Mussels are not always a crowd favorite sorry to say. If it’s one small course, that’s one thing but as a meal, half of my household would not be eating. For some people, they have a very earthy taste and you have to eat a ton to get full.

I would love this! Mussels and a good crusty bread are one of my favorite meals.

Mussels aren’t most people’s favorite and this isn’t a lot of food or festive. If you want a similar vibe, I’d do a a seafood linguine with a bunch of different stuff - clams, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and mussels also if you insist.

Mussels are not very filling - how about adding a nice filet of fish as the main or at least at frites as others have mentioned. I also think the ricotta cups should be subbed for another type of appetizer.

Serve another main with the mussels. This entire menu is so unappealing. Yuck.

Agree on adding fettuccine or frites with sauces. Then you’re good. Assuming you know this crowd enjoys mussels.

Also would add a second dessert, even if just bakery-purchased cookies (or ask guests to bring dessert) so you have a few options.

Anonymous wrote:I am hosting my family for Christmas for the first time. It will be six adults, no dietary restrictions.

Appetizers:
cheese, crackers, nuts. phyllo cups with ricotta, honey and pistachios.

Entree:
Mussels two ways, one will be white wine and garlic and the other will be a marinara. Crusty bread. Butter lettuce salad with shallot vinagrette.

Dessert:
Gingerbread trifle


Thank you!

Do they like mussels? Ask them, not us. I'd eat before I came.

Your guests will be hungry, maybe fettuccine with the mussels?

I don't like the entree.

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

This sounds good but anemic. Mussels aren’t very filling so I would be looking for something else. Can you choose mussels one way and add something else to the main entree?
Perhaps a fillet of salmon roasted in the oven with lemon wedges, carrots and asparagus?

I agree with the herb or honey butter for the bread. That would be divine. Hope your party goes well

You might think about special butter for the bread. Maybe an herbed butter and a honey butter.

Agree with PP that you might add a veggie tray -- my family eats it up when I make sure to buy organic veggies and cut them up myself (those bagged baby carrots have no taste compared to freshly cut carrot sticks). I serve with homemade onion dip (carmelize diced onions, add salt and pepper, deglaze pan with balsamic, let cool, add to sour cream), but you can use hummus, or whatever.

I’d get rid of the ricotta app and add something that mixes better with mussels. Crab stuffed porta bello or bacon wrapped scallops come to mind. Even meatballs would be good.

It sounds delicious! I love mussels, and am planning a mussel dish for Christmas myself!

The only thing I might do differently, is I might not serve two appetizers that are cheese, nuts and carbs. Either of the ones you have planned is fine, but I might do something different for the other. Since you only have the one vegetable with dinner, I would probably do something like a veggie tray with some kind of dip, and keep the phyllo cups. But I am a person who really likes vegetables.

I am hosting my family for Christmas for the first time. It will be six adults, no dietary restrictions.

Appetizers:
cheese, crackers, nuts. phyllo cups with ricotta, honey and pistachios.

Entree:
Mussels two ways, one will be white wine and garlic and the other will be a marinara. Crusty bread. Butter lettuce salad with shallot vinagrette.

Dessert:
Gingerbread trifle


Thank you!