A tasty and tasteful first course?

[sjb7501]

I'm making dinner for someone I don't know that well who did me a favor. It'll just be the three of us, me, guest, and my boyfriend. I'll open some nice wines and I already know what I'm making for the main course (sweetbreads with porcini mushrooms). Dessert will probably some kind of fruit tart.

But I'm stumped for a classy first course that isn't too showy or trendy (I want to treat the guest well, but not act like I'm going overboard). Just something that tastes good and is tasteful.

Ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[Lightsuprooms]

What about a cheese course or
Asparagus Wrapped in Crisp Prosciutto
Prep: 5 min. Cook: 15 min. Ready In 20 min. Serves 16
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
16 spears fresh asparagus, trimmed
16 slices prosciutto
Cooking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat with olive oil.

Wrap one slice of prosciutto around each asparagus spear, starting at the bottom, and spiraling up to the tip. Place the wrapped spears on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 5 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove, and shake the pan back and forth to roll the spears over. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until asparagus is tender, and prosciutto is crisp. Serve immediately

[creativeusername]

Don't know where you are located but fresh local tomatoes are starting to be decent around the south, how about mozzerella caprese? Hardly showy, a definite classic. My all-time favorite.

[creativeusername]

or prosciutto and melon...another classic combo.

[MMRuth]

Gravlax?