Birthday Party Food ideas

[Ellen aka Snow White]

We are planning our daddy 80th birthday party!! It will be at 1:00 on a Saturday. What food would you serve about 100 people ?!? We will have many guest traveling in from out of town and we want them to hang around a while. One thought is a light lunch with hotdogs and the fixins. Another thought was "finger foods" - meat tray, cheese tray, vegetable tray, etc. We have reserved a location that will be set up with lots of tables and chairs and a dance floor.
With it being at 1:00 - we really don't have to serve food, but we want to have something for those coming in from out of town. Then on the other hand, we don't want the food to be the focus of the party! Are hotdogs just for kids' parties?!?! What would you suggest?
Thanks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hot dogs for an 80th b-day party is nasty. Sorry.

Go for the meat/cheese tray and veggies. A party for a 100 people requires that you serve food. You do need to focus on that because it is part of party planning.

I would also do some sides with that.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Don't be surprised if people expect a start time of 1:00 to mean lunch is being served. I really think that is still on the late end of when people would expect food. 2:00 would be better if you want to be sure no one is expecting a meal.

I also think the veggie and deli trays sound like a better option.

 

[allison443]

If people are coming from out of town and traveling a distance to get there at 1:00, I think you definitely need to serve food.
I also vote against the hot dogs, sorry.

If you have meat and cheese platters, wouldn't you also have to provide rolls, condiments, etc? Maybe you could get sandwich platters of cut up sandwiches. (Our local supermarket makes really nice ones, so does Costco). Add a vegetable platter and some chips.

Enjoy your party! That is such a happy occasion!

 

[scrapquitler]

For a 1PM party, I would definitely assume that lunch was being served, especially if people are coming from out of town.

I would go with heavy finger foods (chips, dip, cheese, crackers, veggies, maybe some hot finger foods) and something like a pasta/sauce and salad, or coldcuts and rolls with pasta salad, coleslaw, potato salad. I wouldn't assume that everyone would eat hot dogs...if I wanted to serve hot dogs, I'd have hamburgers too. Then of course birthday cake and maybe a few other deserts.

 

[krcit]

How about 6 foot heros?

 

[kwelch10377]

I agree with everyone else that food will need to be a focus, it always is at parties, especially for 100 people. People are going to assume that a late lunch is being served.

The only way I would do hotdogs is if you are going to also do hamburgers and maybe chicken. If you don't want to worry about having someone man a grill all day then I would do deli trays for make your own sandwiches. In addition to that I would do pasta salads, chips and dips. Later in the day I would put out desserts/

If you want people to hang out for awhile then you are going to need to try and have some food that can be kept out or refilled during the course of the day.

 

[dis-happy]

Up the budget and serve real food. Is the party in SC? Maybe you could do a barbeque themed lunch---pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, etc.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

A birthday party with 100 guests at 1pm requires food to be served. I agree with the pp, I would not serve hot dogs unless I was also serving hamburgers, and several different side dishes. I would also have the appetizers and of course the birthday cake.

The birthday plan needs some rethinking.

 

[Wendy31]

For a 1:00 pm party, I would definitely think that lunch would be served.

What kind of location is it? Casual? Semi-Fancy? Fancy? And, like someone else asked, will the party be in South Carolina?

If it's a casual kind of place, I would probably get a BBQ dinner catered (which can be done pretty inexpensively) - pulled pork w/ buns for sandwiches, baked beans, slaw, potato chips, etc. And, then, maybe have some additional pasta salads, veggie platters, & fruit platters w/ iced tea, lemonade, & various soft drinks.

For a fancier venue, you might could call a local Italian restaurant & see what the costs would be for dishes like lasagna, spagetti, & salad... pasta can serve a lot of people & is easy to serve as well.

If you're concerned about costs, dishes like the above can be produced easier (more cheaply) than sandwiches w/ all the fixings & condiments that you end up having to have.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

If you're concerned about costs, dishes like the above can be produced easier (more cheaply) than sandwiches w/ all the fixings & condiments that you end up having to have.

I am concerned about the cost of food -
catering is out as we are looking at $600-$800 to do BBQ and fixings - plus not everyone in our immediate family eats BBQ. We priced the meat trays and premade they are priced high and by the time you add the sides needed, you are getting very costly, especially for something not so filling.

We want something quick and easy to fix, set-up, serve and clean up that won't cost a small fortune. We are doing a follow-up mailing to those that RSVP to give directions to the location, area hotel information, etc and to let them know what we will be serving, so that they can plan accordingly.

 

[kwelch10377]

I am concerned about the cost of food -
catering is out as we are looking at $600-$800 to do BBQ and fixings - plus not everyone in our immediate family eats BBQ. We priced the meat trays and premade they are priced high and by the time you add the sides needed, you are getting very costly, especially for something not so filling.

We want something quick and easy to fix, set-up, serve and clean up that won't cost a small fortune. We are doing a follow-up mailing to those that RSVP to give directions to the location, area hotel information, etc and to let them know what we will be serving, so that they can plan accordingly.

One option that can be fairly low cost is do meatball subs, a few baked ziti trays and salad. Then also have veggies, cheese and crackers, chips and dip. If you go to Costco, Sams or BJs you can get all that for pretty decent prices. You can get some crock pots and sternos to keep the food warm.

