I'm planning a meal for a group of really good friends, they all have different tastes any suggestions on what

Question

to cook. would like to make something a bit unusual

Answer 1

Seafood hot and cold suggestion:

(1) Buy a supply of inexpensive but good seafood fish loins, like
pollock or turbot. Or individual small mackerels, sliced lengthwise . The day before the meal, smoke them in a smoker (you can use a regular barbeque, covered). Remove after smoking and chill in refrigerator. (If you smoke mackerel carefully remove bones from filet sides after fish are fully chilled and firm.)

Also make a large bowl of easy-to-do dijon aeiloi (commercial mayonaise, dijon mustard, some cream, dash of cayenne, minced fresh garlic. Whip with fork. Cover and set into refrigerator).

(2) The day of the meal make a huge pot of steaming genuine New England style seafood chowder.

Serve both simultaneously (slicing chilled smoked fish into individual portions; the chowder should be served in deep bowls to retain heat. Don't forget to add pat of butter and fresh ground pepper to each bowl) with a rich-tasting crusty bread. The vegetable should be a further, tangy contrast, like Italian-style zucchini.

Serve with a selection of 2 different but appropriately matching crisp, inexpensive, white wines (a Californian or Chilean sauvignon blanc and a French maconnais, for instance) and perhaps also 2 different rich brown ales or dark beers.

Yum! (Please send me an invitation!)

Answer 2

You've got a tough target to hit if you want something unusual and they all have different tastes.

A hot and cold buffet? Try some solid hot meat dish (roast beef, roasted chicken, etc), some kind of a hot stew thing like curry, chili, or stew, one or two starches like rice or noodles, some fresh and some cooked veggies, a couple of gravies/sauces/condiments, and some bread with butter and cheese. There's something there for everyone, and there's a lot of that you can get pre-made/ready-to-eat at the store.

Maybe a nice mix of tempura, diff veggies and meat with diff sauces for dipping, a bowl of rice, and maybe some cold fresh sliced veggies? Serve with a dry wine and polish off with some sorbet or sherbert and melon.

Can you do a barbecue? You can BBQ just about anything, and people could kind of make up their own plates to cook from your stock or ingredients (chicken, beef, fish, veggies, etc). Have some basics on the side like potato salad, grilled corn, chips, etc.

Answer 3

I would have a Mexican extravaganza, were talking fajitas, do a basic roasted pepper sauce and have some cooked chicken and some beef strips then a bowl of guacamole and some sour cream, you then cater for veggies the red meat lovers and the healthy chicken eaters, let your guests roll there own tortillas and serve with a nice big salad!!

Answer 4

I know it sounds old fashioned, but how about a fondue, Im sure you know what it is, if not its a bowl containing melted cheese over a low heat, articles such as ham, chicken are put on forks and put in the cheese and eaten....you can have chocolate as well and dip fruit in, or chilli sauce and dip things in (now now keep it clean) sounds childish I know, but after a few drinks its a good laugh.

Answer 5

Platters are great and cover all taste ranges.
They are easy to prepare and you could have hot and cold ones.
Bite sized pieces of a wide range of food is fun as well.
You could also add many different sauces for variety.
Good luck, hope it goes well.

Answer 6

I'm from south Louisiana but now live in Oklahoma...my friends here LOVE for me to make jambalaya, gumbo or etoufee. And no, these dishes do not necessarily have to be super spicy if some don't like that.

Answer 7

How about getting them all to bring a couple of ingredients.

Each person could make/concoct their own dish from the various ingredients.

Would certainly be unusual :)

Answer 8

cook them something different for their different tastes....if they are such good friends they will say it was fab anyway even if they puke it in the allyway afterwards...........or try a take away pizza with some fried rice and a pot of curry sauce...yeah i know it sounds crap but you did ask:>

Answer 9

Curry and chips with a side salad springs to mind. Alternatively, how about the menu in the link below (again with chips and side salad ;) )

Answer 10

i agree curry is great for a meal with friends hot and spicy with lots of sweet naan bread mmmmmmmmmm tasty