Favourite 'dinner party' recipes

[idontknow54789]

Finally after a long kitchen renovation I'm having friends over on Saturday for dinner. I love cooking and consider myself quite good so what are your favourite dinner party recipes? I'm looking for the full three courses - I need some ideas! Thanks

Scallops with grilled parmesan
Braised beef cheeks
Home made Bailey’s no churn ice cream (Nigella inspired) with Lemon Drizzle Polenta cake

Thank you!

What would you serve with the beef?

Great idea with the scallops, I've not had them in ages

I'm a big fan of doing something simple well, and doing as much as you can in advance, so that you can enjoy hosting and chatting with your guests.

Starter - feta baked with sun dried tomatoes and olives is a nice simple one
https://midwestfoodieblog.com/baked-feta-appetizer/

Main - Jamie Oliver's Chicken cacciatore, served with fresh bread and green salad. Prep can be done in advance - just need to chuck it in the oven.
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/chicken-squash-cacciatore/

Pud, I'd either do panacotta (because I have a soft spot for it) or alternatively a giant cheeseboard with figs and pears. Or probably both.

Ooo I do love a pannacotta - I've never made one before though. It looks fairly simple. I could do a trial with my DS on Friday.

Good shout on that feta dish, something shareable like that might be nice - especially if I don't trust all the guests to arrive on time.

It's easy enough to cook the feta in individual portions if you like. I'd do half a block per person if there were 4 of us or 1/3 block per person if 6 of us (for practicality rather than anything else, but less than 1/3 block would prob look too small). Put them in individual dishes and put the olives etc around them.

I would be very boring and serve the beef cheeks with mashed potatoes, chantenay carrots and broccoli, maybe honey roast parsnips?

Enjoy the dinner party 😊

If I’m cooking I also favour the get things prepped in advance so I can drink and chat, favourite mains are:

• Chickpea and chorizo stew with langoustines
• Beef Wellington with mash and garlic greens
• Moroccan lamb shoulder with pomegranate molasses and tzatziki

puddings tend to be home made ice creams, pavlova or tarts and always a huge cheese board.

less keen on starters these days: tend to do crostini or something I can serve standing with drinks before sitting down for main

i do love a soufflé, either cheese to start or raspberry to finish.