By: Stephanie Reynolds
Who knows what “croque-monsieur” in a fancy restaurant means? (My French speaking folk, don’t answer)
It’s essentially a…grilled cheese sandwich.
So what makes it special enough that you don’t glare at the waiter and think, “Seriously? I could have made this at home.”
Parsley. A sprinkle of parsley.
If it’s a really upscale restaurant, you get an egg on top. Or some béchamel (which is basically thin gravy without meat in it. But “béchamel” sounds fancier.).
And you also get cloth napkins, a candle on the table, and some nice music.
In other words, instead of just eating grilled cheese, you get an event.
What does this have to do with the holiday season? Everything, if you have guests over. You can take the plainest, most ubiquitous food and make it an event that delights your guests by just dolling things up a bit, and I can prove it.
I’m not much of a hostess. People sometimes think I am, though, because my mom (an actually great hostess) taught me how to add a bit of flair to the ordinary, such as adding colorful fish to flower-filled glass centerpieces on the dinner table.
While she was a master, though, I am not even an apprentice. My events seem nifty, but if you really look at them, they are as basic as Kraft-on-bread. For example, I used to hold Ani-Ramen parties at my house several years ago. I served ramen and put anime on the television. That was (almost) it. It was an introvert’s dream party: eat food and watch Japanese cartoons.
But I did a few easy fun things to make it seem like more than cheap food and TV: I hung black curtains on a rod across the door to make the living room feel more like a screening room. I took long glow sticks and tucked them here and there for atmosphere. I planned one easy activity that fit the anime. For example, for a spy anime, I bought a lock pick set and we timed each other trying to pick the lock.
I did a lot of “impressive-looking-but-just-dump-in-a-bowl” things such as a buffet of Japanese candy and mix-ins to doll up the ramen, because people love making their own creations. (This isn’t scientific, but I think a minimum of 5 different choices gives that delightful feeling of “bounty”).
So a case of ramen, a lock pick set, glow sticks, some chopped carrots and hard-boiled eggs, and a trip down the candy aisle made people feel loved and cared for–delighted even.
Another big hit was DIY pizza. It took about 15 minutes to dump various cheeses, veggies, and meats into bowls, yet everyone loved gathering around the selections and arguing if pineapple belongs on a pizza (it doesn’t, you anarchists). Let everyone else do the work of making the food have fun making their pizza. (Hint if you do this: have a lot more crusts than you think you need and a lot of toppings!)
I have held fancy dinners of “rib roasts with a side of stress,” but no one has asked me to do those again. Several years later, though, I still have folk wanting another Ani-Ramen day.
So, during the holidays if you have guests, especially if you are nervous about them, make “events” out of regular things. For example, one night set out a hot cocoa bar. Yes, we can just say, “Anyone want cocoa?” but the wow is in the presentation. Just as a grilled cheese sandwich is 68% more delicious if cut on the bias and 532% more expensive if a candle is on the table, presentation is everything–a few cute mugs from the Dollar Store, packets of various flavors of cocoa, and cans of spray whipped cream, sprinkles, and syrups all in a row and suddenly you have an event that took no time, could be organized days ahead and stored in a box, but it looks amazing.
This isn’t limited to food! Your guests need to bathe and drink water, so put rolled up towels and bottles of water in a basket on their bed. Also, making a little basket in the bathroom with travel sizes of toothpaste, toothbrushes, antacids, deodorant, etc. is an easy way to seem like you spent a lot of time (you didn’t) and care (you did).
Type up a little list of things to see and do in the area (come see me and we can put a list together!). Let them decide what might be fun. This gives them buy-in, which makes them less likely to complain, and it takes the pressure off you (they were the ones who chose what to do).
Or have a theme for the day. It’s 47% more exciting when the plans are themed. How about a “make your own trail mix” buffet then walk Swan Creek? Tying unrelated things together is like when your sweater matches your shoes—it pulls the day together.
And maybe instead of trying your hand at beef Wellington with $200 worth of prime rib after all day of taking out of town guests around in traffic and noise, tell your guests you are having “croque-monsieur,” and lay out a bunch of stuff for them to make their own blessed grilled cheese sandwiches.
Don’t forget the parsley.
By: Stephanie Reynolds, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association
