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    Home » Blog posts by Rosanna ETC » Food

    14 Famous Chef Quotes To Help You Plan A Dinner Party

    Published: Jul 20, 2022 by Rosanna Stevens · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    Famous chef quotes to inspire and encourage you to plan and host the best dinner party ever! Or at the very least, offer some comic relief in the face of an upended trifle splatted all over your kitchen floor. You can learn a lot from the greats, and I love collecting tips from chefs to help me plan a dinner party menu, keep me on the right track and help solve any issues.

    Here are my favourite famous chef quotes, from the simple to the ridiculous and how I interpret them to help me plan a dinner party.

    Planning your menu

    A quote from Anthony Bourdain that reads "Good food is very often, simple food".

    Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.

    Anthony Bourdain

    The late and great Anthony Bourdain offers the wise advice to not overcomplicate things when planning your menu. Keep it simple, and don't assume that this means that your guests won't be impressed.

    A quote from chef Kerth Gumbs that reads "Design a menu which will allow you to actually be part of the dinner party atmosphere".

    As a chef it is important to design a menu which will be tasty & easy to execute to allow myself more time to actually be apart of the dinner party atmosphere, as often I get carried away and stuck in the kitchen...not that I’m complaining but usually this makes all a better experience. So plan your dishes, allowing yourself plenty of time to be able to sit interact and also enjoy a bite too..

    Kerth Gumbs

    A recurring theme is to not let your adventures side cause you to sacrifice your own experience. You are hosting this dinner party to spend time with friends/family/loved ones so don't let the idea of giving them a gastronomical journey that you don't get to spend any time sitting down.

    A quote from Joel Robuchon that reads "Never try to marry more than three flavours in one dish".

    Never try to marry more than three flavours in one dish

    Joel Robuchon

    Creating your own recipes or thinking of sides? Take heed of this tip from Joel Robuchon to avoid a muddled and confused plate. If you're menu planning and keep adding flavours remember this quote and reign yourself in.

    A quote from Heston Blumenthal that reads "it was quite a challenge to make people eat crab ice cream".

    It was quite a challenge to make people eat crab ice cream

    Hesrton Blumenthal

    How adventurous are your guests? Are there any allergies or intolerances at the table? You might love experimental cooking with crazy flavours a la Heston but if everyone you have invited else prefers simple food, it might not make for a successful shindig. A halfway house is to go to town on a funky flavoured garnish or sauce that some people can leave. 

    Quote from Ainsley Harriott that reads "I like a bit of chocolate as much as the next person, but cheese is a complete world on its own. The sheer variety is staggering and there's always going to be a cheese to tickle your taste buds".

    "I like a bit of chocolate as much as the next person, but cheese is a complete world on its own. The sheer variety is staggering and there's always going to be a cheese to tickle your taste buds"

    Ainsley Harriott

    Yes we all love dessert. But a cheese board really elevates a dinner party in my opinion and it feels French and elegant to pass around a beautiful wooden cheese board filled with delights. For me, a good cheese board has something soft and creamy like Brie or Camembert, something blue like a Stilton, Gorgonzola or Roquefort and a hard cheese like a good strong cheddar. Serve alongside a big bunch of grapes, some crackers and a fruit chutney (or my personal fave, quince jelly).

    Getting the right kit

    A quote from Masaharu Morimoto that reads "a kitchen without a knife is not a kitchen".

    A kitchen without a knife is not a kitchen

    Masaharu Morimoto

    Next, a quote on cooking utensils from famous Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto. A decent kitchen knife is a really good investment and I am completely wedded to mine (I use Robert Welch). It will save you time and it is safer, too.

    A quote from famous chef Delia Smith that reads "Memories are fallible and a timer can save a lot of hard work from going out the window".

    Memories are fallible and a timer can save a lot of hard work from going out of the window.

    Delia Smith

    The great Delia smith shares her wisdom on timing which is SO easy to lose track of when you have a million tasks to finish as well as guests to attend to. Use a cooking timer to save yourself the added worry of having to remember when to take something out of the oven.

    A quote from Guy Fieri that reads "I could put this on a flip-flop and it would taste good".

    I could put this on a flip-flop and it would taste good

    Guy Fieri

    I identify deeply with Guy Fieri's love of dips. Guests love a dip. Sharing starters are a great option as they are social and informal, and can be prepared in advance. Try this whipped feta dip or these battered Egyptian peas with harissa dip.

