Renaissance Culinaire - Details

It is patience

It is understanding 

the
ebb
and
flow 

 Of ingredients
Of Environmental factors 

It is flirting

with formulations

to achieve

the ultimate

in taste combination -

Whether 

that result achieved

is

simplistic

or 

quite complicated.

Baking is 

the warmth of a stack oven
Of the freshly
de-panned product.

Baking is

 the satisfaction
Of creation.
 Of the tears 

which 

well in their eyes

when a taste, a smell

invokes 

memories
of home,

Of a loved one

that 

has
passed on.

Baking is
the alcoholic fumes

permeating

from a container

that
housed 

your starter -

your poolish -

your biga -

or 

your mix.

Baking is intoxication.

 Amber ©2010. All Rights Reserved

I have had an overwhelming response to my previous "You Be The Judge -Who Wins Best entertaining Tip", the current comment count is 155, but I have about 212 comments that await moderation.

I would like to thank everyone who voted, or who noted their choices and especially to those of you who added your own entertaining tips. This was a pretty successful contest, and I plan to do more like this.

As a recap I wanted to give you a snippet of the original post that spurned this contest.

The most successful host& hostesses have an arsenal of tricks they have tucked away in their little entertaining hats. Cabinets and pantries stand at attention year-round, stocked with dinnerware, decorations and edibles. These entertaining geniuses can layout their hospitable spreads within moments of a surprise pop-in or short notice dinner party.

If you are one of these people - lucky you, you have mastered the art of snatching a mini quiche from the masters' hand^IMDB. For those of you who aren't entertaining gurus - you have much to learn, and remain thegrasshoppers^Wof social hospitality. -Dec. 11 2009

That was really the spirit behind this contest -  with 12 bloggers inputting a total of 16 entertaining tips, I asked readers to vote for their favorite tip. The tip that stood out among the rest  for readers was YESIamblond's second contribution.

YESIamblond has won a coupon for a  freeNancy's Frozen Appetizer. Congratulations& thanks so much for participating in the "Entertaining Guru" contest!

On the first week of December 2009, I had written a review onNancy's Appetizers and challenged readers to add their best entertaining tips in the comments.  If they posted correctly, I promised I would publish their tips including a link to their site, and create a poll that you the readers would vote on, to chose the best entertaining tip from those submitted. The Best Tipper will win a free Nancy's Appetizers product.

The most successful host& hostesses have an arsenal of tricks they have tucked away in their little entertaining hats. Cabinets and pantries stand at attention year-round, stocked with dinnerware, decorations and edibles. These entertaining geniuses can layout their hospitable spreads within moments of a surprise pop-in or short notice dinner party.

If you are one of these people - lucky you, you have mastered the art of snatching a mini quiche from the masters' hand^IMDB. For those of you who aren't entertaining gurus - you have much to learn, and remain thegrasshoppers^Wof social hospitality. -Dec. 11 2009

                                                               Photo creditazrainman

Here are what the self-titled  entertaining gurus recommend:

"Once a year I have Wild Women Day. Each friend brings a friend, a food that begins with the same letter as her first name(ie Julie brings Jello) and we bring new and gently used children books that I donate to a Detoit Public School."-Diane Baum

"I hate to run out of appetizers, so I always have extra put away in the freezer. If I see I am running low, I can just pop them in the oven." -DEBIJOT

 

"I think it's fun when there's a theme. For instance for a Superbowl party you could have everyone dress in the colors of the team they're rooting for, make a cheese ball shaped like a football, give the foods football names (touchdown tacos, half time ham, field goal fajitas, kickoff kabobs, etc). You can even play a game where everyone guesses the final score! Of course there's lots of other themes, too!"-Pamela S.

 "Have a fun potluck dinner with friends. Put the names of dishes in a hat and then have each guest pick what they will bring. You can have main dish, dessert, side dishes, drinks etc." -Gianna

"On a counter in my kitchen is a three tiered stack of plates and silverware. Next to it is a wine holder that holds On one counter in my kitchen we have set up year roun2 bottles of wine and glasses. I keep appetizers made up in freezer. We can have an impromptu party in a hurry."

"I also have a drawer with different kinds of fun napkins" -rosannepm

"When I throw a party I always have music on in the background and candles lit in the main rooms. If it's cold outside I'll have the fire lit.If it's hot outside I'll make sure the house has fans on in each room,(we don't have AC)! Nancy's quiches are part of the menu every party,so simple and delicious!" -grapegoddess