Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

Chicken and Shrimp paella
Spagetti with Chorizo (except using chicken sausage instead) and Almonds
Crab cakes
Olive oil bread with warm olives and olive oil dip
Bruschetta with red pepper and artichoke tapenade
Mini meatballs with balsamic mushrooms on top
Mini potato gratins with Manchego cheese crust
Spaghetti with Chorizo (except using chicken sausage instead) and Almonds
Baked artichokes with breadcrumbs
Green herb and tomato salad
Spinach, roasted pepper and feta cheese salad

Message edited 1/14/2013 9:16:05 AM.

Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

Everything sounds yummy but more all over the country than spanish themed lol

Re: Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

everything sounds amazing except instead of the spinach, roasted pepper and feta salad, i think you should do something more traditional, like a romaine, onion and tomato salad in a citrus dressing. almost every spanish salad i have had has had tomatoes. some use oranges, some use olives... dressings usually include citrus like lemon, or a red-wine vinegar, or anchovies along with the oil. and if you want to add cheese to the salad i think you should go with chunks of manchego. otherwise, sounds delicious. have a great party!

Re: Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

If you want to keep the Spanish theme, I'd make a few changes. A lot of your ideas sound absolutely delicious, but if you're going for a Spanish theme and not just an appetizer theme, I'd edit a bit.

Chicken and Shrimp paella
*I'd add shellfish

Spagetti with Chorizo (except using chicken sausage instead) and Almonds
*I'd remove this one

Crab cakes
*Maybe ceviche instead??

Olive oil bread with warm olives and olive oil dip
*yum!

Bruschetta with red pepper and artichoke tapenade
*I'd maybe just do some toasted bread with tomato and garlic

Mini meatballs with balsamic mushrooms on top
*Maybe some chorizo instead? sauteed or some whole shrimp with tons of garlic or some mussels/clams?

Mini potato gratins with Manchego cheese crust
*maybe patatas bravas instead?

Baked artichokes with breadcrumbs
*I'd do Tortilla Espanola or some sauteed mushrooms or maybe even bacon wrapped dates?

Green herb and tomato salad
*there's a place near me that has this salad: Lettuce, onion and tomato on a bed of potatoes, topped with olives, white asparagus and tuna

Spinach, roasted pepper and feta cheese salad
*I''d do an assortment of meats & cheese with membrillo and marcona almonds (jamon iberico, manchego, serano, etc)

Message edited 1/14/2013 12:48:34 PM.

Re: Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

Thank you, everyone!!

I think I should have mentioned that I can't really go overboard with traditional spanish because a lot of people on our guest list do not eat spicy food for medical reasons/preference and do not eat pork and shellfish because of religious believes. I am already pushing it with the shrimp. :( But that can be picked out of paella.

Love the idea of the lemony dressing!

So, things like garlicky shrimp and potato bravas had to be tones down... I only wish I could use real chorizo. :(

So, rather than doing truly traditional spanish good, I am trying to just keep it fun and make all the food tapas style and kind of keep it spanish inspired.

I am thinking of adding a place of Manchego cheese and some cured meat. Those who can't eat it won't. ;)

Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

I would add a "tortilla" or potato fritata. Also, some mini serrano ham & manchego cheese bocadillos. Do a more traditional spanish salad. Offer some olives. A bacon date app stuffed w/ almonds and remove the artichokes?

Re: Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

Sounds delicious!

Re: Please critique my Spanish themed housewarming party menu

Message edited 1/15/2013 10:03:23 PM.