It's a man's life in the modern kitchen

MEN are having a fabulous time juggling pots, pans and guests as the new dinner party dynamos.

In fact, the etiquette of throwing a great dinner party is now essential knowledge for any man who considers himself urbane and worldly.

The tables are definitely turning, according to a survey for XL For Men magazine.

Years of poring over pretentious cookery books to produce an original, exquisite three-course menu to impress friends, family and work colleagues has left women plumping for the role of guest rather than host.

The survey claims women would rather make a hassle-free booking at their favourite restaurant than slave over a hot stove.

But men love the challenge of caramelising a shallot - it's like an exciting new adventure.

Whipping up a bite to eat as friends came round to watch football on TV turned into a passion for Indian dinner parties for Steve Milburn, 45, of Windsor Road, and Graham Clegg, 49.

Joiner Graham, of The Bostons, Great Harwood, said: "We used to cook curries for people who came round to watch the matches but they went down so well that we now have weekly curry parties with the works." He added: "We both love cooking and just like getting together and experimenting with different dishes.

"A lot of my male friends cook now. It's more acceptable for men now and my son Darren is following in my footsteps. He makes a great Chinese."

The biggest reason men enjoy throwing dinner parties is the creativity.

"Men love to be creative," said John Derbyshire, catering lecturer at Blackburn College. "They like the fact that dinner parties have no set rules. They can throw whatever ingredient they want into the pan - and if it's tasty, then great.

"Women tend to want absolute perfection because people expect them to be able to cook but blokes don't tend to bother too much because people expect them to be a disaster."

He puts the trend down to male television chefs proving that cooking is not just for the girls.

"They challenge the macho image that it isn't cool for a guy to be cooking," John said.

"I believe this is why men have taken a great interest in cooking for dinner parties over the last few years." Norman Crook is more adventurous than most, serving up dishes made from venison and horse meat in his French holiday home.

Norman, who spends most of his time at Ferguson Street, Blackburn, said: "I entertain more when I go abroad. I live on my own so it's nice to cook up a different dish every night for guests on holiday in France.

"They eat horse meat over there so I create dishes using that and meat like venison.

"I try to make a balanced meal with starters and I like them to be colourful, attractive and tasty.

"Everyone expects a chef in a restaurant to be a man and the cook at home to be the woman but things are changing."

John Westlake, editor of XL For Men, said: "Men like cooking for dinner parties because they can go on as they like, play the music they like and when it's all over, they can just totter off to bed."

Choc's the way we beat our stress

LASSES in the county are eight times more likely to unwind by curling up with a chocolate cake snack than their men, according to a new survey.

And the Audience Selection nationwide survey, commissioned for Jacob's, also showed that many women recognise the effect of a stressful lifestyle. Over half felt that stress has a detrimental affect on their health.

Sue Keane, a spokesperson for the British Psychological Society, said it was important to find time to relax.

"If we are continually stressed it is detrimental to our health. Everyone should spend time each day indulging themselves, even if it is only five minutes," she added.

"Having a personal daily ritual or treat which is self-indulgent can go a long way to helping one's physical and mental well-being."

Meal solution

DO meal times mean dilemmas? Are you looking for new food ideas because your children are bored with what you cook?

Look no further because UFOs have landed and they're ready to deal with fussy little eaters.

Tyne UFOs are chicken shapes in a can which complement any children's meal.

They are available in four tasty flavours - tomato, gravy, spicy tomato and BBQ - with bright and bold packaging to capture your child's imagination.

But be warned - UFOs could take your children to another dimension.

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