Can you help me with menu choices for an event please ?

[TheDogsMother]

We are hosting a lunch for a celebratory event. The venue offers lovely food from locally sourced produce and beautifully presented. The venue has given us lots of sample menus and have asked us to pick three options for each course. We then need to get our guests to choose one dish from each course in advance. So my question is this, which combination of three main ingredients is likely to appeal to most guests. There are no vegetarians/vegans amongst the guests.

Options of dishes made with beef, lamb, chicken, fish (inc gurnard, plaice, hake, sole, salmon, cod, brill, sea trout, halibut, haddock), duck, pork.

It's a nice problem to have but the pages of delicious dishes are making it impossible to choose. Haven't even tackled starters and puds yet . Thank you in advance

Beef/chicken/salmon is terribly dull!

This! I also say lamb, duck, but maybe salmon too.

This is so helpful and we're narrowing down as you speak.

How's this soufflé - Double naked (local) cheese, hazelnut, apricot, pickled shallot and watercress salad

How's this terrine - Pressed ham hock, piccalilli, black pudding

I’d go for beef, lamb, fish. Chicken is a bit boring

Def include the tomato starter.

Naked soufflé . What sort of event is this ? Double baked !!

Sorry if I've missed it but how are the mains cooked ? Are they in a sauce? That would make a difference for me

Plums No their dishes are not generally covered in sauce. They are quite delicate and generally on the side

Ooh lush, chicken, duck and trout then
For pudding I'd have something sweet, something zesty and something traditional if you are serving cheese afterwards

Can I change to terrine please? Actually DH & I will order different things then we can have some of each other's

I would always have chicken as one of the choices. I find there are few people that won't eat chicken.

I would go chicken, beef, cod
Dessert - chocolate dessert, lighter dessert.

starter - cheese one, meat one, salad

It sounds amazing!

How well do you know the guest's tastes/preferences/diets/allergies etc?

I think karencantobe is right about chicken. I've never known anyone who eats meat hate chicken. It's a good common denominator! You need to have at least one safe boring option for the main course with a sauce served on the side so there is something that everyone can eat. Then fish in case there are any pescatarians and another meat option. Unless you know for sure that everyone eats red meat and fish.

Goingoverground. Good point. I would say most of the women and some of the men are quite foodie. I think maybe a meaty type fish like hake might go down well as one option.

Another for my invite please! Although 'naked' cheese souffle sounds v trendy cheffy! Agree a chicken with something on the side is good incase of any 'clean eating or sensitive stomachs going on.

Ok
I’m changing my thoughts......

Chicken
Lamb
Hake

Terrine
Soufflé
Crab

Would the caterers do a trio of desserts for you that you choose?

Cheesecake
Pannacotta
Tart

Then a large cheeseboard for those who want to partake later on.

Unless the chicken is thigh, catered chicken is always dry.

I’d go crab, terrine, bisque of some sort

Beef, sea trout, duck.

@TeddyIsaHe @Collision Good thoughts, thank so much. It's a lovely problem to have 😀

What’s the occasion? @TheDogsMother

@Collision Low key but me and DP are getting married

TeddyIsaHe You speak wise words about chicken 🐓

Congratulations, DogsMother 💐
You are certainly getting off to a delicious start !

Now I'm hungry!!!

Mains - 1 fish, 1 chicken and 1 other meat

Pudding - 1 light (posset), 1 sweet or chocolate, 1 sour/citrusy

Does depend on the event though & time of year.

For each course, pick something quite non-controversial that traditionalists would like, something on the other end of the spectrum (I don't even know what gurnard tastes like, what an incredible range of fish options!) and something YOU'D like personally!

Beef and chicken are just too dull from those options, also lamb and beef are too similar so don't have both of those.

I'd go for lamb, a more unusual fish so not cod or salmon and chicken if you must for the unadventurous. Make sure you ask on the invitations on case anyone is vegetarian and you're not aware of it.

The ham hock starter sounds good, something with smoked fish and a vegetable based one.

For desserts just make sure there's variety, so something light and creamy like pannacotta or ice cream, something cake based and the chocolate mousse.

I'd go with beef, salmon and veggie for the mains. Chocolate, lemon and fruity for the pudding. Fish, cheese or terrine for starter.

Despite people pointing out that Beef/Chicken/Salmon are a bit boring remember that they are safe options and people pleasers.

A friend of mine got married last year and his menu choices were so niche it was a struggle to choose something, that was a bit annoying to be honest!

I would therefore keep the chicken, as most people if pushed for a decision will plump for that, and choose two other dishes that you like the sound of...

The choices sound fantastic. Congratulations and I hope you enjoy your special day.