Maximilian Sam - My Dinner Party

Where are you holding your dinner party?

It’s on a yacht in the British Virgin Islands. Blue water, white sand beaches, clear skies….

What's the occasion you are holding the dinner party for?

There’s a ‘y’ in the day of the week. I rarely need an excuse for a party of any kind.

Who are your five guests and why are they invited?

My dinner party is built around literature and sport, so each guest falls into the categories (even if the link is a little tenuous at times).

First up is a true Saracens rugby legend. Brad Barritt (@bradbarritt) is someone I have huge respect for. I’m also intrigued as to how he is still able to stand after the physical way he played the game. Now he’s retired he has become even more important to authors. He runs a coffee company (@tikitongacoffee) and, as we all know, a dinner party filled with authors needs coffee.

Second on the list is Jeffrey Archer (@jeffrey_archer). Very little needs to be said about him as most of it already has been. He is the godfather of storytelling as well as having been a very talented athlete in his day. I’m sure he could keep us all entertained with an anecdote of three.

Third is a true hero of mine, Ellen Macarthur (@ellenmacarthur). To sail around the world single-handed is an incredible achievement. To do it in record time is mind-blowing. She has also written several books and now runs important charities. It would be good to understand her single-mindedness and the important work she now does.

Fourth is a man whose biography has been shortlisted for several awards this year. Redemption is an amazing book and I’d recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone. He is the Watford legend Troy Deeney (@t_deeney).

Lastly, and most importantly is a retired Scottish rugby international who won 77 caps for her country. To play that many times for your country is an amazing achievement, especially in a physical game like rugby. She is now the author of three novels. Lee Cockburn (@lee_leecockburn and www.leecockburnbooks.wordpress.com) has achieved everything I wish I were talented enough to do.

I may only have five guests, but we’d need a chef for the evening. Where would the world be without Saturday morning favourite, James Martin (@jamesmartinchef)? He’s written more books than most and would, with his love of anything with an engine, be right at home on a yacht.

What food are you serving?

I am giving James clear instructions on this one. However, how much butter he uses is up to him.

Starter: Octopus Salad. A wonderful man who ran a tapas restaurant on the marina taught me how to cook octopus when I was working in Mallorca. It’s still one of my favourite ingredients.

Main course: Scottish Venison Wellington. One Valentine’s Day I was planning to make beef wellington as a special treat for my then girlfriend. Sadly, I couldn’t find any beef so settled on a new invention using venison. It also gives the dish a truly Scottish feel. It’s venison loin coated in haggis and mushrooms then wrapped in pastry. It will be served with honey roast carrots, roast parsnips, mashed potato and whisky and lavender gravy.

Desert: Vanilla and cinnamon infused panna cotta with a rum and raisin coulis (yup, it’s a take on a Christmas pudding). I don’t like the texture of Christmas Pudding so made this one-year instead. It went down a treat.

What's your cocktail or mocktail for the dinner party?

There will be a choice of two. I will request Brad’s help on this to create the perfect TikiTonga Coffee Martini. The other is a specialty of the BVIs. It’s called a painkiller and originated at The Soggy Dollar Bar (www.soggydollar.com). It’s made up of rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut cream. I can promise, more than one and food will become a moot point. A painkiller is strong, very strong.

What music are you having played during your dinner party?

In respect to Brad we’d have to start with “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon. I’d then tone it down a bit moving onto Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, The American Outlaws with a touch of Dolly Parton thrown in for good measure.

You've raised a book to have a bit of a discussion about, which book is it and why?

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby (@nickhornby). The dinner party is very much focused on literature and sport. I know what it’s like being a fan in the stands. It would be interesting to know how fans impact performance of top-level sportspeople and how they, themselves, react to being a fan.

It's time for bed, what book are you retiring to your bed with?

With A Mind To Kill by Anthony Horowitz (@AnthonyHorowitz). We’re in the Caribbean. The latest James Bond novel has to be the way to go.