Dinner Party Help

[jenhen2]

I am hosting a dinner party for 6 in 2 weeks. It's a rotating party and my first chance to host in my new apartment, so I'm planning on using the fine china and making it a little fancy. It's also one of the women's birthday, so I asked her if she wanted something special. She said some kind of slow-cooked meat dish. So of course I thought, Beef Bourguignon. But what else?

Can you help me with ideas for apps, sides (also, mashed potatoes or noodles?), and dessert? I'd like it to be a cake that's festive (think birthday) but also not terribly difficult since I'll be making so much other stuff. Thanks Hounds!!!

[JungMann]

With boeuf bourginon I might go with a crab cake with lightly dressed frisee for the firsts, your cheese plate might be a good hors d'oeuvres prior to sitting down.

I very much like the idea of polenta, but I think I would go with a lightly seasoned rice for the starch and finish with a fig cake for dessert.

[jenhen2]

Oooh! Thank you so much! I love the idea of the crab cake. For this group, we don't usually do a sit-down main, but I could serve mini crab cakes as the app. with the cheese plate - I love that idea (too rich?)!

[weezycom]

Not so much rich, but the cheese will overwhelm the delicate sweet flavor of the crabmeat on the palate. I would do noodles with the beef bourginon and do pan-fried polenta rounds (or squares) with a bruschetta or pesto topping for apps with the crabcakes

[jenhen2]

Wow - that's a great idea! Thanks!

[fourunder]

But what else?
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Short Ribs, Veal Osso Bucco or Lamb Shanks would all be very impressive to me if I were an invited guest.

Sides....Sweet Potato Gnocchi.....Polenta with Parmigiano Reggiano.....Roasted Acorn Squash

Dessert.....Assorted Cookies is always enough for me, but any cake is always a plus.

[jenhen2]

These are great ideas, but I've got to stick with the B.B. as the main since one doesn't like short ribs, one won't eat veal, and I don't like lamb. But thatnks for the help. Any thoughts on apps? I'm thinking a stuffed mushroom might be nice, as well as a cheese plate with crackers, pears and fig jam?

[hotoynoodle]

i'm never a fan of cheese before dinner. it dulls the palate. i'd save it for after the entree and before cake.

if you're doing cocktails before sitting, gougeres would be very nice and easy.

the b.b. is a rich dish, so i'd do a light starter, and something not brown. crab salad with a citrus vinaigrette; endive salad with orange segments and candied walnuts; friseé salad with a poached egg and hazelnuts; salmon paté; smoked salmon with melon or poached asparagus.

i'd do either rice or noodles as the starch, and add a green veg, like green beans or spinach and garlic.

after a rich dinner, i usually like something citrusy for dessert, but whenever i make cake, it's always the chocolate one that gets devoured!