Planning a Dinner Party Menu

[truthseeker84]

I'm going to be helping my sixteen year old sister throw a Valentine's Day dinner party for her friends. She wants it to be formal and "grown up." However, I'm totally clueless about the progression of the menu. I've heard of things like "cheese course" and "soup course" but I don't know what order they're supposed to be in. It shouldn't be extra

Comments

[breathbox]

appetizer, salad/soup, main course, dessert

[breathbox]

hehe and if you want actual menu suggestions:

appetizer:
stuffed mushrooms
brie with fig paste and walnuts on crackers
grilled shrimp on skewers

salad:
spinach salad with raspberries and walnuts with clover sprouts and tarragon dijon vinaigrete

main course:
bacon wrapped filet mignon with potato au gratin and steamed asparagus

dessert:
molten chocolate volcanoes with fresh strawberries and creme fraiche

poached pears in port wine with ginger mascarpone filling

chocolate fondue with strawberries and marshmallows

[non_fiction]

Actually, the amuse bouche comes first.

I'm wondering though - is there a more formal name for the palate cleanser? I can't recall offhand...

[papayamessiah]

intermezzo is the term i'd use, but i'm not exactly an expert

[mforbes321]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_course_dinner

[callistra]

Well, ease of cooking is nice

[mschaos]

ask her what she feels is 'grown up'

and ask her what flavors she is looking for....not all 16 year olds have a froi gras pallette

[princess_smee]

maybe making it a more cocktail type party with teenaged versions of cocktails and food.