Ideas for an impressive but easy starter for fussy FIL please!!!

[JolieGirl]

FIL coming for dinner Saturday night and I am struggling for inspiration. He is used to fine dining and eats extremely lavishly, and can be very critical when any food that passses his lips is not up to scratch!! It's his first time here for a meal and I'd really like it to go well as I do get on extremely well with him - not out to dazzle with haute cuisine, but I am a reasonable cook and I'd love any ideas for a starter. Main course will be sea bass. Limitations are that he does not eat cheese, pasta or tomatoes. Over to you...!!

Soup - maybe something like Jerusalm artichoke (with drizzle of truffle oil if flush)

ouefs en cocotte (which i believe to be baked eggs with cream)

or don't do starter, do posh nibbly bits like blinis with smoked salmon and pretend caviar

I always do Jamies warm squash salad for starters. Easy, looks nice and is tasty. Parma ham, roasted butternut squash, rocket and parmesan. I've got the recipe if you would like.

Have been having a think and can't believe how many of the starters I do include cheese

How about chicken liver parfait with brioche toasts

Or seared scallops with lemon chilli butter (too much fish ?)

Or a risotto ? (mushroom perhaps)

Or Asparagus with lemon breadcrumbs and poached egg

Let me know if you want the recipes to any

Caramelised onion tart (or tartlets) is another one which goes down well and can be done in advance

Oh sorry, I didn't read the bit about cheese.

I would second chicken liver parfait as it's nice to do in advance.

Beef carpaccio with horseradish cream, parmesan and rocket is lovely (can also be changed into capapes by putting onto toasted bread)

Spicy parsnip soup

I would do a tartlet type thing, possibly wild mushroom with pancetta- easy but looks impressive. But maybe not posh enough? Are there any foods he particularly likes? Struggling for inspiration!

How about a nice french onion soup? You could do cheeseless croutouns (sp?)/nice crusty bread. Not that posh but it pleased my incredibly fussy grandad last crimbo!!

Can post recipe if you like.

A terrine? Salmon ones always look so impressive, and whilst ive never made one i imagine they are made in advance?

Salmon tartar with avocado and horse radish is really easy and incredibly delicious. Also |i reckon he would be very impressed by being served raw salmon

Yum yum !!! Dribbling now quite frankly! Thank you for all your brilliant ideas.

I think I would prefer a meat or soup starter given we are having a fish main course. And most DEFINITELY one that can be prepared in advance - I have a 5 month old and a 2 year old to get to bed before dinner and will not have any spare time to twiddle about cooking something from scratch!

Rislip - how funny, we had that warm salad for our wedding starter 4 yrs ago! Delicious.

Could I have the chicken parfait recipes please and the soup ones as well if possible?

Also any more ideas gratefully received...

chicken liver parfait Bit of a faff - but gorgeous.

lovely terrine. Serve with crusty bread and a sauce/chutney

Wild mushroom tartlets.

Potted spiced crab with melba toast.

Avocado, prawn and crab terrine wrapped in smoked salmon.

some lovely soups the carrot and cumin and butter bean and pancetta are especially lovely

i made pumpkin, sweet potato & ginger soup yesterday and it was delicious

French onion soup

Makes 2 big portions...
25g butter
3 large spanish onions thinly sliced
1 tablespoon caster sugar
2 garlic cloves crushed
150ml dry white wine
600ml hot chicken or beef stock (whatever you prefer)
1 tablespoon worsceter sauce
1 tablespoon brandy (optional)

Melt butter, add sliced onions and sugar. Cook over a med heat for 10-15 mins. Stur frequently. You want to soften the onions and cook until they get a lovely caramel brown colour. will smell lush!!

Add garlic and cook for another 30secs.

Add wine and cook vigourously for a couple of mins

add stock and worcester sauce. Bring to the boil and simmmer for 15-20 mins until onions are really tender.

Stir in the brandy just before serving.

Serve with some toasted french bread and melted gruyere cheese (or not if you're serving non cheesy people!)

Hope you enjoy! The recipe is easy to scale up/down as needed.

mushroom medley stir fried in olive oil garlic parsley
(prepare in advance - reheat 2 mn before serving )

On a bed of rocket

drizzle balsamic and truffle oil (sparingly) if you have

for something really lush add a few strips of smoked magret de canard