Anyone who has ever thrown a dinner party knows that maintaining the appearance of the graceful, consummate host or hostess is anything but graceful; behind the scenes, there are sauces to be stirred, soups to be seasoned, dishes to be cleaned - and charades titles to defend. Work on your acting chops before your guests arrive and leave the pork chops in the capable hands of Chef Manny with today's WagJag:

• $89 for a multi-course dinner for two (a $250 Value)
• $149 for a multi-course dinner for four (a $300 Value)

With over 20 years of experience, Chef Manny has been wowing palettes all over the country from Collingwood's Brunello Restaurant to the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax. With today's WagJag, however, he brings his many talents to your very own kitchen to whip up a gourmet fusion dinner that combines traditional and contemporary styles using fresh, seasonal ingredients. From succulent slow-braised short ribs to rich and decadent bananas foster, each dish is a feast for the senses and is sure to leave you and your guests full and satisfied. Manny works quickly and efficiently, so you needn't even worry about the dreaded afterparty dishwashing.

Menu

• Starter:
  • A variety of fresh market canapés, hors d’oeuvres, and tapas
• Salad (choose one):
  • Baby spinach and tiny arugula topped with honey-roasted, house-preserved Ontario peach, crumbled snow goat cheese and candied pecans. Dressed in tangy lemon mustard vinaigrette.
  • A slaw of celery root and red delicious apple in a ribbon of cucumber and bitter greens.
• Entrees (choose one):
  • Beef two ways: Short ribs forever braised and paired with filet mignon in a pool of woody mushroom reduction. Accompanied by potatoes and winter vegetables
  • Char grilled and oven baked organic chicken supreme in Jack Daniel sauce. Served with potatoes and caramelized onion hash on a bouquet of vegetables
  • Cajun-style atlantic salmon in a citrus beurre blanc, served with minted orzo in a pepper
• Dessert (choose one):
  • Banana foster and crepe Yvonne in a hot butter scotch and lemon curd
  • Rocky Mountain in grandmanier creme anglais