What Goes With Quiche??

[cstout]

I am invited to a friend's house for brunch...she is having quiche, fresh fruit salad, & pomegranate wine. Also, a cake of some sort. What in the world shall I take along?

[malabargold]

Sparling wine and french fries

[cstout]

malabargold...now that is an interesting combination...thank you.

[sandylc]

Great ideas here. A baby greens salad with a nice nut and a sharp vinaigrette, a great bread with good butter, or even some roasted baby red potatoes would all work. If these seem too intrusive, then the spiced nuts and/or hostess gift are great ideas.

[bitchincook]

Some really good French bread and butter would go well with her menu.

[luciaannek]

I'd do something green. I'd probably pull the ole mesclun, fruit, cheese, nut, balsamic vin formula (fave of the moment is pom seed, brie, and pecan). But you could do sauteed spinach with raisin pine nuts and lemon, or roast asparagus.

I feel like something herby would go really well with these dishes, maybe some simple roasted salmon with yogurt sauce with lemon, mint and dill and parsley and whatever other herbs you have an like.

I'd keep it savory, light and bright.

[cstout]

OMG, that green salad is waking me up...want to eat some now..yes yes to the salmon.. my goodness you folks know how to pair up food. Thank you.

[greygarious]

I think bringing anything in the entree department, like salmon, could be interpreted as the sort of passive-aggressive move Marie Barone would make - an alternative choice because the quiche may be awful. Sounds like the hostess considers her menu complete as is. It would be better to bring something ancillary and optional - like spiced or candied nuts, or cheese straws, if you want it to be something she puts out for the brunch. Otherwise a bottle of wine or some candies or dried fruits as a hostess gift to be enjoyed at a later date. In the non-comestible department: trivets, napkin rings, coasters, placemats. A good place for unique and affordable accessories like this is www.etsy.com

[monavano]

Marie Barone... excellent analogy!

[magiesmom]

yes, funny! I am still in the crisp salad camp; there is nothing crisp on the menu. although spiced nuts are always nice.

[cstout]

passive-aggressive move...never thought of it like that at all. Perhaps you are correct in stating the hostess considers her menu complete & so should I. Thanks for throwing a different light on the subject.

[monavano]

Just clarifying again... you offered to bring a dish and she agreed and said bring whatever you'd like?
If so, it sounds as though it's OK with her and that you have committed to bring something along. Sounds like a tacit agreement... depends on tone though, which we don't know on the net. Was the response like "bring whateva", or was there some enthusiasm?

[cstout]

This was all communicated via email, so it is hard to read what she was implying...she is easygoing, so I don't think it would matter to her one way or the other if I brought something or not. In this case, it is more the conversation than the food.

I am used to dining with foodies where it is All about the food, so I tend to fret over what to bring. I think she would laugh to know I actually went on a talk forum to figure out what to have with her quiche. I just like to make things as perfect as possible, so I still fret.

[monavano]

I can *totally* relate!

[chowser]

This is probably more a question for the not about food board but if she's an easy going person, I'd say she'd be fine w/ any side. I normally don't care what others bring but bringing another main could be misinterpreted. If you're going to bring a salad, this roasted cauliflower radicchio salad is excellent and can be made in advance. I like to add Trader Joe's frozen roasted corn.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

As hostess gifts go, the best brunch one I've received is dinner for that night. My MIL brought fried noodles and it was great being able to relax. Another thought w/ brunch is champagne. She can serve it or keep it for the future. It would go well w/ pomegranate wine.

[cstout]

chowser, thanks for the epicurious link...so many wonderful ideas..

[GraydonCarter]

> Friend Noodles

Like a casserole?

[chowser]

No, chow fun. It had to be reheated but it was still good.

[chowser]

Could you bring a soup? Maybe butternut squash soup?

[cstout]

Butternut squash soup sounds so good...I could eat that & forget about the quiche.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Cold, roasted asparagus spears with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Or maybe something with goat cheese. Or smoked salmon and olives.

Do you know what kind of quiche it is?

[escondido123]

Sounds like good choices to me.

[cstout]

I wish I knew the kind of quiche it will be...would help a lot, the asparagus sounds yummy.

[escondido123]

What is stopping you from calling and asking what kind of quiche? I'm sure the host would be delighted that you are thinking about what to bring, so why keep it a mystery?

[cstout]

You are so right, I shall call & find out...would help a whole lot to figure out what to bring.

[cstout]

Quiche is going to be ham with asparagus.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Okay, so perhaps roast asparagus would be a little too much asparagus. Salmon or goat cheese would still work well, though, as would many of the other suggestions.

[monavano]

Were you asked to bring a dish?

[cstout]

Well, I just asked if I could bring something & she said, "whatever you would like".

[monavano]

OK, just wondering since if you're not asked to bring anything or are turned down when you ask to help, then it's just best to show up with a hostess gift for them to enjoy later.
That said, I'd bring a simple, clean salad with a vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the quiche.

[cstout]

You have a good point...this lady does not normally cook, so what would you suggest I take as a gift?

[monavano]

Sounds like she drinks wine, so a nice bottle for her to enjoy later. Artisan chocolates, hot cocoa mix etc.
If she doesn't cook a lot, Williams Sonoma has many starter products like sauces and ready-made braises that would be lovely.
If you are contributing to the meal with a dish, I don't think you're in need of an additional hostess gift.

[Jay F]

I second monavano's salad w/vinaigrette. I like butter lettuce in particular with quiche, with maybe some watercress, and a vinaigrette in which you've first allowed tiny diced shallot bits to marinate in the vinegar for an hour or more. Thyme goes nicely in this vinaigrette, too.

[cstout]

Jay F, I could just eat that salad & forget about the rest....wonderful ingredients. Thank you.

[Jay F]

Oh, you're welcome. I really appreciate the threads you start.

[cstout]

Jay F, I appreciate wonderful folks like you who never fail to jump in & try to help someone. My threads or any others would not mean a hill of beans if if wouldn't be for you all to respond to them.

[Jay F]

C - Have you spoken to your hostess again about the "what to bring" question?

[cstout]

Yes, spoke with her & she said just to brng whatever I would lke.

[monavano]

(seriously!)

[sunflwrsdh]

Green salad?
Maybe a soup?
makings for flavored coffees? (alcoholic or not)
beautiful chocolates?

[cstout]

Your ideas sound great...I am making notes from all these replies just for my own Quiche in the future...thanks.