What are your dinner party favourites?

[smilesandsun]

Hi,

I'm having my first dinner party in years and am looking for advice on what to cook for starter, main and desert. Do you have favourite crowd pleasers?

thanks

Potted shrimps, caramalised red onion tart, smoked salmon for starters.

Is it going to be posh and impressive or just nice food for friends?

No idea about posh food, but fish pie always goes down a treat. Fry chopped leeks in butter, dip mixed fish pieces (salmon, cod, smoked haddock) in flour mixed with turmeric and fry off, then melt creme fraiche over so it becomes a golden coloured sauce, stir in prawns and chopped flat leaf parsley. Top with mash and bake in oven. I know it's a pretty basic recipe and you probably know how to cook it anyway, but it's what I always make (I use ready made mash too!) and everyone always raves about it. That might be because I mainly cook for my family and undemanding friends. Green veg and crusty bread on the side, something chocolatey for pudding. Have a lovely evening, anyway, whatever you decide to make.

I always go for dishes that can be prepared in advance - for starters I like to do antipasti selection - cold meats, olives, cheese, salad and good bread. looks great on the table as well IMHO.

Mains - at this time of year something like beef in beer or coq au vin would be nice, with dauphinose potatoes and a selection of veg.

Dessert - once again something prepare ahead would be better for your stress levels! You can' beat a nice pavlova, or maybe profiteroles. If I have time I do a fruit salad as well.

Don't forget the cheeseboard!

I make sure I have got all my serving dishes and cutlery out, try to be inventive when dressing the table (either matching or contrasting table linen, flowers and tealights), and do make sure that the lighting is suitable - candles and lamps create the mood, and can disguise things if your food doesn't turn out as expected on the plate!)

Oh, and of course - keep the wine flowing!

Is it a dinner party or a crowd of friends? I don't 'do' dinner parties but if I want a crowd pleaser, I'd generally go with chilli, curries and all the trimmings, or a couple of big lasagnes with salad etc.

If it's 'posher' that you want, I'd go with soup or olives and nibbly stuff for a 'starter, followed by caramelised onion quiche with roasted garlic new potatoes and salad, followed by a huge chocolate cake with raspberries and cream, or a trifle, or baked plums and Barbados cream.

no formal starters, just lots of bread, olives and little cheese biscuit things (like you get for children's parties) to soak up the booze
delia's chicken basque
molton chocolate babycakes with vanilla icecream.

i like the fish pie idea, I could make individual serves of that I guess too. Not after anything too posh, but not curries something in between I guess.

Coq au vin