'Starter' at Christmas Dinner - yay or nay

[Bearlyawake]

Lighthearted household debate...

We are hosting Christmas this year. Will be dinner with all the trimmings. Earlier, DH asked if we will be having a starter, his family usually do one. I said I couldn't really be bothered, I can't really see the point of having a starter before eating a big old Christmas dinner and hopefully some Christmas pudding afterwards.

He maintains that having a starter makes it more of an occasion rather than just another roast dinner.

So...

YABU - Where's your sense of occasion? Of course you need a starter!

YANBU - we will already trough enough food on Christmas day, we don't need a starter!

Side observation - if you say the word starter too much it starts to sound like a fake word, if you know what I mean.

We usually have breakfast about 8, croissants, hot chocolate, pain au chocolat, basically unhealthy. We head off visiting about 10 and home for 1 at the latest. We have soup and bread rolls then. Just an ordinary veg soup. We go for a walk after the soup, home about 3 and then dinner about 4 or 5. Dessert is usually about 8 or 9pm. So we do have a starter but it takes us 7 or 8 hours to eat everything.

How on earth do people have room for a three course meal on Christmas day?

If I was doing three courses the starter would be served at breakfast, the main at lunchtime, and the pudding for tea.

I love a good Christmas dinner and would far rather give the main meal justice than be too full to eat it.

We have loads of starters 😂

How on earth do people have room for a three course meal on Christmas day?

Reasonable sized portions and spread over a few hours.

How on earth do people have room for a three course meal on Christmas day?

Just don't eat a massive amount for each course.

I know some people who have a sort of high tea with the left overs of Christmas dinner with salads and stuff. I don't know how they do it. On Christmas evening we usually have cheese and biscuits and wine.

@jojomolo it's the real issue dividing the nation

I’ve never understood starters. Why would I want a small dinner before my dinner?

I’ve never understood starters. Why would I want a small dinner before my dinner?

And why would I want a smaller dinner because I'm full from the starter?

No never, the table is groaning with food, all different kinds of sauces and gravy, and then there is pudding nobody needs a starter.
I'd be full after a starter and wouldn't want to eat anything else, especially soup.
It annoys me when someone says, my family always does such and such, I don't care what their family does, this is my family.

Simple canapes with the champagne before the dinner.

We usually do blinis with smoked salmon and a veggie alternative.

Anyone who was full after a few mouthfuls of smoked salmon mousse or prawn cocktail wouldn’t manage a Christmas dinner at all.

I wouldn't go for a first course. But canapes great but very light and helps if the main course is taking longer ..... -because someone forgot to switch the oven on-

It ain’t Christmas without a prawn cocktail.

I just love hearing about everyone else's Christmas days. All so different but all so equally fascinating and amazing sounding!

We haven't even decided what to have yet. We will have a veggie main with all the trimmings. I will do pigs in blankets for me and DH though.

@CuteOrangeElephant

I'm surprised that no one has said yet that your DH can make the starter if he's so keen on having one!

They have!

In fact last year I just had two prawn cocktails and a bottle of prosecco and couldn’t be bothered to cook the rest (I was on my own, mind).

@VinylDetective

Anyone who was full after a few mouthfuls of smoked salmon mousse or prawn cocktail wouldn’t manage a Christmas dinner at all.

Precisely! Lightweights. Mind you when I read about people adding cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puddings, mashed potatoes to an already embellished roast dinner I am not surprised. Cut down on the unnecessary carbs so you have room for the good stuff.

Coquelles st Jacques

I've just ordered caviar for canapes - thanks for the suggestion! only two of us this year, so we might as well go all in.

We usually skip a starter but have cheeses/olives/crackers/nuts out to nibble on whilst preparing the feast.

@ILikeStrongTea

Prosecco is a starter, right?

I bloody hope so!

Never have a starter. Don't eat breakfast either. Lunch at 2pm. Very rarely even have dessert.

@VinylDetective

Anyone who was full after a few mouthfuls of smoked salmon mousse or prawn cocktail wouldn’t manage a Christmas dinner at all.

depends what you put on your plate!

It doesn't have to be a competition over who can over-eat the most.
It's not ridiculous to make a choice between a starter and whatever extra is part of your Christmas menu, around say the turkey and whatever you serve it with.

We have starter, but I couldn't have Christmas diner after eating all day!

Wow its level pegging! Op did u say his family are coming? Best do a starter last ye be judged for being stingey I'd say. We dont have that issue on either side luckily.