Starterideas for dinner party tonight

[Bansheed]

Due to our original host having a crisis, we have a last-minute dinner party for 10 at ours.

One pregnant woman and someone who eats no cheese whatsoever.

I have coq au vin (got alternative for pregnant lady) and a chocolate almond cake for dessert. We are planning crisps, chopped veg and dips when they arrive.

It will be a long night so was thinking of a starter first, but my brain has now frozen after putting together the above.

Any ideas?? Help me, MNetters, please 🙏

Soup, salad, mushrooms, fish?

Before coq au vin I'd serve leek and potato soup (warm) or a warm smoked mackerel, beet and spinach salad. Simplest of all would be smoked salmon and cucumber ribbons with a drizzle of horseradish, brown bread and butter.

Bruschetta? Can do diff toppings if you want. I like simple tomato and basil but could do ones with cheese for those who like it.

I’d just do nice olives etc

Especially if crisps etc - just make that a nice drawn out starter

I would do a simple fish platter: plain smoked salmon, salmon pate, plain prawns, hot smoked salmon or some peppered mackerel fillets.

Melba toast
Lemon wedges
Seafood sauce
Sour cream with horseradish and dill

Serve on a help yourself platter.

Alternatively a simple melon and parma ham.

Don't serve a soup its too heavy with the coq.

A spinach salad with chopped apple (toss in lemon juice to stop browning) and chopped nuts. Then cook some bacon bits and throw over and use the bacon fat to make a hot bacon salad dressing..lots of recipes on google

or leek and potato soup

or mini sausage rolls with hot mustard dipping sauce and a few leaves of peppery salad

Soup would be lovely with that.
Think smoked salmon and pate would be a no go for pregnant lady

Can ask the pregnant lady if she has preference? I’m suggesting because when I was pregnant I could hardly eat anything apart from broccoli for weeks.

Definitely soup

Slice a packet or two of leeks, couple of onions and sauté, add potatoes cut small and stock and seasoning, bring to boil and simmer until potatoes are cooked. Blitz with a blender stick and serve with shop bought bread for ease

Thank you. Going with baked camembert wheel and bruschetta. As one won't eat fish