If you’re anything like us, the month of January has been one of repeated early nights, plenty of trips to the gym and generally trying to undo all the damage inflicted over the festive season. However, if you’re getting sick of staring at the inside of your apartment but know you’ll be unable to keep any of your new year’s resolutions should you head out on the town, then check out this feature, where we offer you dozens of handy hints for a fun-packed night without even crossing the threshold of your home.
Dinner Party
Who better to show you what to cook for your guests than the head chef at Bord Eau, TOAD’s favourite Abu Dhabi restaurant? Over to Jean Hurstel, then who shows us how to prepare a starter and main course that will impress even the most judgemental guest.
Starter
Crab and tomato millefeuille
Ingredients (for four people)
• 400g of crab meat
• 800g of Roma (plum) tomatoes
• 80g of mayonnaise
• 25g of chives
• One avocado
• 20ml of olive oil
• 20g of pine nuts
• Pink pepper, salt and lemon juice
For the millefeuille
1 Mix the crabmeat with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, chives.
2 Boil the tomatoes for 10 seconds and soak in ice to remove the skins.
3 Cut off the top and bottom of the tomatoes, then cut into long strips
4 Build your millefeuille with one layer of tomato, one layer of crabmeat and finish with the tomato.
For the dressing
1 Dice the avocado
2 Roast the pine nuts in the oven at 180°C until they turn a light golden brown
3 Mix together the pine nuts, avocado, olive oil, chives, pink pepper and lemon juice.
Main course
Royal sea bream in bouillabaisse sauce
Ingredients (for four people)
• Four fillets (200g-300g) of royal sea bream
• 2kg of eggplant
• 400g of red capsicum
• 400g of yellow capsicum
• 400g of Roma tomatoes
• 200g of banana shallots
• 50g of black taggiasche olives
• Balsamic vinegar
• 100g of fennel
• 80g of leek
• 60g of onion
• 60g of tomato
• One garlic bulb
• 20g of tomato paste
• One orange
• One star anis
• One bay leaf
• One pinch of saffron
• 2g of black pepper corn
• 40ml of olive oil
• Salt and pepper
Eggplant caviar
1 Slice the eggplants in half and place in a dish. Add salt, pepper and olive oil. Cover with cling film and cook in a microwave
oven until the eggplant is completely cooked and soft.
Caponata sauce
1 Slice the shallot banana in half and place in a pan. Add salt, pepper and olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil and cook in the oven at 140°C for 40 minutes until it is soft.
2 Dice the eggplant, red capsicum and yellow capsicum into similar sized chunks.
3 Cook the tomatoes in boiling water for 10 seconds and soak in ice to remove the skins. Dice into medium-sized chunks.
4 Heat the pan, add olive oil and fry the diced eggplant, red capsicum, yellow capsicum and tomato one by one. Take note that each ingredient has a different cooking time.
5 Remove the shallot skins and slice.
6 Mix all your ingredients as well as the eggplant caviar, the taggiasche olives and the balsamic vinegar in a pan.
Prepare the fish
1 Remove all the scales from the royal sea bream. Cut off the head and remove the bones. Keep the head and bones to one side.
2 Season the fish with salt and a little pepper.
3 Heat the pan and add olive oil.
4 Place the fish slowly into the pan
5 Once the fish begins to brown, turn it over to cook the other side. To check whether it is cooked, prick it with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the fish is cooked. Overcooked fish will leak a whitish substance (albumin).
Sauce
1 Chop the bones into small piece and dice all the vegetables.
2 Cook the diced vegetables in a pan over a low fire with olive oil until light colouration occurs. Put them to one side.
3 Mash the garlic and sauté in olive oil until it turns brown. Add the diced vegetables.
4 Add the fish bones, one quarter of the orange, the bay leaf, star anis and saffron.
5 Add water until all the components are covered. Simmer for an hour.
6 Filter the sauce with a strainer and reduce until it becomes thicker (it should stay on the back of the spoon), then pour around the fish and serve with the eggplant caviar.
