Expecting guests?

By Brigitte Dzogbenuku

The weekend is here with us again.  I love weekends, and who doesn’t?  It’s that time to wake up late, lounge around the house, and generally have a bit of ‘me’ time.  

It is also that time when, for no reason at all, you want friends to come over so you can chit-chat and put the world to rights, eat, drink and generally be merry.  

Often these are special times, although we tend to take them for granted.  So often, we do not put a lot of effort into having such friends over.

We should let them know we appreciate them for coming over and our service to them will prove whether we love to have them or whether they are a burden each time they come.

Of course, sometimes, some friends are a burden – you know the types who don’t know when to leave even when you have yawned incessantly, long past your bedtime?

Anyway, regardless of what kinds of friends they are – the early leaver or late ‘stayer’, the moment they arrive at your doorstep, you must accord them with the highest level of hospitality.  You know that manners matter, right?

So what would you consider the highest level of hospitality? Our culture in Ghana always requires that we offer our guests water as soon as they sit.  That still exists in most homes; however, it is not always water that is offered now.  

We must ask our guests if they would like a drink – which could include water, juices, beers, wines and hard liquor and for some, a hot beverage (you’ll be surprised).  

You may give your guests the range of what you have or leave them to choose.  If you would like to be extra hospitable, you would probably have to head out to find that rare choice that your guests have made – especially when they are picky, fussy or have a condition that only allows them to drink one special type of beverage.  

Whatever they choose to drink will be served in some form of receptacle – glass, jug, flute, cup or calabash – for sure.  Herein lies the issue.  First of all, let’s ensure that our glasses are clean and dry; and without a foul smell.   

Also, often we are not aware that there are different types of glasses for each type of drink.  Water is served in tumblers, and so is beer.  Sometimes beer will be served in jugs if available.  

You may serve juices in such glasses too; however, the juice glasses are usually longer/taller and slimmer than regular beer glasses.  

If you are one who likes the local brew and would like your guests to partake of these, you might want to invest in the calabashes which for me is the best way to drink palm wine.

In the absence of these, you can resort to your glasses – either wine glasses or tumblers.  Don’t think of serving one type of beverage in a different type of glass not made for that beverage.

As the Ghanaian proverb goes “If you are ripe for marriage, buy your own pots and pans”; so it goes for your types of glasses.  If you can afford to serve wines, champagnes and cognacs, ensure that you have appropriate glasses to serve these.  

Yes, glasses have been crafted specially for each type of drink in order to enhance the taste of the drink, believe it or not.  The worst tasting wine or champagne is the type served in a tumbler or plastic cups, no matter how expensive!  

Also presentation is everything you see, so that as much as possible, your presentation of your drink to your guests will make them relish your beverage even more.  


• To be continued