would you do a starter for this lunch

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Book club, and my turn to host.

I just want to serve good old-fashioned comfort food. So it's sausages and mash, onion gravy, peas with minted butter followed by pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream that a local bakery makes and which is very good indeed.

Would you do a starter? I will have bites with prosecco - most likely nuts, maybe blinis with smoked salmon. I'm just wondering if I go full-on retro and do a prawn and avocado cocktail!

I won't have a huge amount on the day as it's a busy week and I work the morning. Lunch starts around 1 pm.

I know it's all a bit pedestrian but i want simple and food that people will actually hopefully enjoy.

I wouldn’t bother personally if you are having nibbles. Can I join your book club please, it’s sounds great!

Do your book club lunches usually have starters? The choices sound nice and seasonal.

Nope - just the nibbles. Please can I have a piece of pumpkin pie?

I vote No starter

The main is substantial heavy and rich so I actually think a starter might be overkill what you have already sounds like a big / good meal

No, definitely no starter. The main and pud are enough and starters just tend to get the host in a fluster and take them away from guests for too long. Just some nibbles is perfect.

Oh thank you all!

Some bookclubbers do starters. All are very good cooks indeed. There are two who seem to be in an underground competition between themselves as to who can cook the most elaborate meals, but I don't have time for that tbh. There is one who eats and cooks very lightly due to health issues- all salads and fruit- but she is not attending this time. I actually would not have chosen that menu if she had been because she simply would not eat it.

I'm worried it might be a bit boring/school dinners.

Okay- no starters. i think I agree the main is heavy.

A few nibbles then before the meal to get going and move straight to sausages.

No it's classic not school dinners. Mine never had pumpkin pie and school mash was horrible! Good comfort food is what this will be. I don't think you need nibbles though either with two substantial courses. And I'm not a light eater!

I wouldn’t do starters. It’s quite a heavy lunch as it is. I think you know your guests best so only you can say if it will be to their taste. If they are traditional meat and two veg type of people I think it will be great, but it doesn’t really matter because you are hosting and you get to choose what you want to serve. I’m a foreigner and would like the pie but I don’t get sausages, mash and gravy.

I’d say no atarters with such a filling lunch. Depending how long between their arriving and serving food, I’d do some light nibbles. Don’t get into competitive catering, others will thank you.