Project Food Blog 3rd Challenge: Luxury Dinner Party
2010
Wow. I really didn’t think I’d be in this long and so thank you all for voting for me. I appreciate your faith in me, especially as I am about to take it and give it a good shake.
How would you feel if I invited you to this dinner:
And served you this one instead:
Well I just did.
Do I have your attention now? Good. Here’s the story:
You see, the third challenge is to throw a ‘luxury dinner party’ for at least 4 guests and include recipes, photos and menu. Sounds fun, right? So why couldn’t I ‘get in the mood’? No matter how hard I tried, I just was never able to feel right about this challenge, to get excited by it or really want to do it at all. And that’s weird, because I’m a gal who loves luxury.
I put together a menu, one I felt was the right mix of intriguing flavour combinations and decadent ingredients to tempt the palate, and yet somewhat familiar processes, so as to avoid a mad panic at the last minute. For example, my starter was a common fig and cheese combo, but I decided to try using halloumi, one of my favourite cheeses, to really bring out the salty/sweet dichotomy and also for a more pronounced textural difference. My main was an upscale spin on my signature dish, chicken m’sakhan. I replaced the chicken with the local rare-breed delicacy – Aylesbury Duck – which I reasoned would go nicely with the citrusy tang of the sumac. My dessert was ice cream, something I’ve recently discovered is easy and rewarding to make, but I envisioned using tahini and rose water to put an exotic spin on it.
Finally, to avoid the harried hostess syndrome, my choices were designed to make life easy for me on the evening in question. The starter could be served at room temperature, and therefore could be done slightly in advance. The mains would be mostly cooked in the oven together and the ice cream would of course be made the day before. My wine choice, Wine Spectator’s 3rd best wine for 2009, would have taken us through from the starter to the main, negating the need for accumulating several half-emptied bottles (we’re not big drinkers). Simple, elegant, low-stress. So why did I really not want to do it?
Then one night it finally hit me. We were watching the evening news and, once again, I was really upset by a report on the Pakistani flood victims, desperate for food and clean water. And I thought to myself that anything, anything at all to eat or drink would be a luxury for them right now. And for millions of people across the globe. And then the penny dropped.
After a little research, I learned that it’s actually billions. UNICEF states that “Every 3.6 seconds one person dies of starvation. Usually it is a child under the age of 5.” And, extrapolating from their stats, I calculated that a child dies every 21 seconds from lack of access to safe drinking water. And I realized that the reason I couldn’t embrace a challenge that asked me to throw a luxury dinner party was because, even though PFB invited us to define ‘luxury’ for ourselves, it felt wasteful to me in my current frame of mind.
Now, I’m not going to climb up on a pedestal and preach at you or the contest organizers. Like many people, I slip in and out of my ‘save the world’ mindset, in directly inverse relation to my waxing and waning cynicism, and it’s not your fault that I’m currently at a bleeding heart high tide. Foodbuzz has an active philanthropic arm, and I know many of my fellow bloggers, who did throw luxury dinner parties, are also very generous with the charities of their choice. Heck, some of you even work for non-profits, which is amazing. And I don’t think anyone should feel bad about spoiling themselves and their loved ones because there is a time and place for everything, including decadence. That time just isn’t now for me.
But I didn’t want to bow out of the contest either. So here’s what I decided to do. I set a simple yet elegant table and invited the only 3 people I could reasonably subject to this meal – my family. I served them steamed rice and water, truly luxurious in many parts of the world. And the money I saved went to The Hunger Project.
I chose the Hunger Project because one of my pet peeves is throwing money at a problem without envisioning any lasting resolution. The Hunger Project doesn’t do that. Their goal is to teach communities how to help themselves, working together with local government to build permanent solutions. They also, by the way, harness the often-latent potential of women in those communities by empowering them to be leaders and drivers of change. I loved everything I read about them, so they got my vote.
And instead of just donating the money directly, I decided to create a group called Foodies Sans Frontières and I set up a Firstgiving website in the group’s name so that you can donate too. (The donations go directly to the charity and it’s totally secure.) And tell your friends. Oh, and while I’m asking you to do things, would you vote for me too please? I don’t know if I’ve shot myself in the foot with this challenge, and I suppose the results will tell me how you all feel about it. But either way I’m happy with what I’ve done.
As for the ‘other’ menu, the posh one, the one I didn’t do, well I didn’t throw it out. I can’t give you the recipes right now because I haven’t cooked them yet, and I wouldn’t give you an untested recipe. But one day, soon hopefully, when I’m no longer channeling Mother Theresa, I’ll pull it out and cook the dishes one by one and blog them for you.
