Après Fête: Remember, Remember...the 5th of Novemeber

Discovery a new holiday feels like winning the lottery, so I was quite thrilled when my new friends--British imports Mike & Bran--introduced me to Guy Fawkes Day, aka Bonfire Night. The day celebrates a failed attempt of the Gunpowder Plot to overthrow the House of Lords, usually with fireworks & bonfires. For their first year in the US, I helped M & B with the food for their 5th of November festivities. We started with British inspired finger foods, with a nod to the jacket potatoes usually associated with Bonfire night: mini fingerlings topped with sour cream, cheddar & chives. Warming soups & stews are typically served at bonfires, so we went with curry (one of Mike's favorites, as well as a sort of Passage to India reference to English food) and steaming parchment wrapped fish. Parchment wrapped fish is a fantastic way to serve fish to a large group. It's nearly impossible to mess up, packets can be wrapped in advance, they can be cooked all together in the oven and no fussy plating is necessary as the seasonings & garnish are already in the packets. Dessert was a mix of sweets from India Sweets & Spices in Atwater Village (an incredible source for Indian party food in LA) & British candies. Please keep me advised on any little-known holidays from afar coming up; I always want an excuse to make a party!