Dinner parties for beginners - how to upset your mother in law!

I have learnt the hard way. The very first time I invited my mother-in-law to dinner was a real disaster! I cringe now when I think how silly I was.
It was in the early 1960s (yes, I know I am quite old!) and I was at a stage of trying out all kinds of new recipes when the rest of the country was content with good old "meat, spuds and greens". For some reason I decided to do egg curry!
Now, at that time NOBODY I knew had EVER eaten curry. I had a recipe and I just about walked my legs off to find "curry powder" and this strange new savoury rice called "patna rice". Eventually, I found some in a little shop in town. I cooked my egg curry.
Unfortunately, my mother-in-law was a VERY traditional lady who had afternoon tea at exactly 3.30 every afternoon using china teapot , cups and saucers etc. She was more a roast beef lady - and she was straight out of a Jane Austin novel, if you get my drift.
Bright eyed and bushy -tailed, I served the meal. My mother-in-law took one look at the food, looked at me reproachfully (as if I had shot her or something) and slowly and with great dignity got up from the table and left the room closing the door quietly behind her!

I have added a section to our website entitled "Beginners guide to dinner parties" which I hope you will take a look at. It is full of hints, tips , warnings and suggestions. Maybe you can think of some more.
Please take time to visit our website where you will find all kinds of cooking hints, tips and information as well as cutlery and catering products.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry