[Closed] Festive starter ideas (quite fussy guests content)

'Meat fruit', a lovely Christmas surprise for any vegetarians...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/02/heston-blumenthal-christmas-canapes-meat

I love the fact that someone has "soup" on their list of things they don't like.

Not Chicken soup
Not Tomato soup

all soup 🙂

Actually, joking aside, that's a tough call.

Any other cheeses out (Stilton obviously v. Christmassy)

Parma ham? etc

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/stilton-leek-and-celery-tart-with-apple-and-cranberry-chutney

Anyone that fussy will whinge and moan, whatever you put in front of them DS. Give 'em nowt, that'll learn 'em 🙂

Baked Camembert

Seared scallops with black pudding and a pea puree?
Baby leeks served on a potato rosti with a mustard cream and a poached egg? (I can give you an easy recipe for this if you need)
Mozarella with sundried tomato's and italian meats?

Tricolore?

Slices of mozzarella, tomato and basil leaves.

With Parma ham is even better.

Fussy = Rude in my book

If I came round to yours for dinner and you put something in front of that I didn't like, I'd eat it, smile and say it was lovely, but politely refuse if you offered me seconds.

The only time I've not done this was after being given rice pudding made with sour milk. I took one spoonful, somehow swallowed it without being sick, then sat and waited for everyone else to realise it was shockingly awful, agreed, and left the rest.

The only real exception is vegitarians, but you should know who they are, or ask to make themselves known 🙂

Antipasto? A load of help yourself nibbles - the fussy buggers can pick the bits they like

just skip the starter?

Starter? For Christmas lunch?

Must be a southern thing.

I'm doing some twice baked roqeufort souffles - you can make them on xmas eve then just whack em back in the oven before serving.

BTW - how do you normally cook your Windmills?

Pasta
Windmills

Perfect starter!

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God I love Google.

Can't they just FoodTFU?

What about little stacks of scallops/stilton/chorizo?

Alcohol.

If they're that fussy then tough, serve a few dishes if they don't like them they can have bread sticks.

Baked Vacherin Mont d'Or with garlic and rosemary is seasonal, serve with crusty bread.

Parma or other dry cured ham with fresh figs.

Melon.

ebygomm - Member
Baked Camembert

With cranberry jelly and crunchy bread yum yum yum yum yum

alternatively pint them in the direction of the wine and tell them to get stuck in.

I often do two starters: seared scallops with a sweet chilli dressing, followed by Carpaccio of beef fillet w parmesan shavings.

Bought the ingredients thir morning in fact. Will have one on xmas eve w roast lamb, the other xmas day with salmon en croute.

whats your recipe for twice baked roqeufort souffles? would it work with shorpshire blue.

I want to go to lunge's house - if the starters sound that good, the rest must be sensational 😉

How about a decent pâté (mackerel would be good considering all the meat to follow) with a simple rocket salad and tomato chutney for a bit of colour. Recipe [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/smokedmackerelpatewi_89555 ]HERE[/url]

Parma ham with melon - as Michel Junior would say - deeeeeeelicious.

I did this a while ago and to make it look more interesting I did 2 types of melon (canteloup and galia - orange and green - cut into segments) with a similar sized slice of mango with a few salad leaves and a bit of slightly sweet chilli/mango dressing.

If they/you are gluttons - how about eggs benedict? That's what we generally have on Christmas morning, but could be a starter for fatties.

Lumpy pate or a terrine with oatcakes and some pickled winter veg.

They won't like this because it has strong flavours, but how about a salad of warm grilled halloumi, beetroot and watercress with a caper dressing - V yummy and can be done delicately.

Woody, I'm one of these sad people who loves cooking and giving out recipes. I am presently writing the menu for one of the guys in the office to help him seduce his new girlfriend.

smoked mackeral mouse and smoked salmon with prawns at my house.

Serve everyone their own box of delights from Graze.com

No washing up either

@yetim - don't know - never had shropshire blue! Drop me a mail (in profile) and I'll send the recipe to you if you like.

Shit on toast. It's truly scrumptious.

Starter? You mean something that's not a Gin & Tonic? How bizarre

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Fondue!

It's your meal, your cooking it, just serve what you want!

Thanks kids.

I'm gonna go with Woody's mackeral pate / chutney combo. If they don't like it, they can do one!

:oops:sorry, @thepurist i have no idea how to send you mail, could you explain?

thepurist (at) bigfoot (dot) com

Click on his name, innit

Dairylea cheese triangles 🙂

Another for pâté.... Lovely