NYE menu help needed - Venison main but stumped for starter and pud

[Pennies]

We've got friends coming for dinner for New Years Eve and have got two v. large hunks of venison which DH is planning to serve for the main course. But, as per title, we're struggling to come up with ideas for starter and pudding.

Normally we'd go down a shellfish starter / ice cream style pud but one of our guests is pregnant and has requested no shellfish, cheese (DH hates cheese anyway) or raw meat / fish so we're struggling.

DH hates soup and is not a fan of fruit either.

Chocolate something or other would be a good option for pud, but it seems rather heavy and rich after having venison. Does anyone have a light chocolate recipe or idea?

TIA

Oh and nothing too labour intensive pls!

How about expresso pannacotta with dark chocolate suace?

Starter could be antipasto - cold meats, sundried tomatoes, olives, bruschetta, avocado etc.

Or wild mushroom tartlets with baked eggs?

make ahead mushroom souffles are easy and delicious, and the pannacotta can also be made ahead.

That sounds lovely but i've just remembered that panacotta is their dinner party pud speciality - IYKWIM - they serve it whenever they have people over so whilst I think it sounds wonderful I kind of feel that they're the experts in that field.

Mushroom souffle is perfect - great suggestion. Thanks.

How about [[http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3270/mocha-fondant-puddings mocha fonadant puddings? Really quick and easy and very impressive.

How about mocha fonadant puddings? Really quick and easy and very impressive.

Have done those before with them. Sorry. Really appreciate your help though!

If you like ice cream type desserts what about a bombe like this?

we are goin to finish with something very easy ----
here

Speaking of Jamie Oliver, you could do his "deconstucted truffles" or his frozen grapes with chocolate and grappa!

The inside wrapper of my latest bar of Green and Black's cooking chocolate had a recipe for chocolate sorbet. But no idea if that tastes nice.

My favourite dinner party pudding copout at this time of year is Vin Santo with Cantucci.

Or what about something with meringues?

Am stumped for starters though - that's a long list of restrictions.