    Create an experience

    A quote from Alain Ducasse that reads "Food is one part of the experience. And it has to be somewhere between 50 to 60 percent of the dining experience. But the rest counts as well: The mood, the atmosphere, the music, the feeling, the design, the harmony between what you have on the plate and what surrounds the plate".

    Food is one part of the experience. And it has to be somewhere between 50 to 60 per cent of the dining experience. But the rest counts as well: The mood, the atmosphere, the music, the feeling, the design, the harmony between what you have on the plate and what surrounds the plate.

    Alain Ducasse

    Have you thought about music? Decor? Lighting? A few candles can make the world of difference and picking a playlist can set the tone. It doesn't need to be expensive or complicated, one of the simplest ways to make a dinner table look smart is to add a plain white tablecloth and jazzy glassware.

    A quote that reads "The most important thing for me is to really buy the best ingredients" by Wolfgang Puck

    The most important thing for me is to really buy the best ingredients.

    Wolfgang Puck

    And once you have your simple menu, get the best quality ingredients you can afford. When I was at chef school I always remember the produce we worked with was out of the world, and it made such a big difference. Remember that frozen fruit and vegetables are often fresher and cheaper and can work just as well depending on what you are making with them.

    Cleanliness is next to Godliness

    Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who’s going to know?

    Julia Child

    Food hygiene standards may disagree but if the great Julia Childs says the Three-second rule exists, maybe it does? Regardless, it’s a good idea to thoroughly wash and disinfect the kitchen and make sure it’s a clean and safe environment for food prep. 

    Stay calm and be quick on fixing a problem, stopping a problem head on is vital

    Monica Galetti

    No amount of hysterics ever solved anything. Remember, safety first, so turn off any heat sources, be mindful of hot trays/pans/surfaces and then calmly think about salvaging the situation. 

    A quote from famous chef Rick Stein "Add a teaspoon of single cream to a sauce just before serving to give it a touch of extra smoothness and depth".

    Add a teaspoon of single cream, say, to a sauce just before serving to give it a touch of extra smoothness and depth.

    Rick Stein

    A sauce is the finishing touch and can bring a whole dish together. This tip from Rick Stwin about adding cream just elevates it beyond ‘normal’ cooking and gives it a restaurant-style finish. 

    A quote that reads "an ounce of sauce covers a multitude of sins" by Anthony Bourdain

    An ounce of sauce covers a multitude of sins.

    Anthony Bourdain

    Another Bourdain gem. Always make a sauce and always make sure there is enough! Whenever I have a private chef gig I always make 30-50% more sauce than I think I’ll need as people always want more.  Check out my tips on sauce plating techniques. 

    Preparation is the key to success!

    And finally, some simple advice that will distil everything down in your brain and (hopefully) help you keep calm and carry on...

    A famous chef quote that reads 'get your shit together' by Gordon Ramsey

    Get your s— together!

    Gordon Ramsey

    I am going to translate this as "preparation is the key to success". Make a list of your ingredients, go through the timings and give yourself a margin for error. And ENJOY yourself, this is meant to be fun.

    Which quote was your favourite? Let me know in the comments...

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    Comments

    1. Kristen says

      July 20, 2022 at 5:30 pm

      As a total foodie, I absolutely love this collection! Thank you for putting together! 🙂

      Reply
    2. nancy says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      thanks for these lovely phrases

      Reply
    3. Giangi Townsend says

      July 20, 2022 at 9:12 pm

      Love all of them. Thank you for assembling it all for us to enjoy

      Reply
    4. Shilpa says

      July 20, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      Love all the quotes. Thank you for this interesting article.

      Reply
    5. Shelby says

      July 21, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      I love all these! Especially the cheese one "cheese is a world of its own" haha it's so true!

      Reply
    6. Gen says

      July 21, 2022 at 3:46 pm

      These are great quotes! Anthony Bourdain is a favorite of mine. I’ll have to remember it the next time I’m over complicating in the kitchen.

      Reply
      • Rosanna Stevens says

        July 22, 2022 at 8:48 am

        His quotes are wonderful, I could do a whole post just on Anthony Bourdain! And it's a great reminder to keep things simple, I often overcomplicate things too!

        Reply
    7. Katie says

      July 22, 2022 at 2:06 pm

      This is so inspiring! Love this post!

      Reply
    8. Glenda says

      July 24, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      Great quotes and tips. Thank you!

      Reply

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    I'm Rosanna, a trained chef, published writer and food and style fanatic. I believe in using food and drink to make every day an event with fresh and seasonal produce, wine pairings and a perfectly styled plate.

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