Dinner parties

Aliena's cousin invited me to her flat a few weeks ago where we indulged in a semi-boofay and conversation ranging from Aliena's inability to speak her mother tongue to a more heated debate concerning Katerina's moral castle of relationship(s). And yes, it all was a larf.

So much so that this weekend just gone, I decided to invite them all to my house. Seven of us, four from Leicester, three from South London. People in finance, chartered surveyors, Maths Teachers, Lawyers and the like.

And for the menu:

To Start

Indian Fishcakes
Chilli Paneer

Mains

Chicken Biriyani

Desert (ala Katerina)

Amaretto Parfait with blueberry sauce

Well it was lush. LUSH.

And we drunk, and discussed bunions.

'Does anybody else have bunions?' asked Aliena, drawing everybody's attention to her stockinged leg.

'Oh, actually I think I have got one. i never used to, show me yours.'

'Is it hereditary? i think it is.' she concluded

'Well, i think it is'.

'And is it flesh or bone?'

That was it. The exact point at which i knew the evening was in fear of turning into a disaster.

'Er, can we stop talking about Bunions at MY dinner party?' I commanded. Of course it was met with giggling girls, but i was serious.

And then, being the host I am, i wanted to feed my friends warm food and spent a part of the evening slaving over the stove, only to return now and then to fill my glass. And when i did, much to my horror, talk of bunions was still rife.

It's not so much medical discussion I'm opposed to know. Knowledge is infinite after all.

But talking about crusty feet as the food is being prepared is difficult to swallow. Pun most certainly intended.

Things did improve however and soon we were eating, chatting about un-bunion related matters and playing games until 3 in the morning.

you know the game - where you stick a post it note on your head (or chin) that displays the name of a person, any person, and then we go around the group and everybody asks a question aimed at correctly guessing who it is who's stuck on your head. Of course, we ended up with two Dame Edna's and two Margaret Thatchers.not that I'm complaining.

All in all a great evening. That's the thing about being a Londoner, friends are so easy to find - dinner parties easy to host - fun easy to have. And thank the lord for dishwashers.

p.s. for those of you keen on chocolate see here for four delightful recipes