Elegant Holiday Cocktail or Dinner Party

When you want to go all out for the holidays, we recommend you greet your guests with a glass of champagne! Below is a menu of traditional party favorites that are sure to impress. For a Holiday Cocktail Party, we recommend up to ten passed and/or stationary appetizers (depending upon the size of your crowd and duration of your party, see Cocktail Party tips here). If its a Holiday Dinner Party, 3-5 appetizers are best, while all your guests arrive and gather, followed by a sit-down dinner (see sample dinner menu below)

Foie Gras / Green Apple / Handmade Corn Masa Shell/ Salsa Verde

 

Scallops / Burnt Chipotle-Agave Salsa

 

Ceviche Tasting:

Scallops /Habanero /kumquat / sweet potato / smoked sea salt

Chef’s choice of white fish / Aji Amarillo /pineapple /vanilla/tomatillo

Arabesque: tuna / soy /citrus / Chile Verde / sesame seeds

Elegant Holiday Cocktail Party

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HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY SAMPLE MENU

AMUSE BOUCHE

Deviled Eggs / Caviar / House-cured Tequila Gravlax

OR

Pelotita / Cranberry-Chipotle Chutney

Cranberry-stuffed Brazil nut-crusted Napa Valley Goat Cheese

APPETIZER

Salmon Three-ways: House-cured Tequila Cilantro Gravlax / Salmon Rillette/ Salmon Roe w/ Cowgirl Creamery Creme Fraiche

Salmon 3-ways: Salmon Roe/ Tequila-cured Salmon/Salmon Rillettes

OR

Albondigitos: mini lamb meatballs / Sherry cream sauce / pea purée

SOUP  

Haitian New Year’s Eve Soup: savory pumpkin soup / beef broth / scotch bonnet chile

SALAD  

Classic or Kale Caesar prepared tableside/ black-pepper-and-salt-cured egg yolk

ENTREE

SURF & TURF LARGE PLATES (or choose just one)

select a “surf” course from the following)

Bourbon–Roasted Lobster / herbed butter / succotash

OR
Camarones con Naranja y Tequila y Chile Roja 

 shrimp/ garlic / orange peel /chiles del arbol / flambéed with tequila

TURF

Sous Vide Filet Mignon (4 oz. for Surf ‘n Turf Menu, 6 oz. for “turf” only)

served with

Truffled Potatoes

OR

Rack of Lamb / Roasted Root Vegetables

Pecan-crusted Wild Salmon

INTERMEZZO

Spiced Cranberry Sorbet / Pistachio Dust

DESSERT

Chocolate Flourless Torte

soaked with agave and rum

Tasting Stations: Wraps & Rolls

Tasting Stations are a fun way to do dinner or a cocktail party. They don’t require traditional tabletop service (flatware, dinner plates, etc.), are great for traffic flow and especially work well if your guests are not arriving all at once or you don’t have enough space for seating for a more traditional dinner service. Click here for more Tasting Station ideas!

Eggplant Rolls

Carpaccio of Chinese eggplant, fresh mozzarella, house-roasted sweet red pepper, fresh basil

Prosciutto-wrapped Cantaloupe

Endive Wraps

Salmon caviar, smoked salmon, chives, dill,

Cowgirl Creamery creme fraiche

OR

 Point Reyes Farms Blue Cheese,

 Bosc Pears, Jicama,

chipotle-brown sugar roasted pecans,

pomegranate

Avocado Wraps

Herbed Napa Valley goat cheese, Proscuitto

Asparagus Spears

Napa Valley goat cheese, berico Ham carpaccio

Bacon-wrapped Scallops or Shrimp

Phyllo Wrap

Napa Valley Goat Cheese and Crushed Olives

Lettuce Wraps

(see photo top of post)

Chicken morsels, Pinenuts, Bourbon Sauce

Fig Salsa

OR

Grilled Chipotle Shrimp

Chipotle Aioli

Gluten-free Appetizers (VERY partial listing)

Please look for the G  on many of the dishes throughout the site. This indicates a gluten-free item, or where a gluten-free option is available.

Shrimp-filled Avocado

Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Chiptole Aioli 

Flambéed Tequila-Orange Shrimp Skewers

Polenta Bites

Chef’s choice of toppings

Pelotitas of Brazil-nut Crusted Goat Cheese

fresh fig filling, Pear-Tamarind-Ginger Chutney

(note: shown here on crostini, for gluten-free these are served on corn tostadas)

Carne Tartare Apache de Chiapas*
Filet Mignon “cooked” in lime/guajillo chile marinade,

diced tomato, cilantro, red onions,

on a corn tostada, topped with Queso Añejo

Endive Wraps, Smoked Salmon and Caviar

Cowgirl Creamery Creme Fraiche

Antipasto

Warm Mushroom Salad

Bruschetta Skewers

Photo by rkennethbuck

Baby Mozzarella, Pear Tomatoes, Napa Valley EVO, Basil, Balsamic Reduction

Chilled Avocado Soup

Queso Fundido con Chorizo o Ongos

 melted Mexican cheeses. Rancho Gordo black beans,

your choice of Mexican sausage or wild mushrooms

with mini corn handmade tortillas

Ceviche de Pescado o Callo*

halibut or scallops,

marinated in lime/coconut with mango,

Spanish white onion, hint of jalapeño

Melon Bites

cantaloupe wedges, carpaccio of Iberica ham,

 mild chile, lime

Frijoles Refritos con Queso Fresco

well-fried black beans, served cold, crumbled Mexican “fresh” cheese,

mini handmade corn tortillas

Guacamole con Totopos 

(choose Basic, Apple-Tequila or Pineapple Cucumber)

Caballito de Elote con Queso Fresco

fresh grilled corn, chile, lime, fresh Mexican cheese (seasonal)

Bruschetta de Camote

Sweet potato “toasts”, chipotle/pilconcillo (Mexican brown sugar) pecan crumble

* These items are served raw or undercooked, or contain (or may contain) raw or undercooked ingredients. Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

TASTING STATIONS: DIPS/CHIPS, CROSTINI/TOPPINGS

Tasting Stations are a fun way to do dinner or a cocktail party. They don’t require traditional tabletop service (flatware, dinner plates, etc.), are great for traffic flow and especially work well if your guests are not arriving all at once or you don’t have enough space for seating for a more traditional dinner service. Click here for more Tasting Station ideas!

