We are having another couple round for dinner on Saturday. I am not sure if they don't like anything yet, OH is finding out for me. I also don't know them, although I have met them briefly.

Anyway, I am thinking of doing something similar to one of the following, but am a bit worried they may not 'get' the Italian way of eating and think that, or both 'menus' are pretentious. I don't want to turn into Hyacinth Bucket with her 'Candlelit suppers'.

So, Either:

Starter: Goats cheeese and aubergine 'towers' with pesto and roasted tomatoes

Main: Stuffed chicken breast wrapped in pancetta with saffron and tarragon sauce

Desert: Chocolate tart with home-made vanilla ice cream

OR:

Starter: White Risotto with Goats cheeese and parma ham, OR seafood risotto

Main: Rack of lamb with some sort of sauce

Desert: Pears poached in port with brandysnap baskets, mascarpone and amaretto ice cream and fresh raspberries.

OR: (italian style menu)

Mixed Antipasti

Pasta (homemade) with tomato, bacon and garlic sauce.

Slow roast leg of lamb with seasonal veg (no potatoes or carbs)

Some sort of italian desert, probably boring old Tiramisu or spiced peaches or something.

So, what do you think? It all sounds a bit wordy written down!

I really like the first menu - it sounds gorgeous but I'm not sure about the goats cheese.  It's something that you either love or hate so I'd be tempted to look for a safer starter.

1st or last menu for me - love Italian food! 

I would go for whatever is the easiest for you to prepare and not spend too long in the kitchen!

I am offering my services as taster, so once I'v had the lot I'll tell you what I think :) :) :) :) :)....diet, damn the diet :) :) :)

1st Menu for me too, and what time did you say on Saturday!!??
I will bring a bottle of plonk! :) :) :)

starter from the 2nd menu for me, then the main from the 1st menu (chicken in tarragon sauce) then the choccy tart..
but without swapping everything around, the Italian menu 3!

ALL of it sounds fantastic though! mmmmmm

want to turn into Hyacinth Bucket with her 'Candlelit suppers'.

HEY you nothing wrong with Hyacinth Bucket'  and her suppers :-) :-D  That is what my husband calls me for some reason. LOL..

It all sounds absolutely yummy and it has made me even hungrier, just waiting for lunchtime.  Although risotto may be a little heavy for hot weather - not a problem now as it's piddling down with rain here.

My hubby is a fussy eater and the only thing on your menu that he would eat is the lamb and the pasta.  He will not eat anything too salty or what containing what he calls 'dodgy' cheese - lol. 

I would go for 1 but as you don't know them choose something your are A, very confident with and B will not keep you in the kitchen. That way you will not be flustered and you will have time to join your guests for drinks and only need to pop to the kitchen for short periods.

Of course, it could be that you want to escape to the kitchen but I hope not and hope you enjoy your evening.

Think the menu 3 would be wonderful for friends but not sure about people you do not know, may be next time. :-)

I would be checking they like Lamb before doing 2 or 3..

I must be super boring as non really appeal to me oppppps Sorry.     Well NO 1 I would eat it all bar tomatoes :-)

Main dish from no 1. I would love.      Sometimes the simplest food goes down treat.

Hope they enjoy it but I would always check things like lamb, certain things liek Tomatoes, garlic and fish. Generally people who don't like these things REALLy don't like them :-D

god they all sound amazing! i'm actually drooling now... definately make tiramisu, i loved it so much but i', allergic to chocolate so can;t have it anymore :( everyone else should scoff it for me now :)

also, nothing wrong with a bit of pretentious if its pleasurable, and they certainly sound pleasurable! food is one of the truely pure pleasures in this world, we don;t often hurt others by enjoying it so i dig your indulgent menus

Personally I would love them all but, if I was not sure of guests preferences I would go with the last menu. The goats cheese, aubergines and seafood are not always everyone's cup of tea so the safer bet IMHO is the last menu.

Whichever you go with I am sure it will be a great success and your guests will enjoy a meal to remember :)

I detest goats' cheese, so it would have to be the last one!

I would chose the first one for myself.  Love chicken, and you can very rarely overcook it! :-)

They all sound delicious though................. any left overs, I'll be waiting at the back door. :-D

All sounds lovely, I am not that great a cook but if I have people coming for a meal and I don't know what they like, I always offer a choice of two main courses but no starter. We never eat a starter anyway. I would always make one vegetarian and one meat option, lots of people eat no meat so I think that is safer. 

Italian for me.  Sounds wonderful (watering chops!!).

To be honest it all sounds lovely......... not good for the diet reading this thread, as it's making my mouth water. lol

I do love that programme keeping up apearances, sooo funny :)

They both sound great, but I'd go with the first menu.
I think chicken is a safer option. 

I too think chicken is a safer option, although it all sounds delicious!:-D

I'd like anything there, but my dad would heave at the idea of eating Lamb or Goats cheese (an unfortunate wartime memory of having to eat old goat in various guises).

I have a friend who would never eat any sauce with garlic in it.

Funny old things people and their tastes.

I would love being invited to one of your dinners! I'd happily eat whichever menu you choose.
Still, when I lived in England, I had my mother and father in law for Sunday Dinner when OH and I had moved into our first flat. My MIL wouldn't eat the peas because they were not out of a tin, but frozen ones....Some people can be very fuzzy with what they eat, someone mentioned "dodgy cheese" :-D
If there is no way of making sure they aren't related to my former MIL, I'd go for the chicken ;-) .
Any leftovers?

They all sounds great, i'd be happy with any of them ;-)