Dinner Party

Dinner parties offer one of the best reasons to cook for friends. Begin your meal with the asparagus, an elegant starter that sets the tone for the entire dinner. Braised Chinese Mushrooms can be made ahead of time and re-heats well — it is a dish often served at Chinese banquets. The coconut rice is a flavoursome departure from the usual. A refreshing note is provided by the salad, which prepares you for the dessert. Sweet Ginger Custard is an Eastern variation of the universally popular vanilla custard, and rounds off the meal nicely.