One of these days Andy will write his post calling bull$#@t on starters. (He could, in fact, fill a book dedicated to calling bull$#@t in general.) โWhy,โ he always asks โdo we spend so much time putting together a delicious dinner if our guests are just going to fill up on cheese and crackers and approach the table stuffed before they even lift their forks?โ ย I think he has a point, but I also know that a well-curated starter plate is one of the great pleasures in life, and if assembled correctly can actually make you hungrier. As usual, I have a formula in the back of my head when Iโm putting one together. It goes something like this:
Perfect Starter Plate =ย something sweet + something crunchy + something pickled + something from a pig + something aged
The trick is just to not have an obscene amount of any one thing. Above, youโll see a small hunk of aged Manchego, about a quarter pound of Parma (you could do regular prosciutto or Serrano ham), some cornichons from Trader Joeโs (the best in my opinion and there would be more in that bowl if the girls didnโt eat them like popcorn right from the jar), and some pecan-raisin crackers from Eliโs Bread. Lesley Stoweโs raincoast crisps (Whole Foods) hit the sweet-crunchy note nicely, too.
Have a great holiday.
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That Eliโs cracker stuff is fantastic. Really good with some whitefish salad slathered on there too.
Sometimes my husband and I have an โappetizerโ night and just make that our entire meal!
Beautiful! thats all I can sayโฆbee-U-tee-ful. I could have something like this everyday.
This is so funny. This is essentially what I am bring for Easter apps on Sunday and Iโve been fretting it wonโt be enough- glad I have the DALS seal of approval
what are cornichons?
and also. we do the starters as a meal too. more food than you put out though, and then we skip dinner. this is a smart idea.
I have side with your husband. Every time we eat at my inlaws, my mother-in-law introduces appetizer after appetizer and then looks disappointed when no one wants much at dinner.
Having said that, I have to admit I enjoy grabbing a bite and being able to walk around with it.
Love the Raincoast Crisps โ very popular here in Lesleyโs home town of Vancouverโฆ
Oh those little cornichons look to die for.
Iโm with Andy on staters! I always find myself spending so much on them (great cheeses, meats, etcโฆ) that sometimes they cost more than the actual meal I am preparing. Iโve always been a main course and dessert gal, which people are aware of. Iโm rarely asked to bring over an app.
This looks delicious! Have you tried the Rosemary Raisin Crisps from Trader Joeโs? Theyโre thinner than the Rainforest Crisps but the taste is close and theyโre not as pricey.
I can agree with Andy on the starter dilemmaโ BUT that is such an appealing little slab of food. So Iโm all for โstartersโ for dinner itself, sitting by the fireplace. Thatโs what weโre doing today (Christmas!)โ after a big Christmas lunchโweโll make up a fire this evening and pull out hunks of cheese, salami, smoked salmon, olives, almonds, pearsโฆ and nibble to our hearts (stomachs?) content.