PS: I bought the domain for Foodies Sans Frontières (FSF) with the idea of planning future fund-raising projects. Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved!
Basmati Rice (Enough for a Western family of 4, or a small village in the developing world)
Ingredients:
2 cups Basmati rice
4 cups water
1 tsp salt
Method:
Bring salt and water to boil
Add rice and cover, leaving a small opening for steam to escape
Cook on very low heat until all water is absorbed (approx. 20 minutes)
Fluff and serve
(Most of you have your own methods of cooking rice, I know. This is how I cook it as I like it a bit on the sticky and salty side!)
Saha!
53 comments
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>As the wife of a UN humanitarian doctor and someone who wants to see the Millennium Challenge's goals reached ASAP, I deeply appreciate this post. Heartfelt, globally conscious, courageous and brilliant!
>Thank you Lora! I was so worried about submitting this post and you put a huge smile on my face!
>I guess I was meant to be the first
p.s. I forgot to say your "other" menu is divine. Looking forward to when you eventually post the recipes.
>A wonderful post that should make us all pause to appreciate how much we have. Theresa
>This is truly awesome. Great decision.
>LOVE THIS. After reading so many "where do you even buy that?!" posts for this challenge, this was refreshing, thoughtful, and compassionate.
You've got my vote!
xoxo,
Kashia
froandafork.com
>Hi Ruby,
You are a very admirable person! This and your 1st challenge you have really showed your true self and not trying to be something you are not. To me this is a very admirable quality. The fact that you felt something many of us often do then brush off, you stuck with it and did something. For this reason you will always have my vote and support with your blog.
I wish you the best of luck with the FB challenge and your new venture. I'd be happy to get the word out.
>Beautiful post and entry…Will be there at voting
>Ruby, I think it's really great that you've thought about this challenge in a way many of us won't have. If anything, your readers (myself included) respect you even more for your heartfelt stance on world poverty and hunger, which are the really important issues more so for us, people who think and write a lot about food! I'll definitely cast a vote your way and support your new venture.
>Thanks for raising such an important, vital issue and for bringing to light our priorities (or lack thereof). Got my vote for sure!
>true it is a blessing from God we have food and clean water we should all be thankful to God
reminder to all and to help the needy
lovely post
>What a brilliant and inspiring take on the theme of "luxury". While I'm sure anyone would have preferred to eat your first menu if given the choice, some people don't have that choice at all… and I tip my hat to you for taking this chance to make a difference and shine a light on the problem. Bravo.
>Rube – you are one brainy and ballsy babe and for this alone, you have my love and my vote! I'm too gobsmacked to say much else except only you could have pulled this with heart and conviction. Brava!!!
>Pause for thought, isn’t it? Good on you for standing up for your beliefs, I know it certainly made me think hard about the issue.
>Thank you, thank you, thank you! I woke to all these wonderfully supportive comments and it was like Christmas! Now, at the risk of pushing your goodwill to the limit, can I ask that you please all put your money where your mouths are and DONATE. My donation's awfully lonely over there…
http://www.firstgiving.com/foodiessansfrontieres
And please share the link with your friends too. Thanks a billion!
>This is such a great reminder to the ones who do have this luxury. There are things we often take forgranted, and having food readily available is one of them. Thank for this compelling post, raising awareness, and for helping out with such an important cause.
XO best of luck! You've got my vote!
>Very gutsy. I respect your conviction and would have loved to attend either of your proposed parties. You have my vote
>Wow. Thank you so much for posting such a gutsy response to this challenge. So many of us forget how lucky we are to have enough to eat…to have a place to live…to just be alive. My husband survived a terminal cancer diagnosis 4 years ago, so I am always thankful for that simple thing…to be alive.
You've got my vote…good luck in the next round!
>Good for you, Ruby! I really admire you having the courage of your convictions. And, yes, foodies sans frontiers is a fantastic idea!! Kate
>I hope your heart bleeds frequently, for from your heart comes a poignant reminder that most of us don't just live in the land of plenty, but one of ridiculous self-indulgence. Well done, and thank you for reminding us that we should all take the time to be grateful for what we have and to remember those who…don't.
>Kudos to you!
>Ruby, well done, we know you have an amazing blog or you wouldn't be in the contest. Thank you for reminding us to "Think Globally Act Locally".
>VOTEDDDDDDD! Good luck! Wish you all the best!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
>a very daring entry and one that is so important. kudos to you for keeping us all humble and drawing attention to an important issue. i saved a vote for you – good luck!
