If you were cooking a meal to impress what would it be?

[Laryh]

Dh and I going away for a week with 4 other couples. The air BnB is quite remote so we have decided that each couple will take a night to cook. I know some of the other couples are exceptional cooks.

What would you make?

I am thinking roast chicken x2, fondant potatoes and some veg. Ridiculously yummy and not too hard.

Dh was thinking spinach and ricotta lasagna (his speciality), garlic flatbread and salad.

What would you do?

I personally try to avoid beef and lamb (I have the sensibilities of a vegetarian but am greedy - working towards going vegan).

Lasagne is better for sharing, more straightforward in an unfamiliar kitchen and if it's his speciality he'll smash it.

If you go with your idea, I also agree that dauphinoise (shareable, not as precise, just as delicious) is a better idea than fondants (tricky, a bit technical).

When DP and I do this he tends to make some sort of homemade bread and a massive pie (he makes his own pastry too). His go-to pies are a chicken and squash with ras el hanout one for carnivores and a fairly incredible celeriac and balsamic garlic one for veggies.

(I don't cook, I pour the drinks, but I will take the credit for finding the recipe for the latter and emailing it to him.)

I’d do something I was very confident in - roast chicken is great but I’d worry about the oven temperature and having enough roasting dishes and a good carving knife.

For that size of group I’d most likely do a casserole type thing that’s quite forgiving if the oven isn’t right. I’d also do dauphinoise over fondant because it’s both easy and indulgent. I wouldn’t bother trying to impress, tbh I find good food loving prepared pretty impressive even if it’s just a bacon sandwich.

For dessert Nick Nairn has an infallible chocolate cake recipe that’s my go to for groups with fruit salad and cream for non-chocolate lovers. Or I’d do a big tray of chocolate brownies and good ice cream.

I would do something from Ottolenghi. They are always delicious and are never as complicated as they look, but if you haven't tried you don't know that!

Green and Black's chocolate mousse cake or Nigella's molten chocolate baby cakes. Both are impressive and easy.

I'd do an easy seafood or prawn linguine with garlic bread...assuming everyone liked seafood...

I tend to cook lamb shank dishes in advance, because they are great on the reheat. Once the meat is falling off the bones I shred it and discard the bones. That way, if the lamb shanks are very large, you don't need a whole one per person, so four or five would do six decent portions of shredded meat. I keep overnight so the solidified fat can be skimmed off before re-heating.

Diana Henry has a fantastic Vietnamese lamb shank recipe with sweet potatoes and lots of mint, coriander and crushed peanuts, as a garnish. With coconut rice it's amazing. A great, no fuss dish for a crowd.

You could actually cook that in advance and freeze it, take it with you, then just do the rice and the garnish on the day.

After a few days of impressive, a curry is usually appreciated.

So I would cook a couple of dishes in advance and freeze, then reheat in the oven.
Find an easy rice dish to make on the night.
And bring poppadoms, chutneys, naan, samosas and bhajis etc.

Generous servings with chilled Cobra lagers. That will impress!

Can I add Delia's Little Sticky Toffee puddings, my family are not happy if they think they're not getting these over Christmas! They can be frozen, ours are in the freezers already, and the sauce can be made and gently reheated on the day. Good vanilla ice cream goes well.
Also St Delia's Chocolate Truffle Torte, I think it's what sent the sale of liquid glucose through the roof a few years ago, a few fresh raspberries go well.

Googling those now, Judge!

Mary Berry’s recipe for sticky toffee pudding is also super easy and beautiful

Roast chicken is the most boring of boring meals.

If it was me I'd do roast lamb shoulder with pomegranate molasses with either couscous or Greek lemon potatoes, labneh and this relish. www.thekitchn.com/appetizer-recipe-pomegranate-olive-relish-recipes-from-the-kitchn-181181

Both your chicken and lasagne are nice meals which I would be very happy to eat, but not really impressive if that’s what you are going for more “I know you guys are great cooks so we are not trying to compete”.