Dine & DishFour Tips to Help You Bring Fine Dining To Your

Dining RoomBy Bjorn Koch

Dine & Dish Bjorn Koch

Eating at home tonight but craving

something extravagant?

Dish the same old meals and follow

these four steps to replicating an

upscale meal in the comfort of your

home

Dine & Dish Bjorn Koch

1. Choose a Good Recipe

This should, more than likely, be the first thing you’re thinking

about when bringing upscaling dining home. If you went to a

restaurant like Daniel or Jean-Georges, you certainly wouldn’t

order chicken fingers and french fries, so why make those an at-

home staple?

Choose a recipe that both shows your creative side and utilizes

ingredients you may not find in a normal dinner at home. Though

most every recipe website will feature a taste of everything, using a

website like FineDiningLovers will help knock your dishes up a

notch and blow your taste buds out of the water.

Dine & Dish Bjorn Koch

2. Set the Scene

Other than the food, perhaps the thing that stands out most at

upscale dining establishments is the atmosphere and service.

While you may not have the luxury of being waited on at home

(this could be where your children come in), you can perfect the

atmosphere. Put on relaxing music (violin music is a safe bet), break

out your nicest tablecloth and stick candles, and set the table.

Dine & Dish Bjorn Koch

3. Pair Your Drinks

Put away the Dr Pepper and tap water, you’re eating upscale, it’s

time to drink the same way.

Open a new bottle of wine (or sparkling water if you’re inclined)

that best compliments your dish. Pairing is fairly simple, even if

you’re not particularly adept at it.

I’ve written in the past a quick guide to pairing your food and wine,

so check it out and make sure your dish and wine compliment one

another adequately.

Dine & Dish Bjorn Koch

4. Forget the Cleanup

I know what you’re thinking already--when you’re dining at home

one of the things that’s almost constantly on your mind is the

inevitable after-dinner cleanup.

Chances are, while you’re eating when and how the dishes will get

cleaned will be coursing through your mind. I’m telling you now--

forget about it.

Don’t concern yourself with the post-meal until the meal is done

with. The dishes will get done regardless (again, a good time for

children to come into the mix), so why ruin the meal with your

worry? Put it into the back of your mind and enjoy the meal!