Wanted - quality supper wanted - with an eye on the costs!!

susyrosy

I've got a couple coming to the B&B this Friday and they're not turning up till 10 pm. So, all local places being closed by then, and I've put that I'll do evening meals on my website, I offered them supper ...!

What I'm looking for is a decent three course dinner with 1 glass complementary wine. I'd like it to be local (I've got a good butcher in the village). I'd like food to be the sort that will be ready any time, no last minute faff. Oh, and I can cook - but I've never had to think about making a profit!! I'm charging £15/head, so nothing like top whack, and I'd like to get some profit, but don't want to give 'em mince ....

So far, I've thought I'd do HM lemon curd on dairy icecream, so that's pudding ..

What about a starter (cold) and a main (hot or cold)? They don't eat fish, but otherwise ... and they're not veggie, so would want some meat. I have hens, so I've got eggs.

I know I can think of something - after all, I'm making a REALLY CHEAP, and tasty supper for tonight (2 people) with what I've got in the cupboards, fridge and freezer - but when you're giving it to someone for MONEY, that's rather different.

I'd really appreciate any ideas and suggestions, and thanks in advance!!

Susy

Haha - sorry about the 'wanted' twice in the heading - sounds desperate - and it is, a bit!!!

lostinrates

Depending on the weather gazpacho can sit in the fridge till you are ready, and looks smart with lovely side servings of cubed vegetables and bread to go in it, or if its chilly a soup starter...can be ready in advance just heated through. Or with eggs, although mainy people panic I honestly find souffles quick and easy...with a little salad on the side...looks fancy but is easy.

Mains...were are you...what is local? Is any meat in particular associated with the area? A chicken meal, might be quickest, easy to put on when they arrive/when they sit down and be ready by the time they are finished a starter.

susyrosy

You've just reminded me - when you said chicken - I've got three free range chicken breasts in the freezer!!! And they're from an East Anglian farm, too! (Guess where I live!)

AHA - chicken something it is! Thank you! (Probably with spiced couscous (I won't have to peel it) ...

I'll have a look at gazpacho - never done it, so I'm not quite sure, though it does sound delicious, and I've got a cucumber in the fridge .... hmm, this sounds as if it's coming together.

Susy

Pink.

Hi susyrosy,

These threads may help:

Starters

What can I do with chicken breast fillets...

Pink

downshifted

We ate in at a B&B in Normandy a couple of weeks ago - £15 per head and all homemade. We had a slice of quiche made with local camembert, with salad to start, followed by roast guinea fowl served with mushrooms braised with (local) apples and then we were offered local cheeses and then a kind of apple trifle. It was plentiful, well cooked and delicious! There was a bottle of wine too (but they don't pay our taxes!)

However, if, like your guests, I was eating after 10 I would want something light and easily digestible - so I think chicken and the ice cream is a good idea - not sure I could manage soup as well

wssla00

What about pate and toast with a small bit of chutney? very cheap and very lovely. Especially to pick at

susyrosy

The menu so far, from suggestions here and rootling through my cupboards, etc:

Gazpacho (I looked it up, and it looks foolproof, even for me)

Moroccan (free range) chicken with chickpeas and spiced couscous

Dairy vanilla icecream with HM blackberry coulis

Tea/coffee with HM shortbread (which I'm making for the B&B room anyway)

And includes one glass of (free - no licence) white wine each.

How's that? It should be ok for £15 a head.

Glad

DD made some lovely french onion soup yesterday, it keeps in fridge and reheats well

serve with cheese crouons and crusty bread very inexpensive

ubamother

If I went somewhere for supper, as opposed to an evening meal, I don't think I'd expect something with formal courses like a dinner, more something like a selection of cheeses/meats, breads, salads with a bowl of soup/stew/fondue type thing. This could just be a language thingy though!