What is your failsafe dinner party menu?

[Livinginoz]

That's it really!
Got 2 friends over for dinner tomorrow night, no special diets, really lovely people who have helped us out a lot so want to do something good.
Thanks

Have nothing to suggest, but watching with anticipation since I am hosting over Christmas and have no clue.

Nigella's Christmas book has suggested menus that are lovely.

I mostly seem to entertain at Sunday lunchtime so do a roast. How much time have you got to faff? If not much I would do a beef in red wine thing and baked potatoes. Pavlova is an easy pudding that looks impressive - as long as they like it! Or a cheesecake?

Single-handed chef/bottle washer/entertainer here so dinner party options are very much 'prepare in advance' and as little last minute faffing about as possible..... :)

Starter.... Either a pretty salad e.g. Scallops, Rocket and Parmesan or Avocado, Baby Spinach and Parma Ham or something similar. OR.... a little dish of seasonal home-made soup....

Main Course.... A spruced up casserole like a Moroccan Lamb Tagine, Beef in Red Wine, Indian Chicken in Sweet Red Pepper Sauce Appropriate vegetables, breads etc. to accompany

Dessert.... Made in advance home-made ice-cream (currently Cinammon is my favourite) or a Chocolate Liqueur Mousse rather like this one or a very traditional Apple Crumble and Custard!!! (Can't beat the old faves)

No starter - just a bowl of crisps or nuts or wasabi peas with a couple of drinks beforehand. Sometimes make something like cheese gougeres or puff pastry cheese twists if I can be bothered.

Roast chicken, big green salad, and the bread salad recipe here but omitting the greens - just as a separate sort of stuffing/dressing. If it's cold out I might roast some carrots too. Serve family style, get one of your guests to carve the chicken.

Cheese, fruit, biscuits, chutney. (Maybe some port or dessert wine...)

Truffles and coffee.

Steak chilli, potato wedges, rice, tortilla, salad, sour cream guacamole.

Can I come to dinner please? All sounds lovely!
My favourite dessert at the moment is frangipane here but I quite often use ready made pastry

A group of us used to do a bit of a theme to a dinner party e.g. Spanish night, Italian night, Indian night and have a go at a totally Spanish meal for example with Spanish wine. I did a Greek and turkish inspired menu with a meze type menu. Not saying it was all authentic, but it's a bit of a talking point for the evening!

Might be too late, but this is my top dinner menu as it can all be done in advance:

Apéro:
Saucisson and cornichons
Manchego and quince
Hardboiled Quails' eggs

Starter:
Goats' cheese and red pepper individual terrines

Main:
Lasagne made with crême fraîche and rich ragu
Green salad with toasted pine nuts and white balsamic vinegar vinaigrette

Dessert:
Individual chocolate mousse

Recipes on request!