Barbecue
Few nationalities love a good alfresco meat cook-off as much as the South Africans. Over there, a barbecue – or braai, as it’s called – is a huge social event where hungry carnivores chow down on mountains of charred flesh. So here’s how to cook your own exemplary barbecue courtesy of the Beach Rotana’s South African chef, Anya Van Zyl.
For a perfect marinade for any meat, you need:
Ingredients
• 30ml of soy sauce
• 30 ml of honey
• 30ml of white grape beverage or white grape vinegar
• 5ml of Worcestershire sauce
• 5ml of tomato paste
• 5ml of lemon juice
• Salt and pepper
You need to marinate the meat for at least four hours in the sauce. Then, before you start cooking, pat the meat dry, otherwise it will brown unevenly on the barbecue. After lighting your barbecue, make sure all the flames have died down and the coals are glowing before you start cooking. Then, while it is cooking, baste the meat with some of the marinade.
Parlour games
Improvised entertainment is very much back in vogue among the city’s dinner partiers. Great for those entertaining on a budget, these simple games can be played using nothing but your brain and a few household objects. Here are three of our favourites:
Charades
Set aside your sketchy memories of sitting bored in the corner of your nan’s living room as your relatives stagger about on boxing day desperately trying to mime Raiders of the Lost Ark – in the company of a creative group of chums, charades is just about the most fun you can have. For the uninitiated, the game is played between two teams. In each round, one player from each side attempts to act out a film, book, play or song (as chosen by the other team) to the rest of their group, scoring a point if they succeed. Excellent fun, as long as you don’t get lumbered with Madagascar.
Are you there, Moriarty?
A simple yet satisfying game, with an easy set-up. Two blindfolded players stand (variations suggest kneeling, sitting or lying) facing each other, roughly two feet apart, both holding a rolled-up newspaper or similarly sized weapon (a crowbar might be taking it a bit too far). The first player says aloud ‘Are you there, Moriarty?’, to which the second player answers, ‘Yes’, before attempting to duck out of the way of the imminent papery thwack. A point is given for a solid contact and a new challenger enters the arena, while a miss puts the second player in charge.
Carnelli
A fairly simple word association game that’s reportedly popular at Mensa parties. Arranged in a circle, the first player speaks aloud the name of a film (plays or books can also be used if you move in slightly more cultured circles), which the next player must associate with another film, either with a common title word or (depending on how strictly you impose your rules) by shared directors/stars. Gosford Park for example could be followed by Jurassic Park, which could in turn be followed by Schindler’s List – another Steven Spielberg film.
Party time
If you want your shindig to stand out from the crowd, follow our tips to make sure everyone’s talking about your raging night for years to come.
The food
If you can’t face cooking and don’t have the dirhams to spare, a pot-luck party could be the solution. Every guest brings a dish of their choosing, and you all dig in. Just make sure you know who’s bringing what, or you could end up with 50 salads and no dessert. And nobody wants that.
The fun
The internet has a wealth of party game solutions just waiting to be downloaded. Try www.free-party-games.com, which has a huge list of games for every occasion. There are also brain teasers, some very strange riddles, and quizzes for those who are keen to show off their knowledge.
Something different
You know the problem, you have a pile of clothes you’re bored with or that don’t fit you any more, yet they’re too good to throw away. Well so does each one of your friends, so why not swap them? Get together with your pals, put away some snacks and wander away with a smile on your face and a massive pile of designer one-offs (hopefully).
For the brave
Fancy dress parties are a lot of fun, and a quirky costume can be a great ice-breaker that will set you back minimal extra cash. You can set a theme, such as characters from your favourite movie or even just a specific colour scheme. Hit the Party Centre at Al Raha Mall (02 556 5563) for all the costumes, decorations and party supplies you could possibly need. While Posters at Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7089) also stocks a decent supple of fancy dress ideas.
