Christmas came early to Hey Pesto! this year – with my first ever full day ‘lifestyle’ course on ‘Getting Ready for Christmas’
There was great fun organising everything – turning my living room into a ‘pop-up’ dining room and my garden into a temporary flower shop!
- Canapés – Crab & avocado tartlets, sticky cocktail sausages, brie & red onion marmalade tartlets and coronation turkey vol-au-vents
- Starter – Chestnut soup with crispy bacon
- Main – Risotto stuffed quail, celeriac & potato gratin, jazzed-up parsnip mash, caramelised potatoes & chestnuts, apricot & hazelnut stuffing balls
- Dessert – Christmas pudding ice cream
After a few last minute vegetable cooking, the guests (yes they were upgraded for lunch!)adjourned to my ‘new’ dining room where lunch was served to them.
I have to apologise for the lack of colour on the main course plate – I concentrated more on different ways of cooking the vegetables rather than working on the colour! In ‘real life’ I would probably serve something like red cabbage with the quail to add colour! There was a debate over gravy – it’s not a tradition in our house so I never think of including it!
Thanks to Kate for taking the photos at lunch – we were busy turning the kitchen into a flower arranging room!
Once the guests were fed and ‘watered’ they reverted to students and Joanie from Flower Rangers took over – introducing us to the art of flower arranging and seasonal centrepieces.
We rounded off the afternoon with more tea with vanilla shortbread, gingerbread cookies and more mince pies.
After much hilarity everyone left happy with their goody bags and recipe booklets.
And once the tidying up was done Joanie and I celebrated a job well done
A big special thanks to my sous – chef James who played a blinder – I hope he remembers me when he’s famous!
Now the question is – do we do it all again?!
Hey Pesto! 
Wow, sounds like ye had a fab day. Am intrigued by the asparagus/strawberry centrepiece!
Thanks Paula – we did! I loved the centrepiece too – think I’ll be ordering one for Christmas!
Sounds like a great day Yvonne, well done!
Thanks Alec – I think everyone enjoyed it!
All those pictures look fantastic. Christmas is a special time for preparing and sharing food and you have captured that perfectly.
Thank you so much!
So sad I couldn’t come to this event, Yvonne. This looks absolutely wonderful. I will try to organise myself in the new year, and book in for one of your classes. We have similar fire-places too 🙂 Mine has white fairy-lights in it all year round. (Too mean to put it on for real, learned the hard way!)
Would love if you could come to one Colette so I could meet you properly (still can’t believe I didn’t cop it at Taste of Tipp! #stress)
I’m sorry I had to cry off at the last minute, things to do in preparation for my upcoming life changing event.
You fairly spoilt your students/guests – i hope they appreciated it !
Siobhan
I think they did! I’m excited about your new life!!
What a lovely event! It looks like fun was had by all Yvonne and this is no surprise with you at the helm.
Looking forward to Christmas myself!
Thanks Mona – next time I must rem to take photos of ‘students’ !!!
It all looks amazing! Def let me know if you’re doing another one
Thanks Jennifer – will do!
It was wonderful Yvonne. As one of the aforementioned”guests” I can only reiterate what’s already been said and advise everyone to book in for the next one! Nice one, Yvonne!
Thanks Margaret – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!