We all know the festive season can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Just follow these menu ideas for a stress-free Christmas dinner party and remember to plan your meals!
When it comes to Christmas dinner party menus, starters are essential in setting the tone for your feast. Your guests will be charmed by your attention to detail and impressed by how much thought you’ve put into the evening.
You can’t go wrong with an excellent selection of appetisers for a Christmas dinner party—but what’s the difference between starters and appetisers? In short: starters tend to be more substantial than appetisers. They’re usually served at room temperature or warm rather than chilled or served cold like an appetiser would be; they’re also typically on larger plates than other courses to emphasize their importance as an opening course. Some starters that wow include smoked salmon and asparagus terrine, smoked trout salad tartare with horseradish cream, grilled squid with chilli jam, or mushroom risotto croquettes.
Cooking a delicious main that all your guests can enjoy, even the veggie ones, is a great way to cut down on prep time, as you’re only having to prepare and cook one meal. Why not serve up a hearty vegetarian Christmas Wellington wrapped in flaky puff pastry, stuffed with delicious stilton, beetroot and kale and topped with crunchy pine nuts? Nothing feels more Christmas than root vegetables, strong cheese, and nuts.
Once you’ve served the main course and everyone is settled in, it’s time to serve dessert.
Desserts should be light and refreshing since people will probably have eaten a lot of food by this point. They also shouldn’t be too complicated or heavy as they’ll likely make your guests feel drowsy after such a large meal. It’s also good if they can be made ahead of time—this way, they don’t distract from dinner preparations or take up space on your table that could have been used for something else. If you’re hosting many guests, consider setting up a dessert buffet—it’ll keep things organised and allow people to choose their favourite treats!
Make sure you have your menu planned out before you begin cooking. This means making a list of what you will be serving and then a shopping list based on what foods are needed for those dishes. If any particular ingredients need to be purchased, do so in advance.
By planning, you can prepare everything for your party without having to worry about when it’s time for guests to arrive or during the party itself.
We hope our delicious Christmas dinner party menu ideas are helpful! Feel free to contact us today at 07796 274028, or drop us an email at [email protected] and we will be more than happy to provide a festive catering quote for you. Our catering company is based in Thame, Oxfordshire, and we can cater across many of the adjoining counties, including Buckinghamshire and Berkshire areas.