My goodness. Sound delicious. Either or melon or the arugula is fine as a starter.

That's a wonderful menu. And "lacking" cannot share a post with "homemade focaccia."

I'd add the proscuitto and melon starter, and I think cupcakes would be fun and unexpected, esp the wonderful artisanal ones one can now buy.

Sounds delicious and wonderful!

Would be fine without the "prosciutto and melon, or a prosciutto, melon, arugula salad," but now you mention it, I want that too!

Oh, thank goodness! Thank you for the reassurance. Now I can enjoy my hike without worrying, that i will be a bad hostess. I f the melons look decent i will grab, if not i will pass. Deep Calming Breaths :)

I absolutely LOVE Ina's baked shrimp scampi! I have made it for dinner parties.. for Christmas Eve dinner.. and bonus, it is SO pretty to serve! If you haven't made it before, I do reduce the butter-- but it is otherwise lovely.

Asparagus is the perfect vegetable .. will you be serving a pasta or rice with it? I don't think it needs it but if you have big eaters, I think the "sauce" is great with linguine.

Definitely stick with an easy dessert-- I am not a cupcake person but i am in the minority so I think they'd be perfectly fine. If you were to make something, I would appreciate something warm and a little lighter.. someone (Mtn?) recently shared a baked pear recipe recently that would be great.

Have a great hike and a great party!

I'd use the homemade focaccia to capture the sauce.

Love your planned menu; have already clipped it to save.🍸

Funky, Ina’s Baked Shrimp Scampi is one of my go to recipes, it is so easy and perfect. I agree it is also pretty, and bonus I have a lovely dish in which to bake and serve. If serving to my sons, like for Christmas Eve, I do like to serve with linguini, but these friends wouldnt want the double carbs of bread and pasta, and they specifically requested my focaccia. I will make 2 loaves and send them home with one.

Oh pears, my favorite fruit, but under appreciated! These friends don't like and DH doesnt like so not an option.

Yes.. I bought a baking dish JUST for the Baked Shrimp Scampi!

All I would need is the baked shrimp scampi and I would be happy and full. What time should I arrive?

It sounds absolutely delicious and I’d love to be invited!

I can bring a dessert wine, if you'd like.😊

Another idea for dessert is Trader Joe's frozen Lemon Bars. They are as good as any homemade I've ever had or made, and even better than some I've had. The rest of the menu sounds perfect and perfectly delicious!

Sounds delicious i think adding an arugula salad would round out the menu beautifully.

And I am doing a little arugula salad starter, no melon but pears- to heck with the non-pear lovers. I think a fanned red pear will be so lovely on a bed of lightly dressed arugula with a little prosciutto and a shave of Parm. If they want to eat around the pear that's their loss.

My favorite quick desserts include ice cream....and you can always serve fancy cookies on the side. And it looks very special in a footed cup or a margarita glass...and you can always add a dollop of cream or reddiwhip on top.

Coffee ice cream with a drizzle of maple syrup and walnuts

Choc chip ice cream with crumbled chocolate cookies and creme de menthe

Vanilla ice cream and lemon sorbet with chocolate sauce

Swiss almond ice cream with kahlua and slivered almonds

If you want to take more time, you can make a compote of berries ahead of time...add some grand marnier for extra kick... and refrigerate...then serve over cubed up pound cake in a margarita glass....chocolate sauce on top is optional.

Does not sound lacking at all! Sounds fantastic. If you have access to truly delicious cupcakes, go for it.

Good grief localeater - if that menu is lacking (before or after the pound cake and macerated cherries) then I am truly a slacker in the entertainment department! You will share the focaccia recipe won't you? Pretty please? I made it once, it was reasonably good for a first effort (I mean fresh home made bread of any kind, come on) but I don't know what to do to make it better.

I’ve never heard of a ”French martini” so I googled it, of course. Do you make the one with vodka, chambord, and pineapple juice, all garnished with a lemon twist? Or the one with gin, raspberry syrup, and pineapple juice?

Add me to the salivating people reading this, even with my allergy to shellfish. Before I was allergic, shrimp scampi was my absolute favorite. ( I have tried chicken scampi and it's just not the same. I am going to give this scampi recipe a try though).

And really, to open your door and have dessert waiting for you?!

Annie,I am good with the coffee ice cream and fancy cookies. No need to dress it further.

Seriously your menu sounds so good and you have it so under control. I am getting nervous just imagining having people come over.

ENJOY

I really didn't think you could improve your wonderful original menu-- but wow! What serendipity to receive the tate gift basket! I have been loving the berries lately-- especially the raspberries. Pears have also been great this season! Your plan for arugula salad with pears and prosciutto has me drooling! Brava.. now you can enjoy your nice long hike!

I'll be copying this and making this menu for a girl's Christmas dinner in a few weeks! YUM!

I'd love to hear more about the French Martini!

Ooh, French Martinis (vodka, chambord, and pineapple juice) are my fave. They are the whole reason I have a lovely crystal martinii shaker.

Local, your menu is perfect. I had no idea pears were unpopular. Weird. I think of them as about as controversial as apple!

@localeater it sounds delish (other than I do not eat seafood LOL)! I think your menu is perfect and the dessert sounds wonderful! Glad you added the salad. Have much fun!!

@mtnrdredux_gw you introduced me to the French Martini( with Vodka, Chambord and Pineapple Juice). You mentioned them in a thread once, I tried them and fell in love. These friends love a fun cocktail so it is apropos.

I'll post the focaccia recipe later, I am back from my hike and got to get cracking.

Gosh, I am late to the party, but I agree that your menu sounded perfect right from the get-go without the extras. Can something be "more" perfect? Hope it was an evening full of laughter-I know it was filled with marvelous food and drink!