What's your favourite luxury food item?

[Rosieeo]

For New Year's Eve I'm doing - well a buffet I suppose, but only for four people. I had planned on doing loads of nibbly stuff that people can just pick at all night in between the wine. I also wanted to do some cocktails.

I need inspiration before I shop tomorrow! What's your favourite luxury food item?

oooh. well at my dream new years eve party i'd have:

bubbly of course. maybe with an option of peach juice to make bellinis if guests would like
mojitos - obviously

smoked salmon blinis - an oldie but a goodie
some seriously strong cheddar
olives
saw nigella doing some parcels of figs in goat's cheese wrapped in parma ham - fab
crostini are easy and the toppping possibilites are endless
little coquilles saint jacques - mmmm
mendiants - little chocolate dollops in circles, top with little nuts/cranberries/orange peel/gold leaf
prawn skewers.

m&s have some kind of haddock fondue thing that looks amazing.

can i come along?

Oysters.
Caviar.

Fois gras
Champagne
Lobster

We had a very nice chocolate trifle from Waitrose on Boxing Day. Even DP who is very fussy when it comes to food was impressed.

Some nice smelly cheeses mmmmm

Nice pate with coarse oatcakes. Peppadews stuffed with cream cheese. And not luxury but essential is a selection of very fresh, crisp crudites and dippy things.

oooh yes foie gras.

Mmmmm, fantastic. I'll have to skip the shellfish (my friend is allergic) but the salmon sounds fab.

Definitely on the smelly cheese and the crudites. And the olives. Champagne and peach juice, tick.

Do you reckon a big Tesco will do foie gras and caviar? Can't get to market or Waitrose.

I can't wait :) And I know I'll over-cater as normal, so it might be the more the merrier ;)

tee hee you can pm me the address

don't know if tesco will do foie gras and caviar tbh. maybe if you check on the website as if you are about to do a shop online.

some crusty bread with real butter appeals to everyone and will be a nice bit of plain amidst the sea of strong flavours. ditto bottles of sparkling water.

Cocktail sausages. We just had some cooked in honey, soy sauce and wholegrain mustard.

Everybody will exclaim, 'oh caviar I love caviar!' and then eat all the cocktail sausages.

extra large cervettes

frazzles

If you're going to serve foie gras then you'd better let your guests know exactly what it is - I would be beyond livid if I unknowingly ate that particular culinary monstrosity.

My fave luxury food items are champagne, smoked salmon (which I like on buttered thinly sliced brown bread), asparagus (but out of season now), chicken liver pate made with lots of brandy or madeira served with hot crusty bread, carpaccio of beef with rocket and parmesan salad, roquefort.

:o @ Mypombear

I'll have a look on the website re the foie gras. Bibbity, I will check with guests that they're ok with it. I've seen friend's DH tuck into veal, but still.

Thanks southeast, DH prefers pork scratchings though

porcini and truffles

Dates stuffed with good Stilton

Crisps and nuts. People are very keen on crisps and nice dips.

Lots of good cheese.

Nice home cooked free range chicken spiced on skewers

Bread sticks, lots, with dips

Bits of pork and crackling on cocktail sticks. People go nuts for that.

Homemade smoked mackerel pate with lashings of lemon zest and dill, in chicory boats or on crostini
Smoked salmon on rye bread with sour cream, dill, cayenne and fish roe ( Sainsbo's do the Onuga one )
Peppadews stuffed with boursin/cream cheese mix
Luxury nuts eg macadamias
Tiny homamade brownie bites - I use Nigel Slater's recipe and add sour cherries and pecans
Stilton walnut and celery on crostini with a drizzle of ex voo
Goats cheese, thyme and sunblush tomato on bruschetta bite

You're a posh lot here. What happened to cheese balls, sausage rolls and cheese and pineapple on sticks?

This isn't so much 'luxury', but most people love mini things.

I hosted New Years Drinks last year never again, and just dug out the list of what we did (Yes I made a list :
Honey roasted cocktail sausages
Mini yorkshires
Mini beef and cheeseburgers (I bought tiny buns and made the burger myself with mince) and put a little piece of lettuce, tomato and mayo one half, and bacon and melted cheddar on the other
Homemade oven chips (I wrapped small portions in tinfoil and then in newspaper)
Chicken Satay with a bowl of peanut sauce for dipping
Pecorino and Parma Ham with Rosemary wrapped in non puff pastry (can't remember the name)
I also had lots of bowls of nice crisps and nuts and cut up carrot sticks, peppers ect... with dips eg. humous, sour cream and chive, chilli...

Brownies
Cupcakes covered in edible glitter, but in 'adult' flavours
Caramelised apple slices on sticks
Chocolate chip cookies
Caramel Apple Slices on sticks
Chocolate covered strawberries
We also put out a few bowls of sweets
Yummy cheeses, crackers and grapes

Champagne (we put out lots of fruit juices for people to make bellinis/ whatever else they fancied)
Mojitos
The yummiest raspberry, elderflower and vodka slushie (I did a non alcoholic version of this for the drivers, just make sure the jugs are labelled!!)

We also had a 'bar' area with all the basics and asked people to bring mixers if they had one so those who didn't fancy what we put out could do their own.

Remember to put piles of napkins everywhere

Wow bambi, that sounds great!

Bambi - that sounds like an ideal party menu - I think am going to borrow that if you don't mind!

bambi - that pastry I think is feuilles de brick. Its a Delia recipe I did it this Christmas. They are like slices of very thin pizza crisps, if that makes any sense.

saint felician cheese nom nom nom

lobster and chips

And you can't forget the no self respecting dinner party is complete without them.