The London Lounge

My wife and I love to cook and entertain friends at our home. However, we both find it a bit daunting to prepare food in nice clothing. Other than this
what have your or your significant others found to ease the pain and stress of cooking in a jacket and tie?

There used to be a cookery presenter by the name Fanny Craddock on British television, who cooked in an evening dress.

www.televisionheaven.co.uk/ fanny.htm

In my experience, you have two options.

Option 1: Cook wearing old clothes, and time all the hot and messy work so that it ends about twenty minutes before guests arrive. Have a quick shower, dress properly, then return to the kitchen for the final (very careful) touches.

Option 2: Wear chef's whites over your shirt and tie as you cook, then swap them for your coat before you sit down to dine.

If the evening is planned such that you will be cooking in the presence of guests, the second option is called for.

That is what my wife suggested. Now, I will have to find some chefs whites that are a bit more attractive than the ones that I wore during my abortive restaurant career.

Thanks for the advice.

Chefs' whites, or at least a generously cut apron are required. As one should keep food simple when entertaining (otherwise I tend to spend all my time in the kitchen while my guests drink all the wine and eat all the food), the apron should probably suffice.

As an aside, I once spent a day in the kitchens of a Michelin star restaurant. The chef-proprietor is a man notorious for his temper and no nonsense approach. He welcomed me in the morning by unwrapping a meticulously starched set of chefs' whites which he had ironed himself (all others came just folded from the laundry). The look on the faces of his kitchen team was priceless.