What's your favorite dinner party menu?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Chicken Marbella from the Silver Palate cookbook for a dinner party. Toss all the ingredients in to marinate, bake in oven, serve with couscous or even polenta. Green beans or asparagus on the plate. Seems retro fancy-ish and most people seem to like it. A soup as starter is perfect. I like not a lot of last minute fussing in the kitchen after the guests arrive.

My favorite!!!

OP here and also one of my faves! Haven't made it in a while and perhaps it is time for a reboot. I also don't like much fussing in kitchen after guests arrive - or at least fussing where I need to really pay attention (and not make mistakes!).

What about dessert?

I say if you're going retro, go retro. I really really love a cohesive theme though. Baked Alaska, tiramisu or black forest cake (or parfaits, for individual portions) for dessert.

[Anonymous]

I get stressed when I have to cook while entertaining, so I make an assortment of vegetable antipasti and have Italian style lasagna as the main course. Dessert is tiramisu.

[Anonymous]

Broiled salmon filet with lemon, butter, and dill. (Could do steak if that's more your thing.)
Warm orzo salad with olive oil, garlic, roasted red and yellow peppers + red and yellow cherry tomatoes + onion and garlic, spinach, a cheese of some kind, and more herbs.
Simple green salad with mixed greens or butter lettuce, orange segments, green onions, avocado, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Consider a second veggie like roasted balsamic brussel sprouts (maybe with pancetta and/or parmesan).
Good bread and butter/olive oil.

Something light for dessert like macaroons and sorbet or pavlova.

If you do appetizers a simple cheese plate (simple hard cheddar, brie, and something stinkier or spicier) with crackers/baguette slices, grapes, and nuts is lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Broiled salmon filet with lemon, butter, and dill. (Could do steak if that's more your thing.)
Warm orzo salad with olive oil, garlic, roasted red and yellow peppers + red and yellow cherry tomatoes + onion and garlic, spinach, a cheese of some kind, and more herbs.
Simple green salad with mixed greens or butter lettuce, orange segments, green onions, avocado, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Consider a second veggie like roasted balsamic brussel sprouts (maybe with pancetta and/or parmesan).
Good bread and butter/olive oil.

Something light for dessert like macaroons and sorbet or pavlova.

If you do appetizers a simple cheese plate (simple hard cheddar, brie, and something stinkier or spicier) with crackers/baguette slices, grapes, and nuts is lovely.

wow, wish I could have that for dinner tonight! TY for your menu ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Chicken Marbella from the Silver Palate cookbook for a dinner party. Toss all the ingredients in to marinate, bake in oven, serve with couscous or even polenta. Green beans or asparagus on the plate. Seems retro fancy-ish and most people seem to like it. A soup as starter is perfect. I like not a lot of last minute fussing in the kitchen after the guests arrive.

My favorite!!!

OP here and also one of my faves! Haven't made it in a while and perhaps it is time for a reboot. I also don't like much fussing in kitchen after guests arrive - or at least fussing where I need to really pay attention (and not make mistakes!).

What about dessert?

I say if you're going retro, go retro. I really really love a cohesive theme though. Baked Alaska, tiramisu or black forest cake (or parfaits, for individual portions) for dessert.

What about german chocolate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Chicken Marbella from the Silver Palate cookbook for a dinner party. Toss all the ingredients in to marinate, bake in oven, serve with couscous or even polenta. Green beans or asparagus on the plate. Seems retro fancy-ish and most people seem to like it. A soup as starter is perfect. I like not a lot of last minute fussing in the kitchen after the guests arrive.

My favorite!!!

OP here and also one of my faves! Haven't made it in a while and perhaps it is time for a reboot. I also don't like much fussing in kitchen after guests arrive - or at least fussing where I need to really pay attention (and not make mistakes!).

What about dessert?

I say if you're going retro, go retro. I really really love a cohesive theme though. Baked Alaska, tiramisu or black forest cake (or parfaits, for individual portions) for dessert.

What about german chocolate?

That would work too. Or coconut cake

[Anonymous]

No I don’t think chicken Marbella is passé, it’s just very recognizable at this point; everyone knows it.

[Anonymous]

If you end up looking for a tiramisu recipe, I made it from the Joy of Cooking a few weeks ago and it turned out great. And for anyone who needs a substitute - I used Schar's gluten free lady fingers for my DD and you never would have known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you end up looking for a tiramisu recipe, I made it from the Joy of Cooking a few weeks ago and it turned out great. And for anyone who needs a substitute - I used Schar's gluten free lady fingers for my DD and you never would have known.

I've never tried it, but you may have inspired me to do so.

[Anonymous]

Ina Garten has a good Chicken Marbella too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ina Garten has a good Chicken Marbella too.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Broiled salmon filet with lemon, butter, and dill. (Could do steak if that's more your thing.)
Warm orzo salad with olive oil, garlic, roasted red and yellow peppers + red and yellow cherry tomatoes + onion and garlic, spinach, a cheese of some kind, and more herbs.
Simple green salad with mixed greens or butter lettuce, orange segments, green onions, avocado, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Consider a second veggie like roasted balsamic brussel sprouts (maybe with pancetta and/or parmesan).
Good bread and butter/olive oil.

Something light for dessert like macaroons and sorbet or pavlova.

If you do appetizers a simple cheese plate (simple hard cheddar, brie, and something stinkier or spicier) with crackers/baguette slices, grapes, and nuts is lovely.

Mmmmm, your orzo salad sounds so good!

[Anonymous]

Chicken tagine (w olives and cured lemon) with cous cous or lasagna and Caesar salad are our go tos but have also done chicken Marbella and agree it’s super easy and generally well received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a dinner for 8 recently with chicken shawarma, lamb koftas (both prepared the day before and easily cooked on the outdoor grill), a garlic yoghurt sauce, pita bread, charred spiced cauliflower, roast asparagus, caprese salad, green salad.

Sounds very yummy! How do you char the caulifower and what do you use for the spices for it?

Toss cauliflower pieces in oil, sprinkle with salt, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper, and spread on baking tray on top shelf in a 425-450F oven. Ready when reasonable amount of charring, about 15-20 mins.

[Anonymous]

Ottolenghi’s chicken, hazelnuts and saffron served with quinoa of couscous is great for dinner parties.

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/roast-chicken-with-saffron-hazelnuts-and-honey-51184640