i have a feeling someone asked this before, anyway i have changed my mind since when i think i last answered.
Anyway, what wuold your menu be for a come dine with me meal?
I would have asian canapies, with guacamole and other dips, and nachos on arrival, instead of a starter.
then for a main course, there would be a giant mediterranean feast including, couscous & pasta which you can have with a salsa of tomatoes, corriander and challot, roasted med. vegetables, paella, fajita wraps, which you can fill with chicken, pan fried with tomatoes and peppers. and skewers of barbecued pork, lamb or tofu (if i need to for veggies) with their choice of courgette, peppers, pineapple, carrot and tomato.
then desserts will be lots of little, mainly french and english things, consisting of chocolate and orange cheesecake, profitteroles, chocolate cake, lemon meringue and berry jelly with various berries in the bottom.
all courses will only have a little bit of everything though, but something for everyone.
that way, i doubt anyone wil lgo hungry and everyone will find something they like, living with a very fussy eater, i've cottoned on to the fact you, need to have something for everyone and this menu will.
1) I want a starter. Dips and canapes are not a starter.
2) This sounds good but probably a bit 'easy' .There is nothing in there that I would be thinking 'wow' to. Also, be aware that the more that you have to offer, the more there is to criticize. Eg, everything might be really good, except your paella. You would be marked down on this. I would do one thing very well that a lot of things adequately. You should also be concious of how much time you are spending in the kitchen as opposed to entertaining your guests.
3) Desserts. Again, too many and probably things that won't go well together. Again, too easy to criticize one of the desserts even if the rest of them are fine!
ahh but, most things can be done in advanced and most of the main course stuff can be done infront of the people, on a barbecue. . . .
Its just that at least everyone will like something, and people give other contestants something really low like4 or 5 if they didn't like the main course, because there was only one option.
But the menu gets closer and closer to home, starting asia, then the med, ending up with english and french stuff.
anyway, with amenu that size, you only eat the food you like and only a little bit of each one, and then if there is a lot of stuff you don't like, there's plenty else you can still eat.
But at the moment i don't know much about what wines are any good, most weks my dad gets a bottle of hock or some other german wine that tastes of vinegar.
2/10 bob, not a proper starter, you probably wont have cooked the main course yourself and the pudding cost £1 and are premade. I'd expect more from a pub meal.
Starter: figs, roquefort, parma ham and rocket on a plate drisselled with a blasamic vinegar and olive oil dressing
Second Course: Pea Soup with cream
Main Course Chicken stuffed with a really strong cheddar and mozzarella wrapped in streaky bacon. served with new potatoes, carrot batons and green beans
or
Roast Pork Belly with five spice mix on a nutmeg sweet potato mash with roasted veg
Dessert: Raspberry Stack served with cream and a raspberry coulis.
Cheese board (French Brie (sorry Somerset but yours is naff), Stilton, Cheddar and Boursin) served with jacobs cracker and water biscuits and Port
*it will be chicken if it is warm tomorrow or pork belly if there is a chill in the air!