vote -which starter shall I do ?

[ggirl]

dinner for 8
dh doing some fish dish for main
strawberry cheesecake for dessert

starter up to me ( not great in kitchen but can manage something that can be done ahead of time)

1. prawn cocktail -go retro ???
   

1. anti pasta/mezzo platters
   

3.your suggestions

[Blondie1984]

I would go antipasti as otherwise it is two fish courses and two courses with a creamy content (Marie Rose sauce and cheesecake)

[tootiredtothink]

Antipasta gets my vote.

[FeelingSmurfy]

2

Serve them in middle of table and let people help themselves, I find this gets people talking and starts a good atmosphere "please pass the X...have you tried that Y its really good...do you want some z..." Its basic but it breaks the ice and the silence and people feel more comfortable

[badRoly]

I would go prawn cocktail but only because it's one of my favourite starters

[ggirl]

not really sure how to do a good antipasto starter either
need to do some googling

[nbee84]

I got some ideas for an antipasto starter on pinterest. The most popular dish on mine was the roast asparagus wrapped in parma ham.

[ggirl]

thanks nbee

[Dontlaugh]

I'm obsessed with a mango, chilli, crabmeat concoction, wrapped in lettuce, which I've posted on here about before. Drizzled with chilli sauce.
Can be made ahead of time, low carb. Yummy.

[FadedRed]

Another vote for Antipasti, served as Smurfy suggests.

[FadedRed]

Antipasto, not some campaign against Italian/Cornish pastry comestibles!

[elephantoverthehill]

Make it simple. Parma ham and melon (on offer at tesco at the mo) and tomatoes, mozzarella and basil with vinagrette. Loads of crusty bread.

[Canyouforgiveher]

I'd do the antipasto platter too. you could serve while having a drink before sitting at the table too. What I do usually is:

Slice a french loaf, brush each slice with olive oil and sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt. Put in a low oven until golden and crisp. (can do this a day ahead - store in airtight container)

Slice a ciabatta loaf so have one basket of the crisp bread and one of fresh

Bowls of olives/jarred roasted peppers/tapanade

Sliced prosciutto/parma ham/salami

Small sliced baby tomatoes and mozzarella in a bowl

White bean dip (canned cannelloni beans mashed up with garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and a few red pepper flakes)

most of this requires no actual cooking and can be prepped and ready to go.

[FawnDrench]

Some tasty and not too difficult ideas here

[smellsofsick]

Dontlaugh- can you link to your crabmeat concoction or post it; sounds amazing!

[ggirl]

Fawn -great link thanks
I'm doing the asparagus as well as anti pasto platter
thanks