to think starters with Christmas dinner are superfluous?

[thatsgotit]

Just what the thread title says, really. How does anyone manage to do full justice to a turkey dinner if they've had their appetite blunted by a starter beforehand? (I do realise not everyone has turkey or even a roast, obviously, but I'm mainly talking here about those who do.)

This might be partly a generational thing, but personally I'd much rather leave myself more room to enjoy the main (and some Christmas pudding afterwards, which again I realise not everyone has) and it wouldn't even occur to me to plan a starter for Christmas Day. It just feels entirely superfluous. Surely I'm not the only one?

No starters here either.

Full roast dinner and must leave room for dessert!

We tend to have breakfast here eggs bacon and crumpets usually.

Those are the ones! They must have been all of the rage in the 1970s.

For me the accompaniments and starters are the best bit of Christmas eating!! I like to start with a few chocs first thing (thanks Santa!) and then progress to munching on some pigs in blankets that I've snaffled whilst cooking mid morning. I'd quite happily have ALL the starters - yummy pate, juicy prawn cocktail, gorgeous smoked salmon etc. The actual turkey is the boring bit for me, and really just a filler for the sandwiches on boxing day. After lunch I'm really looking forward to a selection of different different cheeses, maybe with a cold roast potato, washed down with a glass of port, and several more chocs. Christmas food is the best, however and whenever we choose to eat it.

Love a light starter to wash down with champagne before starting on the roast turkey dinner with a full bodied red wine 😋

If I've cooked the Christmas dinner, I'm tired of it before I even start eating it. Certainly don't want a starter myself, but serving an easy one gives a handy window for last minute stuff on the main course while others eat pate and toast or similar.

Happy either way

I don't like a roast or Christmas diner anywhere enough to find it that filling, I have a bit but I have never felt stuffed. It's just a bit of turkey and some veg and potato, nothing special.

I am easy, just don't plate my food for me, I can't stand it when someone tries to decide how hungry I am for me! I am a grown-up, let me deal with my own food thank you.

I must be greedy as I can quite easily manage three courses! Not just at Christmas either, often go to restaurants and have a full three courses.

Canapés and bubbly around midday, roast just after the King’s speech.

Always have a starter, but something light. Eating Christmas dinner takes about 4 hours though so there's plenty of time to let the food go down!

I love a starter at Christmas…. It’s all about pacing yourself !

but thank you for reminding me of the word
Superfluous it’s a brilliant word

We have canapés at midday which are smoked salmon blinis and a few other nibbles, then Christmas lunch around 2pm.

We love a starter but it’ll be quite light, a few scallops or prawns aren’t going to fill anyone up

We have a starter around 12 and xmas dinner around 3. Works for us

Ooh, especially when the men somehow end up with more meat on their plates than the women... grr!

I’ve never had a starter with Christmas dinner apart from one year we went out for dinner. I personally never have a starter as I feel it ruins my dinner. I guess it depends how big your appetite is.

I can't face a starter even when going out for an ordinary dinner - too much food.

Not for me. I used to eat something late morning to keep me going until dinner about 3.
Now we eat later I just have lunch. I find CD very filling, probably because of the meat. I also like to eat until I am full. I then like having dessert much later.

MIL was obsessed with them and got very upset as I am allergic to shellfish and couldn’t eat a prawn cocktail. One year she forced me to have a giant tin of tomato soup, watered down. Makes me queasy at the thought.

Ideal for us is: scrambled eggs with smoked salmon around 9.30 (before Church). A drink with a few gifts after Church. Lunch at around 3 (ish). Then presents & Puddings around 6. Cheeseboard at 9pm+ if anyone fancies it. All the good stuff, spread over 12 hours.

I like my starters

we have a break between courses so manage fine

We have a very light starter that is quick & easy to assemble. It adds to the event. We'll always have a break before the pudding though and go for a walk in the nearby woods. It's lovely walking past neighbours' houses and seeing them having their Christmas dinner.

Or how much you eat at your main course? I have a starter but I don’t eat a massive main course and no pudding.

How can you have starters for lunch?

Starters are at the beginning of a meal.

Surely you mean you have nibbles for lunch and then no starters for dinners.

What are you serving?

Thank god someone finally said it!

I don’t like a proper starter. Grazing on canapés, smoked salmon and a glass or two of something during the morning before the meal is my preferred Christmas Day!