Dates with milk or walnut-stuffed dates?

Before serving or ordering

• The kind of dates, and whether they're soft
• Milk, walnuts or anything else
• How many pieces, and how you'll serve them
• Photos of her work, price, packaging and delivery

Step by step

1. 1

   Dates with milk: simple, and enough

   At home

   A date and a glass of milk: no decoration needed. Every home serves them its own way, in the morning, with guests, or just when you feel like something simple.

2. 2

   Walnut-stuffed dates: the same date, dressed up

   On the guest tray

   Filled with a walnut, a date earns its place on the guest tray. Some people leave it plain; others take care over the presentation. The maker's hand and the occasion show as much as the recipe.

3. 3

   Every occasion has its needs

   When you have guests

   At home, simple is enough. For guests, you'll care about size, arrangement and packaging. For a big occasion, ask about quantity and presentation before you choose, because no two homes serve the same way.

4. 4

   A date shows the maker's hand

   When you're looking for a cook

   Look at photos of her own work: is the walnut visible, is the presentation neat? Then ask what goes into each piece. A photo can't answer everything; a question does the rest.

5. 5

   Write the order down clearly

   Before the deposit or delivery

   Note the kind, the number or weight, ingredients, packaging, price, and the delivery day and place. If you need to avoid an ingredient, say so from the start and ask for a clear answer.

Questions people ask