guest for weekenight dinner - app and dessert question

[Anonymous]

A work colleague will be in town from Europe next week, and I’d like to have him for dinner one night (he has mentioned having me to his house the next time I’m on work assignment near him). Yes I know I am overthinking this, so please stop reading if you don’t want so much detail 😊.

It will just be my spouse, the work colleague and me, likely Tues or Wed evening. Since it is a work night, I’m thinking (hoping) this will not be a late night. So my thought is to serve a small snack like nuts with a drink when he arrives and as the dinner finishes cooking, since there won’t be a big gap in time before I serve dinner. And after dinner, I’m thinking I may just serve cheese and fruit, and not a dessert after that. Again, because it’s a work night and none of us needs to be stuffed or stay out/up too late (he’ll be at a hotel downtown, and I live in Rockville).

Does this sound okay? When I entertain, I typically serve more robust appetizers before dinner, and always a dessert after post-dinner cheese course. But that feels too much on a Tuesday night and for only 3 people. I do want my colleague to feel welcomed and that I made an effort for him, though.

I’d appreciate thoughts.

[Anonymous]

It's still customary in many middle and UMC homes in Europe to do 3 course dinners. I would do a soup or a salad, the main with 1-2 veg sides, a dessert, and the cheese course. It ends up being 4 courses but the cheese course falls under dessert.

Leftover dessert is customarily served as part if the breakfast selection the next day if it is a fruit torte.

Keeping the aperitif to nuts is fine. Maybe olives too or instead.

[Anonymous]

No dessert?

[Anonymous]

I would do a simple strawberry torte for dessert as the organic strawberries from Whole Foods have been fabulous. Another idea is a tart tatin, but only if you cannot find good strawberries.

[Anonymous]

What is your main, OP?

[Anonymous]

Which country in Europe?
TBH, he might appreciate several beers and a pizza and wings more than anything fancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which country in Europe?
TBH, he might appreciate several beers and a pizza and wings more than anything fancy.

Doubtful. That is what going to any American chain restaurant is for.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Okay, I did not expect so many to say dessert is necessary. I was viewing the cheese course as dessert- planned to include some fruit and crackers, I could add some chocolate pieces, too. I hear you all and I’m game to add a proper dessert after, but Doesn’t a full dinner, cheeses and dessert seem a lot on a Tuesday night? (plus possibly soup/salad, as an above PP suggested) Maybe I drop the cheese course for a proper dessert?

I’m planning to roast chicken pieces, vegetables and potatoes as the main course.

[Anonymous]

No it does not bc you will be serving in smaller portions to accommodate the multiple courses (this should be obvious.)

[Anonymous]

Also do not serve crackers with the cheese course. After dinner, mostly Brie or Camembert are served and just enjoyed on their own. No fruit is really needed, as that is likely in the dessert.

[Anonymous]

I think fruit for dessert is fine but if you are worried about it just get some fancy chocolates and put them on the table when you serve the fruit.

[Anonymous]

A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

[Anonymous]

Your description of eating much less on a Tuesday evening is very New England WASP, lol. I can say that as I come from such. Just give him some triscuits and scotch. I'm only kidding...
My general hosting philosophy is better to have too much than too little. Why not just have nuts, olives, etc, your main (salad too) and a light dessert with coffee offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No it does not bc you will be serving in smaller portions to accommodate the multiple courses (this should be obvious.)

This is not right. Yes, you should portion adjust since only three people are dining, but even if each only wants a few bites of cheese, you still have to serve decent sized cheese wedges or it will look weird - likewise, you’ll serve a pie or tart or whatever for dessert, not 3 individual pieces. It will be a decadent meal, OP, but I’m sure your guest will appreciate the effort. (I think just cheese/fruit/biscuits with a little chocolate would be a yummy dessert, but I’m a cheese fiend.)