[pbcr]

im a home cook looking for advice and experience with mussels in a spicy red sauce and shrimp scampi. I'm hosting a christening party later this month. In the past i've heated up dishes and left them out in chafing dishes with 6 hr flames. I would leave for the one hour the service takes, come back, take the tops off and tell my guests to dig in. I would like to make the two mentioned dishes for this party but im unsure if I could make them before I leave and leave them in the chafing dishes for an hour. would it be better to just do these immediately when I get home and have my guests wait? thank you for any help!

 

[JohnDB]

Ok....
Leaving an open flame unattended for an hour is asking for a disaster to happen. I can't count the high number of fires I have put out on buffet tables.

 

[pbcr]

Ok....
Leaving an open flame unattended for an hour is asking for a disaster to happen. I can't count the high number of fires I have put out on buffet tables.

oh no im sorry if I wasn't clear, its not that no one is home. I'm just personally not present. I do the cooking and leave it to keep it warm. Its not unattended, its just not attended by me.

 

[cheflayne]

I would do them upon return. An hour in a chafer will definitely degrade the quality of the dishes.

 

[pbcr]

I would do them upon return. An hour in a chafer will definitely degrade the quality of the dishes.

thank you!

 

[gwnorth668]

You can make the sauce early and let it chill in the fride. The flavors will blend better and be more balanced. Just before it's time to serve, heat, the place into the chafing dis. Over cooked shrimp, clams, mussels and such get very chewy when overcooked.

Seeeeya; RJF

 

[pbcr]

You can make the sauce early and let it chill in the fride. The flavors will blend better and be more balanced. Just before it's time to serve, heat, the place into the chafing dis. Over cooked shrimp, clams, mussels and such get very chewy when overcooked.

Seeeeya; RJF

that's my fear, I know they say food doesn't cook when its in a chaffing dish but I feel like it makes it hot enough to over do it. Thank you for your suggestion, it might be the way to go!

 

[brianshaw]

Who say that?

 

[retiredbaker]

that's my fear, I know they say food doesn't cook when its in a chaffing dish but I feel like it makes it hot enough to over do it. Thank you for your suggestion, it might be the way to go!

oh it will cook alright, but not the way you'd want,
its very easy to scorch food if all the water steams off.
Just have it all prepped and staged ready to finish fresh.