Curtis Stone and Green & Black's
About CurtisCurtis has developed his top ten tips for entertaining and cooking for friends and family. Read on to learn how to simplify your time in the kitchen while making great meals!
- Instead of preparing a meal on your own, start the party early by meeting your friends at your local gourmet market. Shop together for fresh, organic ingredients that offer the best flavors of the season.
- It’s far too easy to overcomplicate a dish or meal when the real key is to work within the seasons and listen to your environment as best you can. As you’re shopping, keep things simple. If you get your hands on good organic ingredients and use them properly, you won’t need to do much to create a great tasting meal.
- When you’re looking for the best ingredients to start with, fresh tastes best! Listen to Mother Nature--she’s done such an incredible job by providing us with a wonderful selection of natural ingredients. So when tomatoes are in season, cook with tomatoes and when strawberries are in season, pick recipes that ask for strawberries. You’ll find that working with seasonal ingredients gives you great results.
- It’s so easy to buy what’s in season by choosing organic and local produce. Tomatoes weren’t meant to be perfect round little red balls, so don’t be scared to try imperfectly shaped fruits and vegetables. As an example, try organic heirloom tomatoes as a fresh starter—they marry so well with a few torn pieces of fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, and a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- When winter hits, it's time for hearty soups, stews, braised meats and risottos. Food in winter needs to be warm and hearty to help us keep good cheer as we wait for spring.
- Think of each season as an opportunity to experiment in the kitchen--cooking doesn’t have to be hard! All you need are a few basic items such as a good knife and chopping board and a selection of fresh seasonal and organic ingredients.
- Life in the kitchen doesn’t have to be complicated. Cooking at home can be a whole lot of fun, especially when shared with family and friends. Sharing your favorite cooking tips and secrets over a nice glass of wine whilst preparing a meal together is the perfect way to start the evening.
- Food has an incredible ability to bring so much pleasure to us. The table reconnects family and friends, sparks fun conversations and laughter, and creates memories that can last a lifetime. When celebrating the next occasion or holiday remember that making a meal together is the ultimate gift.
- For dessert, wow your guests by tasting a flight of Green & Black’s chocolate as you would a flight of wine. Conduct a chocolate tasting by starting with a light chocolate such as Green & Black’s White chocolate, and taste several flavors of chocolate of increasing intensity. Finish with an intense, deep dark chocolate like Green & Black’s Dark 85%.
- As you wrap up your party, send each of your guests home with an intense tasting treat that will have them looking forward to your next gathering. Simply tie three or four Green & Black's chocolate bars together in a satin ribbon -- I like to give my guests my favorite flavors: Green & Black's Milk, Hazelnut & Currant, and Dark 85%.
