Up your hosting game with Chef Sargent’s top tips…

GET AHEAD OF THE GAME

Mise en place literally means ‘putting in place’. It’s the most important thing to emphasise up front because prepping your food ahead of time means you can spend as little time in the kitchen as possible once your guests arrive.

Lots of dishes can be partly prepared a day or so before, so relieve a bit of pressure by doing basic jobs like chopping vegetables, meat or fish in advance. If you want to make life really easy you could even consider slow cooking something like pulled pork or beef.

ITS ALL ABOUT AMBIENCE

Think about the atmosphere you’re trying to create at your event, plan accordingly and let your guests know so that everyone’s on the same page. Are you going for a fancier vibe or something more casual? Either way, consider lighting and music to make sure you’re setting the tone just right.

SERVE WITH STYLE

It’s a bit of a cliché but it’s true that we eat with our eyes as well as our mouths. You’ve come so far and put the effort into making a delicious meal, so think about how you’re presenting the food on the plate. By adding a quick garnishing touch and arranging things with care, you’ll really add a wow factor to your cooking.

For more from Chef Sargent, click through to his Instagram page @ChefSargieor head to his website