If you do have a hefty budget, a little time and a lot of energy, why not go all out and show your friends just how much of a party planning genius you are? Website www.dubaipartyqueen.com has an enormous list of suggestions to suit any budget, and plenty of advice for throwing the perfect party – from Arabian nights to murder mystery dinner parties. We like her idea for a game called Who Am I? You must submit a guest list to each of your friends beforehand, and they must then dress and act as someone else on the list without telling them. You can spend the night trying to work out who’s who. Just don’t be too ruthless – you don’t want to finish the party with fewer friends than when you started.
Video games
With the rise of ‘party gaming’, a grotty cardigan and a pair of thick-rimmed specs are no longer a requirement for those looking to invest in a games console. But what to go for? Spicing up domestic shindigs since 2006, the Nintendo Wii remains a guaranteed crowd pleaser, with titles such as Wii Sports Resort, Boom Blox and Mario Kart Wii (all available for around Dhs249) most likely to evoke a healthy competitive edge.
Alternatively, Microsoft’s new motion-sensing Kinect accessory (priced around Dhs700) brings a similar level of limb-flailing accessibility to its Xbox 360 console, with the added advantage that – since it’s completely controller free – technophobia is no longer a valid excuse for your guests to sit and sulk on the sofa. Compatible games may still be a bit thin on the ground, but fire up Kinect Sports (Dhs200) – which packs in virtual renditions of table tennis, bowling and volleyball among others – and before you know it your friends will be tripping over themselves to thrash about in front of your TV like a bunch of fly-swatting lunatics.
Sony’s PlayStation 3 also offers a strong selection of group orientated games, from mock TV quiz show Buzz! Quiz World (Dhs159) to the warble-inducing SingStar series, (Dhs129) which (for better or worse) transforms your living room into an impromptu karaoke room, with song packs available for fans of Abba, Queen, Take That and more. Those feeling slightly more adventurous should check out Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, the latest in the franchise responsible for transforming grown men into happily gurning idiots. You’ll need to shell out a hefty Dhs999 for the full range of band controllers (guitar, bass, drums and microphone), but for the sheer, elusive thrill of nailing The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army on expert mode, it’s thoroughly worth it.
Games and accessories are available from Geekay Games, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 4552) or www.aido.com.
Party etiquette
For guests
Smoke outdoors: There is nothing more horrible for your host than having their curtains and carpet reeking of cigarette smoke for weeks after their bash. And, since it’s so rarely cold in Abu Dhabi, if you’re hosts are anti-tobacco, there’s no excuse for not popping out the back of the building for a quick puff.
Do bring a gift: Didn’t your mother teach you never to turn up empty handed? Even if the host insists on no presents, a small box of chocs or bottle of your host’s favourite drink won’t go unappreciated.
Don’t bring unexpected people: Always check before you bring along a friend or partner. If your host has gone to a lot of trouble to arrange a night, expecting them to squeeze in extra sets or cook up more food without warning is unfair.
For hosts
Getting people to leave: So, someone is settling into your comfiest armchair and their eyes are beginning to close. Or excitedly insisting that you all crack open another bottle and party on through the night when all you want to do is hit the sack. Often, a nicely delivered lie is the only answer. Invent a meeting or errand to run first thing in the morning and soften it by making plans to see your overeager friend again soon.
Dealing with gatecrashers: Sometimes, you just have to put up with unwanted guests in order to avoid awkwardness and make the night go smoothly – especially if you know the person and don’t want to offend them. But if the gatecrasher is a stranger and you’re not happy to have them, say something firm and polite like: ‘I’m sorry, but this is a private party,’ and call them a taxi.
How to deal with rowdy guests: This one is tricky, because of course you don’t want to embarrass anyone. But if someone is behaving rudely or bothering other guests, you’ll have to step in. Try quietly taking them aside and asking them politely to calm down, or if they’re being particularly raucous, suggest they head on to a bar or club.
Movie marathon
All you need is a huge pile of cushions, bowlfuls of snacks and one of these fantastic movies on the box.
