I was intrigued and, frankly, a bit surprised at some of the responses to my last post, particularly those focusing on the social aspect of kitchen-centric entertaining.  In particular, I didn’t expect the negative reaction to my dislike of blanket informality in the modern age.  

But there it is.  The times, they are a’changin.  Kathy probably put her finger on it best when she remarked:

My mother was like you: the door was shut, things were done, and she made it all look effortless. No one dared to enter her kitchen when she was preparing dinner for a party. The only time I ever remember handing over her kitchen was when my aunt died, and it was shocking. I tried to follow in her footsteps, but my guests weren’t having it. Standards have simply changed, and while I can only speak for myself, I think people are somewhat uncomfortable with the thought of being waited upon. They want to help. In the spirit of giving my guests what they want, I let them.

Yes, I realize more and more that I have inherited a sense of propriety that is probably forty years out of date and also somewhat class- and geographically-centric.  It is interesting that I get on very easily with many of my more elder acquaitances such at the Mothe’s friends, but that most younger folk (including a number of members of my immediate and extended family) consider me to be cold, stuffy, aloof and, not to put too fine a point on it, extremely strange.

Well, leopards and spots, you know.   On the other hand, I suppose one could also say “When in Rome.”  It’s a perpetual struggle, trying to hang on to time-honored standards and traditions while attempting to accommodate current trends and fads.   Come to think of it, I guess that’s what this blog – with its theme and tag-line – is all about.