2 or 3 course Christmas meal?

[JC03745]

Just DH, me and 2 friends- no kids. We're having a rib of beef with yorkshires and multiple veg. People help themselves to the portions. I'll likely have 2 desserts cheesecake and Christmas pudding.

Would you also serve an entree, or just have some nibbles/canapes on the table before we eat?

I’m only doing main course and desert. If I had a starter it would ruin the main meal for me. There will be nibbles out for if anyone wants anything before dinner

I’d do three courses plus a sorbet course! It’s only Christmas once a year 😁

Three courses here too 😅

Four courses here if I count the cheese board, five if I include the baileys coffees and mince pies 🤣😅

I prefer canapés.

Ha yep this!

Ours is 5 courses but it's the only meal of the day!

We do Blinis, mini sausages in mustard and honey, decent salted crisps and champagne (or any other drink you fancy). It's been so many years no one would dare mess with it.

And no starter.

No starter, main, desert and CHEESE

Canapes with Champagne
My famous Christmas Bloody Mary soup (MIL's favourite part of the meal)
Turkey etc and every single trimming - with a v nice red
Cheese with Port
Puddings with dessert wine

At some point I might offer to make a turkey sandwich about 10-ish - no-one ever accepts

Back in the day (when my grandparents hosted, we had Christmas cake with mince pies for 'tea').

It's the only meal of the day and is spread out over about five hours

We do 3 but it lasts about 7 hours as we have a break between courses.

Thanks everyone, some great ideas.

We do also have a charcuterie/cheese board and port/baileys.
I'm erring on a small entree now, and people can just eat what they like.