>I appreciate your honesty here. Also, I think this is beautifully written. Good work.
Kelly
Sounding My Barbaric Gulp!
>Just beautiful…voted
>I support you wholeheartedly. The definition of luxury is a relative one and you chose yours. Nobody is going to punish you for getting up and stating what everybody knows and many choose to ignore.
I'll give you my vote. Good luck.
Btw, I really love the way you write:)
>Bravo! Now that took guts and conviction. You most certainly have my vote.
>I definitely appreciate where you're coming from. I thought asking us to throw a luxurious party–even though we can define the term–was a bit tacky in these times of economic turmoil. My first thought upon advancing was about where I was going to get the money to entertain three guests when I don't even have a job. And even though I'm lucky that my parents let me camp out in my childhood bedroom, there are people around the world and in our own country who are having a hard time getting food on their tables and keeping a roof over their heads. I wish I would have had the audacity to do as you did.
>Humbling. Thank you, Ruby, for reminding us all what is truly most important!
>Thanks, once again, for all the great comments and support!
BB – You bring up a great point about luxury being difficult for many, even in the developed world right now. I thought a dinner party challenge was a great idea, perhaps minus the 'luxury' tag, but would have been more appropriate as the final challenge. Then only the remaining 3 candidates would be asked to do it, and at that point each of them would be in with a reasonable shot at the big cash prize. For the record, I thought you did a great job with your desserts-only menu – yum!
>Lora – you're awesome! Thanks so much for your donation!!!
Everyone else – please follow her lead. I'm not asking much, just hoping you can spare $5 or $10, even after shelling out for your luxury dinner parties? Thank you!
>I think this was very brave of you, to stray from the actual challenge when it didn't feel right and to go with your gut. I voted for you.
>This is an extremely well thought out post! I love your courage and philanthropy with this! And I would definitely sit at this table and feel the luxury around me. Great job and good luck!
>Genius! A great reminder to enjoy our everyday luxuries a little bit more. Great post! I voted for you!
Fingers crossed that we both make it through to the next round! =)
>Your interpretation of the dinner party is timely and very appropriate. It truly is a miracle to have access to rice and fresh water. Thank you for this very important reminder, and I'll be voting for you right away!
>Thank you for such an inspiring and daring entry! Besides, I would have loved to eat your second menu anyway – I love eating plain rice. I hope you make it to the next round!
>You've certainly got my attention! Great post, great idea and kudos on taking the risk. I wish you the best of luck …
>Wow, I have to vote for anyone that has the guts to do something this different. I really hope that you make it to the next round.
>Wow. This is a gutsy, important post. Thank you for taking this risk and hitting us with your honesty.
>Love your menu! Sounds great! Hope we both make it to the next round!
You have my vote!
>A lovely entry for PFB! You have my vote. Best of luck!!!
>This is a beautiful post and a great reminder to all. We are all blessed to be able to cook and enjoy a wide variety of foods. Even the foodbuzz members who are on the tightest of budgets. You have my vote!
>As a fellow bleeding heart, i can completely understand your choice. I work in non-profit and see true need everyday, and I think it's wonderful that you went out of your way to make such an important point. If only everyone stopped to think of others in such a way. You should be very proud!
Whit @ Amuse Bouche
>This is incredible, Ruby… the setup, the fantasy menu, the photos, the sentiment and the personal touch of seeing your family around the table. Thanks for taking us to the edge and bringing us back to reality!
>What a lovely dinner – loved the table setting, loved the menu and loved that everyone had a great time – it shows in the photographs! Well done! Best of luck in PFB!
>Beautiful, unique and inspiring Ruby! Thanks for 'waking' up the rest of us.
~ Mary
>Wow. Love that you took this approach. I hope others will stop to think about those less fortunate. Thanks for this post. You got my vote.
>Well, you've made me cry. This is beautiful. I'm definitely hoping you advance to the next round.
>Good for you… This is a truly beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.
>Good choice on the Hunger Project, and a very poignant post. I appreciate that a number of us are bringing the problem of hunger to light through our words. Thanks for sharing.
>Congrats Congrats going onto challenge #4!!! Must be exciting for you! Good luck and all the best. Happy Thanksgiving to you! You'll be getting the next vote from me
Your awesome!
Have a happy thanksgiving!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
>Jen – thanks for your kind words and enthusiasm, but I'm afraid I didn't get through to round 4. I hope you'll keep reading though, and be involved in Foodies Sans Frontieres when I get it up and running. Is Canadian Thanksgiving coming up? Hope you have a good one!