What do the courses in a meal consist of and in which order should they be served?

Question

I am planning our family Christmas Dinner and would like to know any guide lines for service and order. Thank you very much!

Answer 1

All depends on how many courses you wish to serve. However, the usual order is:

1. Appetizers
2. Soup
3. Salad
4. Entree (main course) with vegetables/potatoes/side dishes
5. Dessert
6. Savoury/cheese
7. Cofee and petit fours (delicate candies)

You will find more tips on table setting etiquette here:
http://gourmet-food-revolution.com/table-setting-etiquette.html

Answer 2

Well for Christmas parties, there should usually be 1-2 main dishes. Honey Baked Ham, and Roast Beef are perferable for main courses.
Then there are about 4-6 appetizers. My holiday appetizers usually include cranberries, a potato dish, a vegetable dish (such as salad or green bean casserole), a seafood dish such as Oysters or fried shrimp, and a fresh and new type of appetizer. The more people, the more the appetizer amounts increase. But it's up to you to choose if you want more than 5 appetizers.
And finally there's dessert of course! On average, with a small party with approximately 4-8 people there's around 2-3 desserts. But with a party of 10 or more there's 3-5 desserts, but no more. I've rarely been to a party with more than 5 desserts, not including fruit salads.

Answer 3

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RE:
What do the courses in a meal consist of and in which order should they be served?
I am planning our family Christmas Dinner and would like to know any guide lines for service and order. Thank you very much!

Answer 4

Remember, when you serve a multi course meal you must also provide your guest with adequate place settings.

You have plenty of options here, but I have found that traditional meals for the holidays work the best and are the most welcome, such as a crown roast or prime rib, duck or turkey, racks of lamb or leg of lamb, and always, ham.

After you choose your menu consult an etiquette book as to the requirements for the place settings. Do it right or don't do it at all.

Having hosted many formal dinners my best advice is to plan ahead, way ahead, the menu, the decor, the table settings and the bar. Then, start preparing the food a day or two in advance so that all you have to do is cook the entree and heat or serve the rest of the courses and desserts.

Enjoying your party and your guests is more important than impressing them and being absent.

Have fun and good luck.

Answer 5

Course Meals

Answer 6

30

Answer 7

I have eaten many multiple coarse meals in nice restaurants around the world and they all follow the same style with the french being an exception, they serve salad last. here it goes

-Drinks and cocktails or glass of wine, served
at this point wines are chosen for the meal usually a white and a red
-appetizers are ordered, bread is served, if italian or french with oil and basalmic vinegar for dipping
-appetizers are served
-soup and salads are served
-entrees are served red meat, white meat and fish or pasta, simultaneously wines are served and poured to the person given their entree first.
-dishes are taken and offes/ espresso is served and
-dessert tray is offered
-dessert is served along witha desert wine a sauterne or ice wine ( these must be kept in freezer almost slushy) or port, or cognac sometimes champagne or asti spumante is good for holidays.
share holiday stories and good conversation and migrate away from table taking desert drinks with you.
Enjoy!

Total time 2-2.5 hours

Answer 8

It depends on whether you're going very formal or more casual. Here is a sample, and you can remove courses if you're doing a simpler dinner:

appetizer(s): veggie tray, hot hors d'oeuvres, "snacky" things

soup: lighter, first course soup like a broth or simple puree

main course: meat (ham, roast beef, turkey, goose, etc.) with sides like rolls, vegetables, etc.

salad: you can also serve the salad before the main course, before or instead of the soup.

dessert: served with coffee, after dinner drinks, etc.

cheese course: if you're going really formal!

Answer 9

They are basically the same as at an American restaurant. Just make sure you sample the poutine, have a Montreal smoked meat sandwich, and a club sandwich. Really - Quebec knows their way around a club sandwich.

Answer 10

Christmas dinner is great as we know it. But some families are 'tired' of the same ole same ole, and have found that breaking from tradition once in awhile is enjoyable. By adding an array of non-traditional side dishes to your menu, people's palettes can be more satisfied and excited!

For 17 guests, I think you'd need at least 2 meats and many sides! Here are some traditional-with-a-twist dishes and treat ideas:

MEAT:

Turkey with Cranberry Chestnut Stuffing served with Gravy & Brandied Cranberries

Ham served with Brandied Pineapples

Roast Beef served with Mushroom Gravy

Roasted Goose w/Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Pork Loin stuffed w/ cranberry, pinenut and blue cheese.

Roast Duck w/Fig and Cranberry Sauce

BREAD/STARCH:

Yorkshire Pudding (w/Beef)

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Flaky Butter Buns

Rice Pilaf

Plum Pudding/Bread Pudding (dessert)

SIDES:

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Mash

Roasted Garlic S'mashed Potatoes

Roasted parsnips, carrots and onion

Roasted Potatoes w/ Oregano & Thyme

Cucumber Salad

Mashed Potatos with Bacon Bits & Green Onion

Boiled Cabbage

Peas

Candied Carrots

Corn on the Cob with Lemon & Feta Cheese

DESSERT:

Cookies!

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Strawberries & Cream