Christmas eve meal ideas please!

[Falconfield]

I know it's still a while to Christmas and I might get really flamed for this however I need some ideas what type of meal other people do for Christmas eve?

I'm at a complete loss what to cook. I want something a bit different/special but obviously nothing too elaborate as we have a massive traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas day.

Any suggestions? or what do you find works for you and yours?

Party food and a open a bottle of bubbly with a Christmas film!

Seems like an easy question to figure out the answer to? Something more expensive than the everyday, whatever that is.

For some people it will just mean lobster over prawns, or champagne over Prosecco. An upgrade from the norm. Maybe it will be better quality, maybe just different.

Why do people keep talking about posh things!? Sounds weird. Do you mean decent quality ?
Posh means expensive. A normal bottle of wine is a tenner, my “posh” Christmas wine is £25.

Fish pie and lots of green veg. Glass of champagne. Party food for the DC.

We have a buffet - daughters birthday is Christmas day, so has become tradition that Christmas eve is her day as such
Hot chocolate, posh party food and a day of flims!

Chinese takeaway.

It’s become a tradition in our house to have lasagne. I make it way before and stick it in the freezer so there’s no prep on the day and no mess either.

Party food here. Everybody will have something that they like and everything at 200 for 25 mins is simplicity that I need on the 24th. If my kids are at their dad's then I still have party food for
dinner.

Chinese takeaway and a White Russian (might get some party food in for emergency snacks later in the evening).

My mate owns a Chinese t/a and he says Christmas Eve is practically the busiest night of the year.

Chippy tea. Family tradition started up when I was too nackered to cook one year and everyone agree this should be a new family tradition. Might move to other takeaways in future.

@WinterLobelia I'm glad I'm not the only one dealing with a veggie DH and restrictive kids. It's sooo annoying. We also have food allergies to take into account too.

The two ideas I am considering are:
1, Baccala. Traditional Christmas Eve meal in Mediterranean countries.
2, A mezze-type buffet (greek salad, olive bread, dolmas, olives, crisps, cheese, hummous and crudites)

We're having friends over and doing Chinese hotpot. I love how interactive it is so everyone can get involved and it tastes soo good.

Fish or curry.
Or go out to a a pub with good food and go to Midnight Mass at the local church afterwards.

Seafood platter, incl lobster if I can afford it

For as many years as I can remember we always have toad in the hole with a big pile of creamy, buttery mashed potato….. it’s also easily tweaked for any vegetarians in the house.
🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

We have a homemade tomato soup with baked baguettes and baked Camembert.