DAUNTED BY HOSTING DINNER PARTIES?

Linda Barker answers your questions on matching the theme with the menu in this live webTV show

Chat date: Tuesday 16th March
Chat time: 3:00pm

In the wake of the successful Come Dine With Me television show, thousands of Brits are hosting their own dinner parties, complete with three course meals and fantastic guests.

But what would you cook for your dinner party? Choosing the right main course can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if we are not particularly confident in our culinary skills. When it comes to red meat for the main course, we will all favour the traditional dishes like lasagne or spaghetti bolognaise, fearing that something like a steak or a roast will be too costly or complicated. Yet there a lot of different cuts and types of meats out there which can make a delicious dinner party menu, from lamb chops to strips of beef for a tasty stroganoff.

It’s not just about the food though; a successful host not only serves a delicious meal but spends equal time planning entertainment, table plans, decor and drinks. If you really want to go all out, you might even want a theme to match your menu.

Fortunately, help is on hand from ‘hostess with the mostest’, TV presenter and interior designer Linda Barker. Having herself appeared on the popular show to come joint first, it was not only her cracking menu that delighted her guests but the extra touches that set her apart from the rest. In this live webTV show, she’ll answer your questions on how to coordinate your food with your theme, make your guests feel special and how to get the ambiance just right. She’ll also highlight some common dinner party faux-pas and offer her fail-safe tips for success.

So whether you’re cooking Steak Diane and want a demure candle-lit dinner party or are serving up a feisty Mexican theme with fajitas and burritos, Linda’s tips will ensure it all runs smoothly.

Also on the show is Keith Fisher to help pick the perfect meat to wow your guests as much as any decorative place settings. So log on to this live webTV show or submit your questions before the chat here:

Click here to submit questions before the chat

Linda Barker and Keith Fisher joins us live online at www.webchats.tv on chat date at 3:00pm to chat time to discuss chat subject

Master Butcher Keith Fisher is a fourth generation butcher and for the past 43 years has been involved in all sectors of the industry from the buying of live pigs from auction markets and farms to the cutting and processing of carcasses for fresh cuts and products. Keith’s family have been in the butchery trade for over a century, his Great Grandfather being awarded his ‘slaughtering license for the military’ by Queen Victoria herself! Keith was trained at the temple of the trade, London’s Smithfield College and Market, where meat has been sold since the 10th century. Since 1982 he has been responsible for developing many of the modern cuts of pork we are familiar with today. Keith has showcased his skills at industry events around the world and has recently worked with a television company on a ‘chop secret’ project. He is currently Butchery Development Manager for BPEX and a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Butchers.

For more information visit www.meatmatters.com