I like your additions but you need to make the muscles the first course (only serve 1 type) and then some kind of roast in the oven. No frites- annoying to make for a crowd and smells up the house. An easy secondi would be a beef tenderloin or bourbon marmalade glazed ham. Then do your salad and 2-3 sides. It’s winter- think comfort and a tad heavier. Your menu (even with revamped) will make ppl starve as is.

This is OP. Here is the recipe for the gingerbread trifle for the person who was asking for it.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipes/a50684/gingerbread-trifle-recipe/?epik=dj0yJnU9cGlFeFJEcFJnUWNGRFFRb2VoSUYzUW9lVXlZZmlXZ2MmcD0wJm49Qkw5WHRZNnBSMEtxQlY3MEc2NVVRZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1dIRG44

I’d throw some bacon on that salad.

Anonymous wrote: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!

This is so much better Op! Come back and share with us how it all went. Blessings!

Sounds amazing! It's true, people with toddler palates might not like mussels, but eh, unless you want to serve everyone chicken tenders and cheese pizza, you aren't going to please those people anyway.

Agree with all the other comments that it might not be quite enough food. Good quality frites would be traditional to bulk it up a bit. But what I think would really pop is French Onion Farro (recipe from the Washington Post.) It's sublime, would play exceptionally well with the mussels, and can be made in advance.

Agree with adding potatoes (there is a nice recipe for oven baked fries in Natasha’s kitchen; so not too time sensitive or hands on), or fettuccini. Add fresh baguette.

Leave the honey with ricotta for dessert rather than appetizer. Otherwise, great menu.

OP - what is your recipe for the gingerbread trifle?