Critique this menu!

[Anonymous]

Make sure everyone likes mussels. I would be skipping the entree. Everything else sounds great.

[Anonymous]

I don't care for mussels or gingerbread, so this would be a miss for me. Maybe fettuccini like someone suggested, and if you don't know if people like gingerbread, an alt dessert (even peppermint ice cream)?

[Anonymous]

I love mussels so would be super excited. But DH would not. I would probably add another main and side. Maybe linguine with a lemon butter sauce? And some steamed broccoli.

[Anonymous]

Add pasta

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks for all the feedback! Yes- everyone likes mussels!

[Anonymous]

Op what are your thoughts? What will you add or takeaway?

[Anonymous]

Maybe a heavier salad? Something with roasted vegetables or lentils or cheese or even a riff on Nicoise? The mussels alone are not very filling, but very fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:or buttered noodles to sop up that mussel juice. Or frites with some dipping sauces.

That's what I was thinking too - some pasta would be amazing with this.

Please invite me over, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a heavier salad? Something with roasted vegetables or lentils or cheese or even a riff on Nicoise? The mussels alone are not very filling, but very fun!

That's a nice idea, too - some roasted veggies to go with this would be great. Make it feel a little more filling.

[Anonymous]

I had the same question about how confident you are that people like mussels.

Since they DO, I think your menu is good IF you add pasta and roasted vegetables.

[Anonymous]

I think your sides sound good. A lentil salad with seafood sounds very strange to me - you were in the right track with the butter lettuce, OP. I would add pasta or frites. For the appetizer, I would switch out the phyllo cups for individual leaves of Belgian endives - serves the same purpose - a vehicle for the toppings - just use goat cheese instead of ricotta, keep the nuts and honey. And you get an extra veggie. I make these all the time for parties.

[Anonymous]

If you want something heartier and fancier, but in the mussels direction, try scallops. My family did them for Christmas one year, and they were a big hit. Plus, they are really simple to cook once they've been prepped.

[Anonymous]

I love mussels, am surprised how many dissenters are on this thread (mussels are a popular restaurant menu item).

Anyway, my specific thoughts are:

Apps- since the entree is “light,” you could go heavier with an app. I’d keep the cheese/nuts and probably sub for the second either mini crab cakes or mini meatballs or stuffed mushrooms (I like a hot app with a cold/room temp one).

Main- I do love frites with my mussels but so long as the bread is good, I wouldn’t say is necessary. I do think you need something besides mussels and green salad, though. I like the roasted veggie idea, or frites or roasted potatoes (maybe patatas bravas?).

Dessert - I love your dessert and I’d also add some dark chocolates bc some people just “need” chocolate after a meal

[Anonymous]

This is OP - wow thanks so much!!

I am going to :

Make the appetizers a little more robust, thinking a very traditional charcuterie plate but with more vegetables/fruit

Add pasta to the entree, and herbed butter (duh! why didnt I think of that, thank you, whomever said that). Keeping the mussels two ways and the salad.

Dessert - also make a cookie platter with some chocolates!

[Anonymous]

I think it would be very filling as long as guests use the crusty bread to sop up the sauce. If they are not eating bread, they probably won’t eat pasta so I don’t think fettuccine noddles add anything.

I would also serve a simple salad with nice vinaigrette.