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?

Chilled fruit soup?

If it really has to be simple and non exotic with no cheese then -

Sausage rolls

Mini Yorkshire pudding with gravy and roast veg stuffed inside

Waldorf chicken boats

No suggestions but I hope the day goes okay for you, first ones are the hardest

Blinis with smoked salmon and sour cream

Trio of pate

But people just get their preferred one?

Salmon
Brussels
Duck and orange
Mushroom
Crab
Etc

All served with melba toast on the day

The leftovers can be served as a snack later in the visit with toast.

Baked beans on toast for the fussy eaters and anything you like for the rest of you.

We have tomato soup for those who don't like seafood starter.

Wotsits?

Mum used to do a starter of tomato soup when we were little

Puff pastry tarts with pesto chicken?

Cucumber and strawberry salad with Parma ham or smokes chicken. It sounds an odd combo but it's utterly delicious

Some sort of soup.
Pate
Something mini? Like mini burgers, something like that, or even just little vol-au-vents

Chicken liver parfait with onion jam or chutney

Ham hock terrine with cornichons

Foie gras on crackers with fig jam

Soup

Pate (duck pate is my favourite)

Chicken on skewers, optional dip and veg

Some kind of really nice bread, lightly toasted, with Parma ham, some sort of peach or apricot jam, and a drizzling of balsamic vinegar.

Crackers with a choice of toppings. Chicken pate, hams, hummus for you
Egg etc

I'd have some caviar ones and some Stilton (or similar) plus a shot of vodka

Potted ham with melba toast, a light homemade tomato soup with a crusty roll and herb butter, quails egg mornay with nice sour dough toast, or little puff pastry tarts roasted veg.

Seconding the plate of pigs in blankets unless that counts as red meat?

Or puff pastry with pesto, chicken and cherry tomatoes

Mackerel pate and blinis. Both are easy to make, and seem to follow your requirements?

Mini quiche?
Or caramelised onion tart?

Or a mixture of small bites from waitrose 🤣

No fish allowed.
IME, people who recoil in horror at the idea of garlic on the plate are quite often
oblivious to its presence in their food, especially soups, stews and sauces.
(Unless it's an actual allergy rather than untested dislike of 'foreign stuff').
i can't imagine making a decent pâté without it, and you'd be hard pressed to find one in a supermarket either. And I doubt if they would be able to detect a cooked clove of garlic in a well-flavoured home made carrot soup.

Sorry - missed the no fish addendum 😁

Chicken kebabs with satay dip

Id do a little chicken caesar salad like in a prawn cocktail dish. Leave the cheese out for anyone who doesn't like it.

Too stressful don’t bother lol