What would you think of a large meal for a lot of people where only what we consider "appetizers" and what we consider "side" dishes, were offered?

What is a “side dish” to a ‘merican?

It would be fine with me. It’s like food you get when you go to a pot-luck. Most people bring casserole dishes and stuff like that.

Boston Market used to have what they called a “side item sampler” which was three sides.

When I go to a fancy party, like my job’s holiday party which is catered at a hotel, or to a wedding, to me, the cocktail hour food is better than the sit down, meat and potatoes food.

Side dish: potatoes, rice, pasta, veggies are four examples.

potatoes/rice/pasta + vegetables = full meal

You’re talkin DimSum

Sometimes I order exactly that way at a restaurant. Often the appetizers and side dishes are not much different from a main menu item except in portion size. So I get a reasonably sized portion of several things instead of a huge entree of which I can eat only half.

I love it! Tapas! I prefer lots of small dishes and tastes rather than a limited choice.
We all (should) have a calorie budget. Why waste it on larger quantities of something you already know? Try many small treats. It is fun – like going to a wine tasting.

I would be perfectly content if Thanksgiving consisted of Sweet potatoes, dressing and gravy, and pecan pie!

My problem with side dishes is that they usually have many ingredients (think casserole). Since I have dietary restrictions, I would be nervous to attend a meal with only side dishes. I think people would try to be more “fancy” with them, instead of offering plain baked potatoes or plain rice, for example.

Assuming that it was all food that I could eat and there were dishes with enough protein to feel like a meal, I would be thrilled. I love variety. Hopefully there would be a tossed salad so that it didn’t feel too heavy.

I take that a side dish is anything that isn’t meat. I would go out for burgers after.

Well, a side could be a baked potato, with a choice of various topping to put on it. Yeah, a baked potato is plenty for me too. It may not have a lot of protein, but it would fill me up. I could get my protein at the next meal. Or the one after that. No reason I have to have protein at every meal.

Nope, slices of ham or turkey could be a side dish. Maybe Little Smokies, @talljasperman. Or tiny meatballs. Or salmon dip (yum!)

Also, lots of sides have bacon. Baked beans, potato salad….

As @LuckyGuy suggested, think canapes, yum cha or tapas. The idea isn’t something new. We do this for our Christmas evening meal. We have a big breakfast and don’t want to each much after that. So we now all cook a dish that can be shared by everyone, but that doesn’t form part of a formal, sit-down meal. We do have some ham, seafood available, but we also have some small dishes to share. Each dish can be quite different.

Whether it is acceptable would depend on how you frame the meal. If you present it as a sit-down, formal dinner, I think it would come across as quite odd. If you present it as a series of informal tasting plates that are passed around for people to participate or not in, that would work.

A couple of Christmases ago, my family did an appetizers potluck. It was incredible, the amount of dishes we had, coupled with the creativity was fantastic and delicious. A lot of my cousins made stuff that they had saved on Pinterest.

It doesn’t have to be Christmas themed, but I love the idea of side dishes and appetizers, instead of a more formal meal.

Here’s a few things that I would like to make:

Pinecone Cheese Dip

Wreath with Olives and Ovolini

Present Shaped Cheese Balls

I’m going to steal your ideas @Kardamom. I was actually thinking of posting a question asking people for ideas for dishes for our Christmas meal. Apart from the different options, it also takes the pressure off because everyone is responsible for the meal.

I used to do this for Christmas dinner, as I had already done the huge traditional Thanksgiving thing just a month before. I made a few, bought a few and others did the same. We had canapés, appetizers, little dessert bites, stuff like that. We all enjoyed it, and it took a lot of pressure off, because it was so casual and people could have as much or as little as they wanted.

I tend to enjoy starters and appetisers more than main courses so I’d be good with that!

What you’re describing is often called tapas or dim sum, and there are restaurants that specialize in either. Small-plate meals are fun, whether out or at home. If I were hosting that sort of dinner, I’d prepare all my favorite recipes for hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, and simply let my guests enjoy.

Well, the question came to mind as an off shoot of comments about how insulting it is to vegetarians to not have a “main course” like what is offered at most dinners. Usually the meat is the “main course,” especially for men. The only way I can figure getting around not insulting someone is to not HAVE a main course.