I like salty with sweet, so I'd probably just get a nice cheese or two and a special cracker, or even just some special almonds. Trader Joe's sells fabulous roasted almonds with truffle salt and another with rosemary salt.

I do have to ask if drinking liquors like that before a mid-day meal is something you usually do? We usually save those for after dinner...I might suggest if you want something sweetish, I'd go for something lighter, like an aperitif such as Dubonnet or Lillet over ice, or Champagne, Prosecco or other bubbly.

Irish Cream seems too heavy for before a mid-day meal to me and Grand Marnier a bit too strong. Not what you asked, but thought I'd mention it.

That's fair, Olychick. I wanted to have Prosecco but my DH thought a glass of liquor would be more holiday-ish. I think the liquors would be more appropriate for after we have dinner but it is what is, marriage being that way...

Ah, that explains it...

We're live on the Outer Cape in New England and it gets dark here around 4 pm, so 3:45 is dusk for us, not mid-afternoon.

My brother in law frequently does ask to start with dessert first (obviously only among comfortable family) because that's the best part and he would rather totally enjoy it. Then he can get sated with the food food.:) . I kind of appreciate that logic.

Whether you drink and eat is a matter of personal preference. Hopefully, however, someone else is driving y'all to the dinner, particularly if it is snowy or icy on the road there and as you have said, it will be dusk early.

Does a smoked salmon dip appeal to you? Another thought it to wrap prosciutto around bread steaks and slices of cantaloupe. That cute gourmet store in Orleans on Cove Rd. has some nice food items for inspiration.

Are you going to CL House by any chance?

We're going to the Old Yarmouth Inn. DH has decided we don't need an appetizer. I thank everyone for your responses

That sounds like a charming place for XE dinner.

Here’s my story about the Old Yarmouth Inn - A few years ago, my Mum and I were going to have lunch there. Somehow my mother cut her finger on my automatic seatbelts (it was a Subaru, I don’t remember how but the shoulder harness automatically moved when you opened the door, she must have been holding it). We had to take her to an emergency place and she needed stitches. We didn’t get any lunch that day after waiting around for treatment. We left the Cape the next day so there wasn’t time to reschedule lunch.

Thank you for reminding me about that place, I’ll have to get my Mum back to the Cape this spring and have our long delayed lunch.

seagrass, love the old Yarmouth Inn, I am sure it will decorated beautifully! I am in the mid-cape area, but we did live in the lower Cape, Brewster years ago. Enjoy!

seagrass, enjoy. Now I have to try the Old Yarmouth Inn!

I like your comment, "but it is what is, marriage being that way..." I would not be as gracious and my poor DH can vouch for that.

Bonnie_ann sit in the pub if you can.

Thanks for the tip. We'll try it next week.

I'd do good cheese and crackers. Maybe even some of that cheese with the cranberries in it . . . And some good quality nuts. I make a cheese spread from toasted walnuts, gorgonzola and marscapone (or cream cheese) which is great. About 1/2 and 1/2 ratio with the cheeses. Add some fresh sliced apples or pears or both, yum.

bonnie_ann The front room of the inn facing 6A - it's cozy.