Home. The best venue in town

When it comes to choosing a venue for entertaining, you might say I’m a bit of a homebody. Not that I don’t appreciate the allure of ambient restaurant lighting and a waiter who refills my wine glass without prompting, mind you. But there’s something inherently warm and personal about a home that no Michelin-starred restaurant can compete with.

Entertaining at home is an intimate dance choreographed to the tune of clinking glasses, laughter-infused conversation, and the tantalising scent of your coq au vin wafting through the house. And I daresay it’s the very setting where this symphony of senses is composed that makes it memorable. After all, who remembers the bistro where you had that decent risotto, but everyone remembers Aunt Mary’s legendary Christmas roast served at her mahogany dining table, don’t they?

Indeed, your home is not just a structure of bricks and mortar. It’s a canvas, awaiting the strokes of your creativity and a generous splash of culinary artistry. Entertaining at home, my friends, is about adorning this canvas with the colours of joy, friendship, and a dash of your secret marinade.

What the high-end dining establishments of this world can’t give you, is the power to shape your guests’ experience from the moment they walk through your door. You get to control the lighting, the music, and the temperature (that last one is crucial if, like me, you’re prone to spontaneous hot flushes).

And let’s not forget the menu. When you entertain at home, you are the maestro of your kitchen, able to curate a gastronomic journey that caters to your friends’ gluten-free, dairy-intolerant, low-carb, flexitarian foibles. No need to settle for what’s on the menu; the menu is what you say it is.

Fancy a springtime garden party with a touch of the Mediterranean? Lay out some fresh bruschetta, grilled prawns with lemon and olive oil, and have your guests swooning over your homemade limoncello. Or, perhaps you’re hosting an autumnal dinner with seasonal delights? Fill your home with the smell of roasted butternut squash soup, venison with blackberry sauce, and round it off with a scrumptious apple crumble. And when winter descends, surprise your friends with a Scandinavian-themed evening, full of cured salmon, Swedish meatballs, and the warming glow of countless tea-lights.

If you’re worried about logistics, let’s consider this: a sit-down dinner might sound like a disaster waiting to happen if your flat is more ‘cosy’ than ‘capacious’. However, you could embrace the Japanese philosophy of “one soup, three sides”, or even better, organise a potluck. Not only will it ease your workload, but it’s also a great way to discover Aunt Mary’s secret roast recipe.

Of course, you might argue, “But restaurants are so convenient.” I won’t deny that. But the real question is, are we merely seeking convenience, or a lifetime of treasured memories? Because at the end of the day, no restaurant can ever provide the personal touch of your home – the tiny heart-shaped crack on your favourite coffee mug, the sweet scent of your rose garden, or the faintly ridiculous family photos on the mantelpiece.

It’s high time we reclaim the lost art of home entertainment. Let us cherish our ability to turn our humble abode into a hub of culinary celebration. And most importantly, let’s never forget that no matter how enticing the world outside may be, the best venue in town will always be… Your Place! So let the challenge begin. Home is where the hearth and heart is, after all.