For a girls night in
Pretty Woman: One of the most popular (and one of the most sexist) rom com of all time. Julia Roberts dons a killer pair of PVC thigh-high boots to star as a working girl who falls in love with the rich and handsome Richard Gere when he books her for the weekend. Can you possibly sit through it again? Yeah probably, if only because Richard Gere looks so darn handsome….
Bridget Jones’ Diary: As far as feel-good chick flicks go, this has a fail-safe plot. Insecure, slightly chubby but lovable girl gets job of her dreams, followed by man of her dreams. What’s not to like? And, as an added bonus, the fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth is hilarious no matter how many times you watch it.
Love Actually: There’s no shame in being fond of this rom com, it’s a seriously good movie. It boasts a star cast, including Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, beautiful shots of London and enough romance to have you sighing happily into your popcorn.
For a fright night
The Ring: It is, quite frankly, terrifying. How can a DVD, a ringing phone and girl with hair in her face be such a scary combination? We don’t know. Make sure you’ve got your duvet to hide under or your partner to cuddle.
Evil Dead Trilogy: Sam Raimi proved he was one of the most inventive directors out there with his comedy, horror gore-fest trio. Watch all three and you’ll laugh, shake with terror, argue over which is best and then repeat the line, ‘Give me back my hand,’ for days afterwards.
Nightmare on Elm Street: A less than smouldering Johnny Depp gets well and truly butchered. It’s fun, silly and tongue-in-cheek and doesn’t skimp on the gore. Knife-handed horror icon Freddie Kruger’s first outing is undoubtedly the best, perfectly blending slapstick humour with sheer terror.
For some all-time classics
Some Like It Hot: Witness acting genius of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon at the peak of their powers. When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band disguised as women, but things get complicated. Quite possibly the funniest movie ever committed to celluloid.
Casablanca: Humphrey Bogart runs a seedy bar, tries to win back the woman of his dreams and fend off Nazis in this classic wartime weepy. It’s probably your grandmother’s favourite movie, but don’t let that put you off.
Gone With the Wind: Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, this epic romance stars the stunningly beautiful Vivien Leigh and pencil-moustached cad Clarke Gable. Is it worth sitting through 238 minutes for its famous ending line? If you’ve got plenty of Pringles to chomp on, most definitely.
For some factual entertainment
Anvil! The Story of Anvil: Back in the ’80s, Canadian metal band Anvil were a whisker away from hitting the big time after touring with the likes of Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and The Scorpions. These days, they’re balding, overweight, middle aged family men, stuck in dead-end jobs, but still never saying die to the dream of becoming rock gods.
Grizzly Man: Grizzly bear expert Timothy Treadwell spent 13 summers in the Alaskan wilderness living among the ferocious beasts. The film, by esteemed German director Werner Herzog, pieces together Treadwell’s own camcorder footage to reveal how he was eventually devoured by one of the very animals he spent his life studying.
Best Worst Movie: In 1989, child actor Michael Paul Stephenson starred in a low-budget horror flick called Troll 2, which, after its release, was panned by critics as the worst movie ever made. Stephenson’s hilarious and touching documentary tracks down his fellow cast members and the film’s huge legion of fans who revel in its spectacular awfulness.
Perfect TV box sets
Can’t be bothered to talk to your friends? No matter, just plonk them down in front of this lot and crack open the Doritos.
Family Guy Trilogy: Laugh it Up, Fuzzball
All three of Seth MacFarlane’s feature-length Star Wars spoofs, with the cast of Family Guy in place of Luke, Leia and co. Sci-fi deniers will find themselves baffled by the unrelenting onslaught of geek-centric references, but everyone else will revel in some inventive moments of truly hilarious homage.
Mad Men seasons one-three
With its sharp suits and sharper dialogue, this period drama about a New York advertising firm has racked up colossal viewing figures and secured itself a spot at the centre of the early 21st Century zeitgeist. It’s only a matter of time before you get involved, so you may as well rope in some friends while you’re at it.
The Pacific
A 10-part miniseries following a company of American marines, as they battle the Japanese in World War II. It’s executive produced by both Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, so expect plenty of gritty realism and no-holds barred violence.
