Have you decided what first course you will kick off the Christmas dinner with? A starter before the traditional turkey or goose with all the trimmings has to be appetising and tease the palate, without overfeeding or taking the edge of the appetite for the main course. It’s a hard one!

You may fall for the classic smoked salmon with lemon and black pepper. Prawn Cocktail, perhaps?  For shellfish lovers, a platter of fresh raw oysters could hit the mark.  Also check the delicious ideas in our Recipe listings, created by some of our top chefs. Try Medallions of Monkfish with Bantry Bay Scallops with Chilli, Tomato and Cashel Blue Salsa. Or  a festive Goat’s cheese pate with Cranberries and Beetroot Jelly. How about Vanilla Cured Salmon with Caper and Gherkin Salsa? Just three of the dishes which took our fancy for a beautiful Christmas first course. Follow the links to find the recipes and who created them. Or let us know if you have your own suggestions!