 

[Nennie]

For casual parties, I usually put out heavy appetizers that are available when the people walk in the door (stromboli, taco dip, beer bread w/dip, etc)

For the actual meal, I do meatball sandwiches. I make the meatballs ahead of time, then just put them in crockpots with sauce. Between the crockpots I put big baskets of rolls. (I used to put out a lunchmeat tray too, but it never got touched with the exception of some cheese that people would take to put on their meatballs, so I stopped doing this).

I also put out some salads (potato, pasta, regular, etc). My shoprite makes chicken finger platters, and I sometimes get one of those to put on the table too. For dessert, I get a sheetcake (and usually have some family members show up with other goodies in hand that I also put out).

It really doesn't cost much, and it's food that's simple, tasty, and filling.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Costco lasagnas are easy to prepare yourself, and not overly expensive. It could be easily paired with caesar salad and garlic bread for an easy meal. Add in some appetizers and birthday cake and you'd be good to go.

 

[camlace]

A party at 1 pm most definitely should have lunch served. I would say apps/munchies, some main course (whether its cookout or trays of italian type of stuff) and dessert. Even if I was having a dozen people for a party a 1 I would provide all of that. I think you need to recheck your budget and start calling around for pricing for catering...even cooking burgers and dogs for 100 is not easy and would be easier if someone else was left to the task so you can enjoy the celebration.

 

[Wendy31]

Originally posted by Ellen aka Snow White -
I am concerned about the cost of food -
catering is out as we are looking at $600-$800 to do BBQ and fixings - plus not everyone in our immediate family eats BBQ. We priced the meat trays and premade they are priced high and by the time you add the sides needed, you are getting very costly, especially for something not so filling.

I totally understand about being concerned over the cost! (I recently volunteered to host a bridal shower for my niece - I was thinking it would be a "family" shower - the guest list ended up being for 75, & I was absolutely stressing over how I was going to pay for it!)

I do think, however, that for a 1:00 pm party, your guests *will* be expecting lunch. And I think something like BBQ or lasagna/spaghetti can be prepared & served more simply & more inexpensively than sandwiches and/or hamburgers & hot dogs.

We have a local BBQ place that would serve 100 people for less than $500 & that would include the BBQ, buns, & 2 sides. This particular place is a lot of local churches' & other groups' "go to" place for catering larger events. However, realizing that not everyone eats BBQ, you would also need various side dishes like pasta salads & fruit in order to accommodate everybody.

So, I think I would do either pans of lasagna or spaghetti (instead of spaghetti noodles, though, I would use something like penna pasta for easier eating), tossed salads w/ various dressings available, and slices of crusty bread. Pasta can be made very inexpensively & very easily - not a lot of prep work, & it can be done ahead of time. It's filling too. Also, it's easy service for the ones who are preparing/hosting/serving at your event.

You wouldn't necessarily have to do appetizers, but, if you wanted to, you could do BBQ'd meatballs &/or cheese & crackers. When I serve Italian, my appetizers are toasted raviolis & and a antipasta platter w/ various olives - but that could get expensive for 100 people.

If the party has a definite start time, you could even have little platters of cheese & crackers set up at each of your tables. Or, you could go ahead & put out a salad bowl at each place setting w/ the dressings available at each table. You could even have bread baskets at each table. And then have a small buffet set up w/ dinner plates & the lasagna and/or spaghetti. If you do just spaghetti, you could offer both a meat sauce & a meatless sauce. Are you setting up w/ long banquet tables or round tables w/ 6-10 chairs at each table?

And, I would think the only dessert you would need would be the birthday cake.

And then have a drink station/table.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

How about order deli meat and rolls and make your own sandwich platters? The sides for sandwiches are pretty inexpensive. I would expect to spend at least $5 per guest and even that seems super low. Are there several siblings that can split the cost of the party?

 

[mjkacmom]

So, I think I would do either pans of lasagna or spaghetti (instead of spaghetti noodles, though, I would use something like penna pasta for easier eating),.

You mean baked ziti? Too funny, because around here, every single event has baked ziti! I was just at my neighbor's, and that's what they're having for dinner tonight - cheap, yummy, and easy.

 

[Scurvy]

We are planning our daddy 80th birthday party!! It will be at 1:00 on a Saturday. What food would you serve about 100 people ?!? We will have many guest traveling in from out of town and we want them to hang around a while. One thought is a light lunch with hotdogs and the fixins. Another thought was "finger foods" - meat tray, cheese tray, vegetable tray, etc. We have reserved a location that will be set up with lots of tables and chairs and a dance floor.
With it being at 1:00 - we really don't have to serve food, but we want to have something for those coming in from out of town. Then on the other hand, we don't want the food to be the focus of the party! Are hotdogs just for kids' parties?!?! What would you suggest?
Thanks!

I think unless you're grilling both hamburgers and hotdogs, the hotdogs are really more appropriate for a kid's party. As previous posters have mentioned, most guests will probably expect lunch to be served at a 1:00 party when people will have to travel to get there. Unless you want to change the time to 2:00 I'd plan to serve enough food so that all the guests can have lunch at the party. The meat, cheese and vegetable trays could be good, especially if you plan to add breads and crackers, chips and dips, and things like that. Large pans of baked pasta are always popular and salad and breadsticks are inexpensive. And of course don't forget to have ample beverages - at least water and maybe tea, or soft drinks, lemonade or punch.