Critique my Christmas Brunch/Lunch menu!

[foodieX2]

Guest list is pretty small. At the most I will have 20 people, at the least 12. Still waiting on a few replies but my gut says we will be16-18. Food will be set up as a buffet with no courses. I will have various nibbles set up near the bar (nuts, olives, etc) and plan on having things like ribbon candy and chex mix in the areas where people will mingle.

Drinks:
Coffee
Tea
Mimosa
Bloodies
juice/soft drinks

Food:
Spiral ham w/ biscuits and assorted mustards
Bagels with lox, cream cheese, capers, onions, etc
Veggie frittata
Prosciutto wrapped mac and cheese (from this site)
Endive/fennel/watercress salad
Cinnamon rolls (guest is bring her famous ones!)
assorted pastries

I was thinking about some kind of fruit salad or maybe sliced melon but this is not the season for good fresh fruit. And what about another veggie?

I am known for having a signature cocktail at my parties but decided against it? Is that wrong? Should I offer people something festive as they arrive?

Anything else?

[sandylc]

I wouldl be looking for fruit here. There is a lot of bread. You have the veggies covered with the frittata and the salad.

[cheesecake17]

A fruit platter would be a nice addition

[JTilCT]

Not going to be a local product, but how about sliced oranges and red onions, all you need is some good olive oil and black pepper. You can plate it over greens. Or, if you are committed to produce grown in MA, how about sautéed apples?

[Cherylptw]

You really should have a vegetable side...perhaps a hash made of potatoes, parsnips, carrots, onions, maybe a little bok choy or broccoli for color. Maybe some candied butternut squash....

[magiesmom]

I love a winter fruit salad with pears, apples and dried fruits.

[foodie06]

I would make a winter fruit salad-mix of different citrus, pears, pomegranate seeds. You can even do an infused syrup over it.

[letsindulge]

You can still get decent tomatoes for roasting then drizzled with pesto oil, or balsamic glaze. Hot spiced apple cider is festive.

[hotoynoodle]

looks great! i have made mini mac and cheese thingies, but wrapped in black forest ham. still delish, people rave and it is a $$$$-saver and sorry, but it seems wrong to me to cook good prosciutto. :) (also use martha stewart's mac recipe which reheats beautifully, so can be made ahead.)

you could add pomegranate seeds, grapefruit or clementine segments to your endive salad for color and tartness.

and citrus actually is in season now and apples and pears are still quite good. i'd definitely offer some fruit.

i wouldn't worry about a cocktail for a daytime party either.

have fun!

[foodieX2]

I wish citrus was in season around here! What I see being trucked in from Fla and CA doesn't seem great. The last batch of oranges I bought were mediocre. But I really like the idea of some pink grapefruit and pomegranate in the salad!

Thanks for the tip on the ham too, for a bigger crowd that would a $$ saver!

[hotoynoodle]

not sure where you are, but pineapples and kiwis might be ok for you.

trust me, lol, i am in boston. citrus is NEVER in-season here, so i always have to have get it long-distance. seasons can vary too and some years i just skip it entirely.

[foodieX2]

I'm south of Boston and yes the citrus travels far and the quality is all over the place. I have seen whole pineapples and kiwis at the store. They could add some brightness-kind of tropical salad.

I am so good about buying local and in season until I have a party! Then I swear my resolve goes out the window.

[escondido123]

I would be looking for a vegetable--maybe something roasted and served at room temp? Could do Brussel sprouts or red peppers would be very Christmasy.

[foodieX2]

I could make Sichuan green beans as they are great room temp. I am burnt out on brussel sprouts but they are a crowd pleaser…

[magiesmom]

wow, times have changed if Brussels sprouts are now a crowd pleaser!
I love em, but many still do not, it seems to me.

[foodieX2]

My family are addicted to them and they are almost alwaya included in any kind of holiday meal. We ended up having two thanksgivings so betwen those meals, the lefotovers and Christmas coming up I thought I would give us all a break, LOL!

[eviemichael]

I agree, I'd add another veggie dish. The menu sounds really great, but either a fruit plate or veggie side would lighten things up a bit.