5 APRIL 2008, Page 63

Q. Our 16-year-old son is having 30 friends to a

party. For obvious security reasons my husband and I will not go out but have agreed not to show our faces downstairs. This raises a problem with food. Our son refuses to have any, complaining that pizza, sausages, baked potatoes, chicken legs in barbecue sauce, et cetera — all things that can be prepared in advance — are ‘childish’ and too redolent of children’s parties. I feel his guests will not only feel cheated of food but will also get very drunk. What do you suggest, Mary?

Name withheld, London SW7 A. On the day go to Prêt a Manger and buy 30 sandwiches. Leave them in their packaging, ranked up for the teenagers to help themselves. They will judge this form of catering to be cool.