Japanese Menu Hosting A Cultural Dinner
Hosting is considered stressful by a number of people but ironically many people also think of it as a stress-reliever. They say that it could be rewarding in many ways most especially when they think about how happy their guests are at the end of the evening. It is not only the food that the guests are after, it is also the company of people and food for thought that come with it. Of course, the highlight is still the menu.
People know that it is not just enough to put food on the table. Barbecues and steaks are wonderful but sometimes people need to take a break from these and try something with a little pizzazz. For a change, try a Japanese menu and bring your hosting delights a notch or two higher.
It could be for an intimate dinner or a big bash. Plate dinners are ideal for intimate gatherings but for big groups buffet-type is often preferred. Aside from the number of guests, how adventurous your guests are should also be considered. Plate dinners should mainly focus on the main dish such as Japanese steaks and go minimal on the appetizer but casual dinner enjoyed with alcoholic beverages should focus on finger food.
For buffet, a plate of yakitori would make a wonderful appetizer. It is grilled chicken on sticks, made of different parts of a chicken such as thigh, skin and liver. Tempura is also ideal because it is crunchy and flavorful. Prawn, or Ebi tempura, is the most common but most kinds of seafood, certain types of vegetables and mushrooms are also used. Sweet potato, carrots, zucchini and eggplant are only some that can complement your Ebi tempura.
If you want a twist, you can have combos like carrot and zucchini or mushroom and sweet potato. Tempura is served hot from the pan and is enjoyed with ginger sauce. It can never be a complete Japanese menu without a garnished platter of sashimi and sushi. Both are enjoyed with wasabi and soya sauce.
