I challenge you to think of a starter

[MumofSpud]

Of course we don't NEED a starter - 4 people all with fussy different tastes and I can't think of the same starter that they could all have:
3 adults and 1 teen
NO
Cheese
Red meat
Vegetables (peas and carrots are ok)
Spice
Indian / Chinese / Italian
Garlic

All I can think of is a retro vol-au-vent with chicken tinned cream of chicken soup
Or bruschetta with ? on it?

Any ideas?

Or a Yorkshire pudding and gravy (yes this was a common starter, in Yorkshire, up until the 1980s at least).

Filled you up so you weren't as hungry for the roast meat (assuming this is Christmas dinner you are thinking about).

Making a chicken last for two to three meals has been a thing since way before MN thought of it.

How do they all feel about olives?

i would do a tapas style. Then you can do a few and people can pick at bits they like and bits they don’t.

But I think soup would be easiest.

Bread + olive oil + balsamic

I was going to say prawn cocktail until I saw no fish.

I'd go with mixed brushetta (tomato, pea) plus some olives, cheese, charcuterie and salady bits for the less fussy in the party.

Homemade soup, make ahead then microwave

My favourite starter is canapés. Buy mini-toasts. Top with cream cheese (or if even that is too cheesy, use quark or humous ) and then a variety of toppings - eg, slivers of pickle/carrot/fresh herbs/olives/orange/grapes ... anything that is lying around. or simply sprinkle with smoked paprika (or is even that too spicy?)

It's the only proper way to serve a Yorkshire pudding. A slice of YP and a generous pouring of onion gravy as the starter.

Yorkies made in a muffin tin served alongside the roast are an abomination!

If they're that fussy about starters, what on earth are you doing for the main??

This is my question! Honestly, I would dump a bowl or crisps on the table and let them get on with it.

Mushroom soup. Grey but delicious. Oh no, it's a vegetable!

I’d do a small buffet of canapés served with champagne/other sparkling wines. I do that every year (however mine’s heavy on cheese/fish/other things that probably won’t go down well) as it’s much more relaxed knowing that everyone has had something to eat, that way no one’s starving waiting for dinner.

Delia’s mini tarts could probably be easily customised to allow for the restrictions you face.

Also crisps, pork pies, sausage rolls, whatever else everyone likes.

Soufflé
Risotto (unless that counts as Italian)
Blue cheese and Parma ham on rye bread

Crispy pork belly cubes? With bok choy for those who eat it? Or grated carrot.

A perfectly mixed martini. With optional olive for the fussy ones.

I should say that it is the visiting in laws and then me and DD
I know on MN the thinking is visitors fit in but they have never had Christmas dinner at our house - usually they visit after Boxing Day
This will be their / our first Christmas without their DS (my DH) so I just want it all to be as nice as possible
FiL would faint if he was offered hummus - I would eat it by the bucket load though!

Christmas dinner is ok

I love the first idea but some sort of pea on bruschetta is great!

A small portion of Nigella's lemon risotto. Or lemon, pea and mint risotto if peas are acceptable.

How about potato skins, maybe with a variety of topping options.

I think FiL and DD would look at olives as if it's a bush tucker trial

Oh @MumofSpud I’m so sorry.

In that case I think I’d definitely make a little buffet selection with foods you know he/they will eat, plus a few more ‘adventurous’ things for you and DD. The fact they’ve not done Christmas Day at yours before means there aren’t any rules as such, so just relax as much as you can.

A retro avocado half

So could be:
Carrot soup
Bruschetta with some sort of pea
Filo pastry tart with some sort of pea

I might start with a g&t aswell

Might aswell give DD a kangaroo anus