Normally, the idea of throwing a dinner party wouldn’t faze me one bit. Being homebodies by nature, The Boy and I have found that our favourite way to connect with friends is to have them over for a fabulous meal, and we do it often. So when I first looked at the third challenge, I figured it would be a cakewalk.
...and then I looked at my calendar, and realised I wasn’t going to be home. Instead, I'd be nearly halfway across the country, spending a week in Vancouver with The Boy and the in-laws for a big family reunion.
Gulp.
What saved my bacon is that my in-laws rented a townhouse for all of us, which meant I had both a kitchen and dining room at my disposal. A little smaller than I'm used to and with very limited supplies, admittedly... but a perfectly useable kitchen and dining room nonetheless.
Even better, the townhouse was a short walk away from Vancouver’s famous Granville Island
Market, which is home to hundreds of vendors selling everything under the sun – there’s homemade charcuterie, fresh fish, artisan bakeries, every fruit and vegetable you could dream, of, exotic spices. Needless to say, I decided right away that the market would be the inspiration for my dinner party.
In the spirit of family reunions, we were joined by four relatives - The Boy’s parents, Anne and Erwin, along with his aunt and uncle, Sandra and Stan, who had travelled from California for the big gathering.
Once we’d decided on guests, The Boy and I sat down to plan our meal. For the main course, salmon was pretty much a no-brainer, considering we were on the West Coast in the middle of salmon season. Even better, it fit in perfectly with the food preferences among the group - Erwin doesn’t eat pork or seafood and can't mix meat with dairy in a single meal, while Sandra and Stan avoid red meat.
Working with the salmon as our star attraction, we then planned out some simple dishes to round out the meal and highlight the bounty at the market. The idea was to buy absolutely everything we needed from the market, and to rely mostly on local seasonal produce like apples, plums, parsnips and red peppers.
Once we'd sorted out a menu, off to the market we went, armed with a shopping list and lattes.
I have to say, this is probably the most fun I've ever had shopping for a dinner party. We meandered through the market, picking up supplies as we went... apples and plums from local orchards, a dozen farm-fresh eggs, baking supplies and exotic spices from the bulk store, bright yellow and orange striped ravioli stuffed with sweet yam and chestnut, an assortment of olives, crusty sourdough baguettes, and last but not least, a whole Coho salmon with gleaming silver skin and bright coral-orange flesh, which the fishmonger graciously filleted for us on the spot.
With the shopping done, we headed back to our home-away-from-home to cook. It was a little bit tricky, to say the least - working in a borrowed kitchen is like wearing someone else's shoes, in that it feels totally unlike what you're used to, and you can't quite find your normal rhythm (or anything else, for that matter). Thankfully, by the time our guests returned from a day trip to Whistler, we'd gotten everything done thanks to my trusty to-do list and The Boy's assistance as sous-chef.
We served up small bowls of olives with bread to distract the guests while I warmed the soup and put the fish in the oven to bake, and then got things started with an Apple-Parsnip Soup seasoned with ras-el-hanout, a classic Moroccan spice blend, which we topped with blue cheese crostini and swirls of creme fraiche.
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Then came the main course, Dukkah-Crusted Salmon, two whole fillets of wild Coho salmon baked with a crust of nuts, sesame seeds and spices, accompanied by bright-coloured ravioli triangles topped with a smoky-sweet Romesco Sauce and a bowl of tender-crisp Green Beans Almondine. We paired the course with a bottle of 2008 Mission Hill Reserve Chardonnay, a crisp white with buttery, citrusy notes that was just the right complement for the cumin-scented dukkah.
For the grand finale, we served up wedges of still-warm Clafoutis aux Prunes, a combination of tart blue plums in a sweet vanilla-speckled crepe batter, finished with a light dusting of icing sugar. Together with a pot of hot tea, it made for the perfect ending to our elegant-but-rustic fall meal.
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So, did we live up to the idea of a "luxury dinner party"? Probably not in the strictest of senses, but for a landlubber like me, being able eat fresh-caught West Coast salmon is a luxury in and of itself. Besides, who needs fancy dishes and a tablescape when you've got a view like this?
Best of all, we were able to bring together family from far-flung places for an wonderful evening. We ate, we drank, we laughed, and then we ate some more. As the last bite of dessert disappeared from Stan's plate, a chorus of happy sighs circled the table, and weary diners with full stomachs shuffled over to the living room for a post-prandial nap. That, by anyone's definition, is a fine dinner party indeed.
I'd love to give you all the recipes for this party (and I will, eventually). However, this post is already montrously huge as it is, so I'll leave you with a recipe for the piece de resistance: Dukkah-Crusted Salmon. If using individually-portioned fillets for a smaller group, plan on 2-3 tbsp of dukkah per fillet and adjust the remaining ingredients accordingly.
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Dukkah-Crusted Salmon
1 whole salmon, filleted, pin-bones removed
Salt and pepper
¾ cup dukkah
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
Preheat oven to 425F.
Arrange the salmon, skin side down, in a lightly oiled baking dish (you could also use a baking sheet if you don't have any baking dishes large enough for this purpose). Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, combine the dukkah, olive oil and lemon juice to make a thick paste. Using the back of a spoon, spread a thin layer of the dukkah paste onto the salmon, covering it as evenly as possible.
