I need help from all you gorgeous Answerbankers...should I offer monetary payment too do you think?

[merciasounds]

I've just had a very large, but very dead tree cut down in my garden, and have got 7 big strapping lads coming round to help me dig out the base that's left. When i asked them to help, they asked me if they would be fed - (they know I'm a goumet cook) and I said of course, they all eagerly agreed! I shall provide them with my own home cured smoked back bacon and homemade olde english recipe thick 95% pork sausages (made from gloucester Old Spot piggies) on homemade bread with egg and or grilled tomatoes for lunch, and then in the evening i was going to make them an Indian Banquet, Chicken tikka bites, samosas, and minced lamb kebabs to start, (the latter served with a lemony mint and yoghurt sauce) then Lamb and coconut curry, a hot beef curry, tandoori chicken, king prawn biryani served with a vegetable curry, bombay potatoes, dhal, poppadoms, pickles, naan bread, pilau/plain boiled rice, real hand cut thick chips, and a couple of cases of ice cold lager in front of a huge screen TV for them to wwatch the football on. But as my question asks, should I offer them some money too?

[Jan1957]

I think if you're providing and cooking that lot, it should be enough! Do you need any more help?

[ummmm]

Are they friends of yours? If so...that amount of food would be ample I would say.

[mccfluff]

nope that sounds bl00dy gorgeous and more that enough, i'm really really goos at digging up stumps.....

[hannibalsmith]

That sounds like heaven mercia and Im sure it will be a great time and much appreciated.

[merciasounds]

Two are sons of my friends, the other five play rugby with them, and I know them slightly from social functions that's why the quandry!!

[redman41]

Not sure if any of them will be fit to work after all that Gourmet food and Beer mercia !
Have you got any more tree stumps you need digging out ? lol

[piggynose]

personally yes, i´d give them a tenner in an envelope each for a drink. just think how much it wouldve cost if you paid a professional. they might refuse the tenner.
yes i´m sure they´ll enjoy the grub, but ...

[tamborine]

pay - if they perform well :)

you may want seconds?

[hannibalsmith]

Im with redman, I would retile your roof, furrow your garden, paint your house and build you a pool just to be able to dine on the leftovers at this feast of yours!

[Ric.ror]

You've got to be making that up .... if not they should give you your own programme - they have Sophie Dhal for a lot less

[society]

WoW! That sound like a lot of food. Will you start cooking from the day before? Feeding seven rugby players means cooking a lot.

If it were two guys I'd offer money, but seven... na.

[piggynose]

i was going to say " i´m stumped "
sorry

[ethandron]

i don't think payment is necessary with what you're providing for them, including the lager and footie watching. unless you mentioned payment at some point? lads like that will enjoy the sociability of the whole thing, not to mention all the gorgeous grub you're giving them, plus lager.
however, if you feel the least bit uncomfortable then yes, give them some cash.

[Nosha123]

I thought this was a wind up.... I'll help too if thats whats on offer! WOW

[jackthehat]

You could offer to put some money behind the bar at their rugby club for them to enjoy a post match snifter....

[merciasounds]

I can assure you this is NOT a wind-up!! It's no big deal, I'm used to cooking for large numbers, and curries are easy. Once I've roasted off and ground the spices, and made a ginger/onion/garlic paste, i fry them together gently, add chilis and seasoning to taste, add the meat/chicken and coat them with the spices, add stock, tomatoes, puree or whathave you, then let it cook in a low-medium oven. The tandoori is just a matter of marinating the chicken in a spiced yoghurt with lemon juice, Rice goes in the steamer oven, and I make batches of things like samosas and freeze them raw just to drop into hot oil to cook.

[redman41]

merciasounds will you Marry me !! :-)

[ummmm]

I would think that would be enough mercia. If they are friends....or friends kids etc. That's what friends do for each other.

One day you might be asked to return the favour....like cooking a banquet or something.

[1955]

You're providing them with food and drink and a sociable time - no they don't need payment!