Menu ideas for a french-themed bridal shower (white wine, appetizers, barbeque)

[IslandCityGirl]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

First off, start with gorgeous French cheeses -- Le Rustique, Caprice des Dieux, St. Andre -- and baguettes. (Get gluten free crackers for the MIL.)

Next off... is this whole party finger food or a lunch?

Do you want a sophisticated menu (escargots) or a rustic menu (French onion soup) or do you want to be cutesy (French fries!)?

Come back and tell me if it's snacks or a meal. I love this!

And check this out: 50 French Recipes, French Food Recipes | Saveur

PS. They're called macarons (not macaroons).

^^Perfect post!!

RosieSD, I recommend Jacque Pepin's chicken liver paté recipe, if you're new to making it (Google it and it'll pop right up). If you have a blender or food processor it's soooo easy, impressive, delicious, INEXPENSIVE and a perfect make ahead dish. Pair that with your French cheeses (choose one hard, one soft, one semi-soft), along with some berry jam (blackberry or blueberry!) or figs or fig jam, some other cured meats, cornichons (these little pickles scream French and provide some acidity), mustard, and (as you said) grapes. Add your crusty baguette (+ GF crackers), and there you have a perfect "French picnic!"

You could make a big platter of salad Nicoise, with all of the parts prepped in advance, ready to plate and dress. Just leave the boiled eggs large enough for your bride-to-be to avoid them. The salad would balance out the heaviness of the charcuterie and cheese platter. Those two pieces would really be a full, balanced lunch, as well as gorgeous display pieces, and very French.

[Miss Hepburn]

See, I knew there is such a thing as French lasagna!

French Lasagna Recipe - Relish

Can be modified, skip the eggs..fr. nutmeg a must.
Not you will make it since you'd like more finger food...but here it is.

[hertfordshire]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Is buckwheat gluten free? I didn't realize that!

Yep. Doesn't make logical sense, right? LOL

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

- I know that you said no to cutesy, but everyone loves French fries. If you do them thick-cut, fried in duck fat... pile them onto a big platter with little serving cups of MAYO for dipping. So yummy!

Call them "pommes frites" and everyone will be impressed.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Call them "pommes frites" and everyone will be impressed.

Oui, oui.

[hunterseat]

One of the coolest ideas I've seen is a mashed potato bar with various toppings and portions eaten in goblets of some kind. That idea could be taken in lots of different directions. Entrée, salad, dessert... the goblets seem like a good portion control trick.

[Lodestar]

Right away I thought of petit choux for an appetizer. They are so special and a good finger food.

You can fill them with cream cheese and smoked salmon or any number of cold meat salads or veggie fillings. And there are recipes for gluten free ones but I'd sure give this a trial run before I tried to serve it to anyone on my first try.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

First off, start with gorgeous French cheeses -- Le Rustique, Caprice des Dieux, St. Andre -- and baguettes. (Get gluten free crackers for the MIL.)

Next off... is this whole party finger food or a lunch?

Do you want a sophisticated menu (escargots) or a rustic menu (French onion soup) or do you want to be cutesy (French fries!)?

Come back and tell me if it's snacks or a meal. I love this!

And check this out: 50 French Recipes, French Food Recipes | Saveur

PS. They're called macarons (not macaroons).

great post!! great ideas

I think id try to hire dawn

great link!

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

great post!! great ideas

I think id try to hire dawn

great link!

No, no... I *eat* it, I don't *make* it.
I can "make" a cheese plate, though.

[jay5835]

Is there room in the budget for bouillabaisse? You can do everything except add the seafood the day before, and either skip the toasts or substitute a couple of the gluten-free crackers you spoke of upthread.

Bouillabaisse Recipe - Ethan Stowell | Food & Wine