Bake the salmon in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges flake easily when tested with a fork. Tent loosely with tinfoil and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
jen cheung says
Congrats Congrats going onto challenge #4!!! Must be exciting for you! Good luck and all the best. Happy Thanksgiving to you! You'll be getting the next vote from me :) Your awesome!
Have a happy thanksgiving!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
Amanda (The Culinary Passport) says
Looks amazing! You have my vote :)
danasfoodforthought says
Thanks for all the great entertaining tips! Looks like they really paid off. Everything sounds wonderful... and that soup looks so luscious and delicious! Good luck!
Charmaine @ Speakeasy Kitchen says
Great tips. Looks like you had a really lovely time
Lauren Zabaneh says
Really nice to find you! I like your approach and your zen-like execution for a challenging scenerio!
Everythings sounds delish with exotic little twists here and there. Nice job.
My favorite photo is of you with the parsnip and that "hmmmmm" look on your face. Super cute!
We Are Not Martha says
I love all your tips and that salmon looks incredible!! Sounds like the perfect little weekend getaway dinner party! :)
Sues
Fiona at Life on Nanchang Lu says
Would love to visit Vancouver someday. That food market sounds incredible and you're so right about the luxury of fresh local salmon...a lovely meal. Thanks for the link to the dukkah recipe too!
Natty says
Those islands of crisp bread and blue cheese are amazing, I can't wait to try those! Great job!
Jessica says
I love your entry! Your tips are great! Hope we both make it to the next round! :-) You have my vote!
Ed says
Great presentation and my vote!
Danielle says
Way to take things in stride and work with what you were given! Good luck in round 3!
Libby says
Wow, you said yours might be a cakewalk, and mine really was LOL! I enjoyed this...how you took a challenging aspect (being out of town) and turned it into something special, kudos! Hope we both make it to Round 3!
Isabelle says
Thanks again, everyone. Your support means so much to me.
Jacob, I've got my fingers AND toes crossed for us. :)
Nadia, if you do ever get out to Vancouver, then Granville Island is a must-see. Aside from the market itself, there are so many lovely boutiques and artisans that I could spend a whole day window-shopping. (And if you do go to the market, go to the Terra Bakery and buy yourself a slice of their grape focaccia. You won't regret it, believe me!)
fortheloveofyum says
What a gorgeous dinner, love your concept! I really hope to get a chance to visit Granville Market!
Love your tips too! Good Luck on Project Food Blog!
Jeanne says
That salmon sounds incredible! The entire party looks fabulous, especially since you weren't even in your own kitchen. Excellent work on this challenge, you got my vote!
Jacob's Kitchen says
Great post! I love how you laid it all out. The tips are great, the food looks mouthwatering, and it sounds like everyone had a good time. Nicely done! I voted!
Good luck! fingers crossed for us both to make it through to the next round! =)
Ruby says
Wow - you nailed it! Love the step by step instructions and your menu is awesome!
Lana says
I am frustrated when I have to cook in my mother's kitchen, let alone in some rented house! Enjoying fresh produce and in-season fish in the company of family is pretty luxurious, in my opinion. Great job! I voted for you.
Isabelle says
Thanks for the sweet comments, guys!
Farah: The soup recipe is forthcoming, probably later this week or sometime next week. It's really easy, and really delicious. Probably one of the dishes I'll make again, dinner party or no.
Jean: Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! I'm still amazed to have made it this far, to the top 200... but the level of talent in this round is unbelievable. If I don't make it through, at least I'll have gone down fighting! :)
Megan says
Hello dear! You are so good at what you do! We are lucky to have you in the competition! Best of luck and a vote from me! Megs @ Foodalution
Jean says
Just saw your tweet saying you're worried about moving on to #4. Not according to what I see here. You were not in your own home and you managed to put all this together? You put me to shame! Just had to say that I think you have nothing to worry about. :-)
jen cheung says
VOTEDDDDDDD! Good luck! Wish you all the best!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
Whitney says
smart, fresh and elegant! Great job missy!
https://whitneysamusebouche.blogspot.com/
Whit
Torviewtoronto says
lovely presentation
FOODalogue says
I think you did a great job in a rented kitchen...looks elegant...and your photos are fabulous. Good luck moving on!
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot says
I love all your tips and your meal looks so colourful and delicious! I know you have a good theme because I chose it too! You have my vote!
Cook of the House says
Beautiful dinner and like you say the luxury is getting everyone together. The Granville Island Market is one of my favourite places to be.
Farah says
Oh My, Isabelle, that looks fantastic! I love going to different farmers markets when traveling. Your soup intrigues, and I will wait with baited breath for the recipe.
Cake Duchess says
Hi Isabelle- your dinner looks elegant and very tasty. You did a great job and you have my vote.:)
Brie: Le Grand Fromage says
great dinner party! especially because you were unable to prepare in your own kitchen. the meal looks delicious and i like the format of your tips - very helpful. good luck! :)
Elisabeth says
Very well done! Everything looks beautiful. the soup, and the salmon look delicious. No doubt, I will vote for you!
roxan says
Beautiful job, you did awesome. Your guests were so lucky to have been there!
Anna says
You did great girl, everything looks delicious. That soup sounds and looks yummy.