First Courses

The first course of a meal, whether lunch or dinner, sets the tone for what is to follow. It is vital to plan a menu with several points in mind, and probably the most important of these is the balance of richness in the various courses. For the gastric comfort of your family and/or friends, it really does matter not to include cream in each course, but to balance out the three (or four) courses by having a fairly light first course if you plan a rich and creamy pud. On the other hand, you can have a rich first course if your pud is to consist of a light and fruity dish.