I agree that serving a pat� is an easy starter and lots of people love it but go for a duck pat� rather than a pork one and serve with a couple of cherry tomatoes and a couple of small gherkins with the usual trim of lettuce leaf. Chicken chasseur is known by everybody so for a change go for a poulet basquaise (just as easy but a change) and an alternative to apple tart which we most admit tastes just like the english version, go for �les flottantes.
At a french table red wine would be served with the pat� and chicken and a sweet dry wine with the dessert.
I like Beaujolais Villages wines because they're fruity and not heady but it's all down to different tastes.