Help with Dinner Party Menu, Please!

[Anonymous]

We have four couples (total of 10 people) for dinner the first week in March. I'm struggling to come up with an appropriate seasonal menu; tired of winter food but it's not yet spring with local produce available. Salmon is usually my go-to for entree, but open to other ideas. I'm an accomplished home cook.

Would love any ideas!

[Anonymous]

I would have two entree options. There are some people like me who are just not salmon fans. And yes, I know I am an odd one. I like seafood; I've tried salmon a million times, and just do not care for it.

[Anonymous]

This is PP; I hate not providing what you actually asked for.

Maybe:

Asparagus (a soup to start)
Beets, goat cheese, balsamic salad
Honey roasted carrots

A savory biscuit

[Anonymous]

I hate salmon and goat cheese! I would politely decline the salmon and eat around the goat cheese. I'd still have a good time!

Love the asparagus and carrot ideas.
If you know they are not vegetarians, chicken cordon bleu (or kiev if you want to avoid ham) are fun and festive.

Stuffed mushrooms are still pretty seasonal? Springtime = mushrooms? Or the hungarian mushroom soup unless you think that's too heavy and wintery.

For dessert, lemon poundcake or similar would be very nice in between two chocolate=heavy times of year (Valentines and Easter).

[Anonymous]

Chicken with preserved lemons and olives. Mezze like grilled halloumi, homemade hummus, grilled shrimp or salmon skewers, etc. Greek salad or else burrata/arugula salad.

[Anonymous]

--Flank steak (marinate in a mixture of dijon mustard, soy sauce, and olive oil in equal amounts--salt generously). Grill outisde if you have a grill, otherwise use your oven's broiler. Let sit and then cut against the grain;
--Get a couple of bags of haricot vert green beans, cook in salted boiling water, drain and dress with finely chopped shallots that you microwave in olive oil to soften; boiled or roasted small white potatoes; green salad; warm baguette and butter. Dessert-- good ice cream and cookies form the bakery section at your grocery store.

[Anonymous]

I like citrus this time of year - maybe some sort of lemon chicken or fish dish? My aunt recently raved about NYT Cooking's "Baked Fish with Olives and Ginger" recipe (I'm paywalled and can't link, but the header image shows lemons!). You could also do a lemon or grapefruit pound cake for dessert with fresh whipped cream.

I don't know how fancy your party will be, but I really like this recipe, and the individual pies would be fun if you have enough dishes: https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/thai-chicken-potpies/ (I usually use all coconut milk instead of the coconut milk/heavy cream mix).

Roasted beets or roasted squash with burrata or goat cheese and arugula would make a nice starter.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am 11:22 and 11:28

As you can see unless you know what your guests like you wont lease everyone.

But we'd be polite, have fun, and enjoy the company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:--Flank steak (marinate in a mixture of dijon mustard, soy sauce, and olive oil in equal amounts--salt generously). Grill outisde if you have a grill, otherwise use your oven's broiler. Let sit and then cut against the grain;
--Get a couple of bags of haricot vert green beans, cook in salted boiling water, drain and dress with finely chopped shallots that you microwave in olive oil to soften; boiled or roasted small white potatoes; green salad; warm baguette and butter. Dessert-- good ice cream and cookies form the bakery section at your grocery store.

OP said she's an accomplished home cook so I doubt she wants a bag of beans and instructions on how to cut steak

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with salmon if you know all your guests are fans.

If not, I like a PP's idea of Chicken Cordon Bleu or Kiev - retro in a fun way and classic for a reason. Also spring-like.

With those, duchess potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise (continuing the 'classic' theme) and a butter lettuce salad with a vinaigrette would be lovely.

Agree with PP's about some sort of citrus dessert - a blood orange cake or tart - 'tis the season.

[Anonymous]

Thai -

Tom yum soup with chicken

Tod mun
Three mushroom salad

Pad Thai
Panang curry with beef. served with white jasmin rice

Sticky rice with mango

Done.

[Anonymous]

tenderloin?

[Anonymous]

If you could find it, shad roe is now rare but it used to be a local, seasonal staple. IDK the rules on acquiring it legally tbh. But just to throw an idea out there.

[Anonymous]

Pork chops or rosemary chicken
Mushroom risotto or quinoa pilaf
Salad with - spinach, microgreens, almonds, feta, cucumbers, beets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have two entree options. There are some people like me who are just not salmon fans. And yes, I know I am an odd one. I like seafood; I've tried salmon a million times, and just do not care for it.

+1 Not a salmon fan. Also, it smells horrible, so your lovely dinner will stink up the house.