenders that have been
held at temperature forever?
As noted, technically, this function was hosted by your parents.
Unless you needed to change out of party clothes (or wait to
change into party clothes) to safely remove the chicken from the
oven and arrange it for service, I would have deemed it "no big
deal".
Others' mileage may vary.
#Post#: 4852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: GardenGal Date: June 8, 2018, 4:41 pm
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I don't think it's bad manners at all. For over 25 years my DH
and I used to host 1-2 parties each year for up to 100 people.
Not only did food prep go on up until they arrived, it continued
(thanks to mostly hired help and a bit of my time) during the
party so there was a constant supply of fresh, hot food. These
parties lasted about 4 hours, and were very popular with our
friends and family.
#Post#: 5402--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: lowspark Date: June 13, 2018, 1:43 pm
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I don't see anything wrong with it. I agree that spending a lot
of time in the kitchen while your guests are in the other room
is not cool (with some exceptions). But putting/removing things
from the oven is fine.
Just curious, did your parents never serve anything hot at their
parties? Was everything either cold or room temperature?
And... if you really don't want to use the oven while there are
guests, there are ways around that such as crock pots, warming
trays, chafing dishes.
#Post#: 5472--------------------------------------------------
Re: Last-Minute Food Prep?
By: Celestia Date: June 13, 2018, 9:39 pm
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[quote author=lowspark link=topic=345.msg5402#msg5402
date=1528915393]
Just curious, did your parents never serve anything hot at their
parties? Was everything either cold or room temperature?
[/quote]
Most stuff they prepared would sit in dishes that kept the heat
reasonably well for an hour or two, or weren't hot. I don't
remember them ever using warming methods. They also only
provided a few snacks - mixed nuts, chips, dip - plus all
drinks, and the potluck provided most of the food.Most people
would show up with room-temperature stuff, or with fresh, hot
stuff that cooled as the party went on. (I don't mind cold food
so I was never bothered enough to really notice, except my
chicken fingers.)
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