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.

no its me too and I am NT so far as I know

instead of your cheese tree could you shove rosemary through the ring of a sliced olive and stick it in a mini mozzarella ball. quick fine squirt of edible gold spray you have baubles

@Breadcat24 the vodka tomatoes sound great I'll be trying those.

It would be great for a cheeseboard after the meal or for supper. I'm wondering if it's a tad too 'dairy/carby' for an appetiser menu before a big blow-out. I'd drop the cheese ball item and introduce something like smoked salmon and blinis or celery /cucumber/ hummus. Love the olive Christmas tree and I might nick that idea.

Also what's in the berry cocktail and does it compliment the flavours? Are there any soft drinks for thems that are teetotal or want to pace themselves? I hate soft drinks with artificial sweeteners in, so my go-to is Fevertree, nosecco, AF Freixnett rose or fancy soda water.

Sorry but it is so clearly AI, it's got all the hallmarks, and is also written nothing like the rest of your posts.

Weird to post it, even weirder to lie about it.

gazpacho shots!
thepassionatecook: Gazpacho shots with poppyseed & paprika twists
savoury choux
Savoury Profiteroles with Smoked Salmon - Mrs Jones's Kitchen

getting into this now- will have to have a party

I can't criticise it I'm afraid. It all looks glorious. 😁
Never seen presentation like that before. The drink looks divine. Hope everyone likes it.

Thank you for the chocolate comment. I used Green and Blacks 75% so that very well could be why I didn’t rate last year’s Yule log. Thank you! Might be able to make a decent choc cake now too.

@PicklesOfMany2024 that is 100% Chat GPT. It has all the hallmarks and even had the Americanised spelling. Weird to say it’s not

Oh look…..@PicklesOfMany2024

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius haha, you can come! But truth be told I never do starter on Xmas day. I've made that salad for an Xmas party though.
And my turkey dinner usually gets served at about 10pm?! Haha. So, you bring the salad and salmon? 🤣

I would prefer a selection of Chinese and Thai starters like prawn toast and spring rolls. But I have ‘Mum who goes to Iceland’ tastes and don’t eat cheese. My main issue though with your choices is that people have to touch each others food and that would put me off. I probably wouldn’t partake in picky things, I would only eat the things that were individual. But if you know your group and you’ve had fondues before (my idea of hell), then the wreath / tree etc do sound very beautiful and pretty classy.

Definitely make the cheeseball. Delicious

Blooming eck, how much are you expecting to eat for Christmas Dinner? We have smoked salmon and bagels for a late breakfast then nothing until a mid afternoon dinner, no starters needed as it's huge. No one can manage pudding until the evening. I'd just leave bowls of olives and breadsticks around if I were you

You asked for an honest opinion and everything you suggest would be a big no no for me unfortunately. I love cheese (but you mention Boursin (👀) and all of the food presented means that most food will be pawed by multiple people in attendance while sitting out at room temperature for a potentially lengthy time. There is also just way too much protein/fat and it lacks any kind of refinement/shows a lack of effort. The drinks
are also completely unsuitable.

An assortment of tasty canapés would be far more appealing and they don’t necessarily have to take a huge amount of time to prepare. There are some nice ideas here you may like to consider.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-christmas-appetizers/?srsltid=AfmBOopa296TzyJXJPUG7YQguQgei9_cy2EALfN4vrvVgY3R_e4_xG5N

A berry cocktail (if light and fresh) is nice, a mulled cider simply isn’t suitable.

Canapés are not as time consuming as you think and can provide a wow factor while whetting the appetite. They should be easy to pick up and hold while talking and shouldn’t fill people up.

@Roushi You need soft drinks on the menu. Not everyone drinks and those who are driving shouldn't be drinking either.

My suggestion is to go for the Green bottle range, of Elderflower presse and Pomegranate & Elderflower.

Absolutely quality drinks which go well with any menu and are more to me delightful than alcohol.

The fact I don't drink makes me a bit of a connoisseur, of the non-alcohol drinks world 😊

Otherwise the menu is good

But many people have starters, we don’t. I’m assuming that people can manage their appetites. We’re all adults.

I’ve seen soup and crudite mentioned but that just doesn’t scream food of the gods. In batch cook soup in winter and literally have it every lunch. Doesn’t feel special at all.

2 Brie bites and a few cocktail sticks is the equivalent of a starter, no? It will be served a few hours before the meal.

Looks and sounds bloody amazing. I think it’s probably a little more than is strictly necessary for 8 adults and you could cut one appetiser to make life easier for yourself, but if you’re happy to do the whole lot people will appreciate the variety.

There is no issue with eating supermarket-purchased soft cheese in the UK while pregnant - it is almost all made with pasteurised milk. Just check any packaging to be sure.

I’ll be handing out selection boxes and pickles 😂

It all sounds and looks delicious, but it is heavy on cheese so no good for anyone who doesn't like that; also quite filling if people go a bit mad. A few chopped vegetables and maybe pieces of melon on sticks would lighten it up a bit.

No such thing as too much cheese.
Sounds delicious, and the wreath is stunning xx

Although I don’t like all those ingredients it does sound lush

I think it’s perfect to have these things available to snack on at one’s convenience 👌🏻
Do reduce the cheese load though (former cheese whore here).
Maybe the cheesy tree after dinner…. Later on in the evening perhaps?