Entertaining Effortlessly

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 2

Entertaining Effortlessly

Traditionally Christmas Is the happiest time of the year—a season of gifts, good food and hospitality, but one which leaves the housewife overworked and often feeling less than joyful. It is on her shoulders that the burden of shopping, cooking and cleaning falls. The round of parties and dinners seems interminable, for this is the time of the year when many people decide it is appropriate to return all the hospitality received during the preceding months. All too often, the day of the party is the day on which the children are at their most annoying, or the range blows a fuse and by the time everything is ready the hostess is left wishing her guests would join some astronauts in space and let her catch up on her sleep.

Recently a Christchurch restaurant started a service designed to take the snags out of party-giving. It is called prete a manger—ready to eat—and is the idea of Aus-tralian-born Mr Leon Langley, who has lived in Christchurch for 12 years. Yesterday “The Press” asked Mr Langley to explain his system. Once he knows what kind of a meal—sit-down or buffet—and the type of food a hostess wants her problems are over. He and his staff prepare and cook the food and deliver it right into the oven with a list of instructions for serving. If the meal is to be a buffet it will be set out. Mr Langley will, if required, supply cutlery, crockery and glassware, serve the meal and. drinks, and remain to do the washing up. He will also advise on wines and contact a wine merchant, but he does not supply any alcohol.