Deconstructed Bruschetta

Garlicky crostini, big bowl of chopped organic local tomatoes,

fresh basil, garlic and balsamic

Guacamole con Totopos 

House-made corn tortilla chips

choose Basic, Apple-Tequila or Pineapple Cucumber,

OR

all 3 for a Guacamole Tasting Station

Frijoles Refritos con Queso Fresco

well-fried black beans, served cold, topped with crumbled Mexican “fresh” cheese,

mini handmade corn tortillas

Basil White Bean Hummus & Pita

Carne Tartare Apache de Chiapas
Filet Mignon marinated in lime and guajillo chile

Salpicon de Bacaloa

Salpicon are cold salads, favored in Mexico. This dishes fuses that technique with classic Spanish ingredients, salt cod, green olives, capers and roasted red peppers, with a Dijon EVO dressing, served with tostadas

De-constructed Deviled Eggs/Toast Points

Choose between Chorizo w/ Pickled Jalapeños

Deviled Eggs w/ Smoked Trout

Spicy Southern Deviled Eggs

Tapenades/Crostini

Poblano, Black Olive and Fig

Eggplant, Dates, Walnuts

Black Olives, Capers, Anchovies, Rum

 

Tasting Stations: Skewers & Kabobs

Tasting Stations are a fun way to do dinner or a cocktail party. They don’t require traditional tabletop service (flatware, dinner plates, etc.), are great for traffic flow and especially work well if your guests are not arriving all at once or you don’t have enough space for seating for a more traditional dinner service. Click here for more Tasting Station ideas!

Bruschetta Skewers G  ‡

Baby Mozzarella, Napa Valley Olive Oil, Basil and Balsamic Reduction

Photo by rkennethbuck

Chicken on Sugar Cane Skewers, G

Plantain-peanut Sauce

Photo by Blue Tofu

Shrimp / Proscuitto / Rosemary Skewers

Grilled Pork Kebabs, G

Mint-cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Photo by kae71463

Beef or Chicken Satay G

Photo by Yvonne.Es R

Tequila- flambéed Shrimp Skewers, G

orange-chile sauce

Photo by martine-michelle Dinner Group 2008

Tuscan Chicken & Sausage Skewers G

G  gluten-free ‡ vegetarian

Appetizers

Planning a Cocktail Party, a happy hour before dinner is served or looking for an appetizer course a part of a formal seated dinner…

Crudite Station

Grilled Calamari

Mexican Cheese & Meat Tray: Grilled Chile-Lime Nopalitos /
Ate de Membrillo / Cecina

Antipasto

Charcuterie

Cheesemonger’s Board

 Mini-Tlacoyos: nopalito (green), blue corn and achiote (orange) masas and broccoli / Queso Oaxaca and Sweet Potato / Goat Cheese fillings with Poblano Aioli

Seared Scallops / Burnt Chipotle Salsa

Bacon-wrapped Scallops

Agua Chile

Pineapple / Jicama / Cucumber / Chile-peanut sprinkles  G  

Mexican Crab Cakes G  

poblano / sweet red & yellow peppers / jalepeños / chipotle aioli

Deviled Eggs

Bruschetta Skewers G  ‡

Baby Mozzarella / Napa Valley Olive Oil / Basil / Balsamic Reduction

Grilled Shrimp Scampi Crostini

Endive Wraps G  ‡

Meyer Lemon-dill House-cured Salmon / Cowgirl Creamery Creme Fraiche / Dill

Warm Mushroom Salad G  ‡

Fontina Polenta Bites G  

Roasted Tomato Marinara / Grilled Italian Sausage (also available as a vegetarian offering) ‡

Pelotitas: Brazil-nut Crusted Napa Valley Goat Cheese

filled with Mission Black Fig / fig-chipotle chutney‡ G

Black and Blue Crostini

Carmelized Onions/ Blue Cheese / Filet Mignon
Antipasto

Salumeri

Prosciutto-wrapped Grilled Asparagus w/shaved Parmagiano Reggiano G  

Carne Tartara de Chiapas G  

4505 Meats beef marinated in lime juice with chopped onion, tomato and guajillo chile topped with Queso Anejo

Melon Bites – sweet, ripe cantaloupe wedges with a hint of chile and lime, wrapped in Iberica ham thinly-sliced

Ceviche Tasting

Chilled Avocado Soup Shooter G  

Guacamole con Totopos  G  

choose Basic, Apple-Tequila or Pineapple Cucumber ‡

Elote con Queso Cotija G  

corn bites with chile, lime, coated with grated Mexican cheese (seasonal) ‡

Bruschetta de Camote G  

 sweet potato bruschetta topped with chipotle roasted pecan strudel and goat cheese crumble ‡

 

‡ VEGETARIAN

G  GLUTEN-FREE