How To Host This Winter With Amanda Cordony

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Jun 18

Amanda Cordony is very much a ‘morning-of’ host, especially in winter, when staying home feels far more inviting than going out. Keeping the menu simple and choosing a seasonal theme helps create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Warm, spiced and inviting, Vanilla Bean & Allspice is made for long lunches, candlelit dinners and gathering around the table with the people you love.

4 things to do before guests arrive

When hosting, focus on a few simple rituals that help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Step 1

Start by preparing the table with all the essentials, from butter and water to serving boards and utensils. Having everything in place creates a sense of ease and allows more time to enjoy the afternoon with guests.

Step 2

Refresh the room with fragrance, fresh flowers and foliage. The warm notes of Vanilla Bean & Allspice instantly make a space feel more inviting and ready for entertaining.

Step 3

Light candles along the table for scent, warmth and ambience, then finish the starter, have the bread ready and clear the kitchen. With everything prepared ahead of time, the focus can shift from hosting to spending time together.

Step 4

And finally, put on some music to set the mood. It's the finishing touch that brings everything together, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the afternoon ahead.

Step 1

Start by preparing the table with all the essentials, from butter and water to serving boards and utensils. Having everything in place creates a sense of ease and allows more time to enjoy the afternoon with guests.

Step 2

Refresh the room with fragrance, fresh flowers and foliage. The warm notes of Vanilla Bean & Allspice instantly make a space feel more inviting and ready for entertaining.

Step 3

Light candles along the table for scent, warmth and ambience, then finish the starter, have the bread ready and clear the kitchen. With everything prepared ahead of time, the focus can shift from hosting to spending time together.

Step 4

And finally, put on some music to set the mood. It's the finishing touch that brings everything together, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the afternoon ahead.

The perfect entertaining starter

No gathering is complete without something delicious to share. Amanda's Pancetta-Wrapped Brie with Vanilla & Allspice Tomatoes is simple to prepare and perfect for winter entertaining.

Serves 6–8
Ingredients

9 slices pancetta, thinly sliced
450 g wheel brie
200 g baby truss tomatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns, lightly crushed
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
pinch fine sea salt
1 teaspoon raw honey
2 rosemary sprigs

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C fan.
Place a sheet of baking paper on the bench. Sit the brie on top and trace around it, then turn the paper over. Arrange 9 slices of pancetta in a circle, slightly overlapping and extending halfway beyond the traced line. Place the remaining slice in the centre.
Sit the brie in the middle, then fold the pancetta up over the sides of the brie and press lightly to hold on the underside of the brie. Using the baking paper to help you, flip the wrapped brie over and place it, seam-side down, in a small cast-iron pan or baking dish. Set aside. (this can be left, covered, in the fridge until 30 minutes before guests arrive.
Combine the tomatoes, vanilla bean paste, pink peppercorns, allspice, olive oil and salt in a bowl. Combine and set aside.
Drizzle over honey, olive oil and add rosemary sprigs to the side of the pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, until the pancetta is golden and the brie is soft and molten. Place tomatoes on top of the pancetta-wrapped brie and bake for a further 5 minutes to warm through.
Serve warm at the table with a tea towel wrapped around the handle and pan, alongside crusty bread.