Please criticise my Xmas menu

[Roushi]

Just planning my contributions to the Christmas meal. I have been given appetisers and drinks.

I am just trying to strike that balance of making the day special but obviously not wanting to go overboard as there is so much gluttony on Christmas anyway.

Plan:

Appetisers
antipasti wreath
brie and cranberry parcels
Christmas tree shaped cheese ball and crackers (this was introduced to me by an American ex - not sure if it’s well known here but it is essentially a blend of cream cheese and other cheeses in the shape of a Christmas tree, some people add Boursin)

I reckon the above is good as it will take no time to make plus they can be picked at for a while and should not spoil. I was thinking of doing more canapé style food but I feel like it’s more of a pain in the arse to do.

but is obvious with my choices I’m kind of taking the easy route?

Drinks
Mulled cider
Berry cocktail of some sort
Champagne, wine (I’m not buying)

I am also going to make a white chocolate and raspberry Yule log which has sort of become my specialty. I enjoy baking and the person on pudding is fine with me doing so.

Is there anything you would take out? There will be no kids and 8 adults.

I always find mumsnetters think of things that don’t even enter my mind

I know to many this post is a bit unnecessary but I just get stage fright with food on big occasions.

Thanks in advance.

Looks and sounds amazing to me.

how long are the appetisers going to be out for? If its a half hour, i would cut back on the parcels or cheese ball thingy..if its 4 hours as they hold people over for a late late lunch, then I would maybe add one more

Sounds lovely to me!

Looks good. I would add something crispy like iced raw carrot strips and radishes.

I'd love this but maybe add in something that doesn't have cheese in it, there are some very strange folk out there like my DH who don't like cheese or only like the cheap supermarket cheddar 😆

It looks fab, but does everyone like cheese? I usually make some sort of version of salmon croustades with creme fraiche, dill and horse radish which go down very well.

I'd probably eat the whole cheese tree later that night infront of a film though! 😅

Is anybody attending going to be pregnant? Just if so, it would be a very limited menu for them (soft cheese, cured meats, brie). My husband can't eat cheese so he'd be out of luck too but I presume there's nobody going with a similar restriction?

it will be served during the gap between breakfast and lunch (which we tend to have later at around 2pm)

There's a lot of cheese in your starters, maybe swap one of these and just have one cheese-y option?

Maybe swap one of the cheese starters for something none cheese- bit menu sounds good.

I think it’s a great menu.
sadly not much I could eat or drink (I’m teetoal, I hate cranberries and I’m not a huge fan of soft cheese that’s been sat “out”) but it’s a nice choice. Do think of something in case someone is pregnant and can’t eat soft cheese/deli meats and consider if someone will prefer a none alcoholic option.

It's a lot for 8 people. I love cheese...but you can overcheese. Can you add something fresh or pickled veg...? I suppose it could all come back out later if not eaten.

It just seems a bit much. I'd lose the Christmas tree and do parcels and wreath, that'll look cute.

Except for anything with white chocolate*, sounds very good to me.
(*But I know most other people don’t look on it as the work of Satan.)

Too much cheese, particularly if there is also going to be a cheese board served after dinner.

Ooh I didn’t think about the soft cheese thing. Didn’t occur to me that soft cheese features heavily. Guess I’m more of a cheese slut than I realised.

No one is pregnant (to my knowledge) but all women in attendance, bar one, is in their baby making era.

That's a LOT of cheese. Can you swap out one of the cheese dishes for something with vegetables? Maybe swap brie and cranberry parcels for veg & pesto parcels?

The christmas tree cheese thing looks fun but that amount of cheese is served after dinner not before it for me. I'd be ok with bits of cheese in the wreath (which looks amazing) but I don't really want cheese and biscuits before dinner. Likewise I wouldn't really want mulled cider with appetisers, I'd prefer that with a mince pie after a long walk!

i made it last year with dark chocolate and it was far too bitter to me that’s why I’ve opted for white

Is anyone doing a cheese board later in the day? You’ve slightly trod on their toes if so.

It all sounds and looks very lovely but just think about how it will look after a few people have taken things - it will be a mess 🙈

Nothing to add, but that antipasti wreath looks amazing ! Think I'm going to steal that one...

Don't worry, I'm a fellow cheese slut so I get it! Maybe some smoked salmon with lemon and dill on blinis or small pieces of buttered soda bread? Although again wouldn't be ideal if someone was secretly pregnant...

Oh, I love the charcuterie wreath! Stealing that one. 😀

What about the old classic - sausage rolls? Maybe also in a wreath?

I hate olives, so maybe some of the things on sticks could be varied so some exclude 1 item. I know the olive could just be left on plate but it embarrases me to look fussy!
I agree with some healthier/light/crispier items like veg sticks with a couple of homemade dips?