When it comes to entertaining,

we all want to impress and to most of us impressive is equivalent to fussing and over fussing! We tend to think that impressive means the use of lavish ingredients, the sounds of which suggest we had spent every last penny to prepare! But my interactions with Chef Russell Impiazzi, the Culinary Director of Lafayette Gourmet, had taught me something very valuable: Even a piece of tomato can transform into an amazing dish that really looks too good to eat and will impress even the pickiest of guests. I had watched him, on many occasions, transform such simple ingredients as tomatoes, beetroots, smoked salmon…etc. into gorgeous dishes that are superbly delicious. After all it is all in the way we view these ingredients and how we present them in a way that highlights their natural beauty. This is ever so true especially when using outstanding produce to begin with. If the produce and the ingredients taste good, you really do not need to do much else with them, except perhaps be creative with presentation.

I had gone to film Russell with no idea what he had in mind for the recipe. As ever, his ingredients looked gorgeous all freshly pulled out of Lafayette Gourmet’s shelves that are packed with such fab food. These ingredients alone looked impressive enough to serve. All along I was watching, as always impressed with his talent, and especially as the plate started taking shape. Yes, smoked salmon with avocado relish may sound very simple, perhaps not as impressive as a ‘truffled marron glace’ would sound, however, what plate of food would ever end up looking like the one he’s prepared here? Then if that was not enough the finale was just so good, that I can’t wait for you to see what smokin’ impressive entertaining is like 🙂

So let’s get right to it, watch Russell as he creates this beautiful summery appetiser and check out the surprise at the end 🙂

 I have also included, at the end of this post, some links for ‘entertaining and occasions recipes’ for you to try too…