When you have a party...

[PatsGirl]

Your menu is fine. If people choose not to eat what you have available, tough noogies.

I would add some chicken breasts in there, though...and a fresh fruit salad and some veggies and dip.

I agree with this. If you want to cook the chicken ahead of time, you could cube it into good sized bites, marinate it overnight in terriyaki sauce, and broil it. Once it cools off, put it on mini skewers, alternating it with cubed cheese or grape tomatoes or both. I served this at my housewarming years ago and everyone loved it. I love that I could do it the day before and the cost wasn't prohibitive.

 

[Micca]

Dunno if this was mentioned, but with hot dogs and (cooked) brats you're not really cooking them, you're warming them up. Therefore you don't have to deal with overcooked/undercooked, etc that you would with chicken, beef, etc. I'm not sure who in your house has to cook all this, but I'd cut 'em some slack by keeping it simple.

 

[lillygator]

I must be a wierd hostess.....I hate for DH or I (or anyone else) to be cooking while we are having company over. We always always have too much food, which is fine with me, I don't want anyone going home hungry. I know you have since updated op, but your original menu sounded so very thin for 100 people. I always plan a ton of appetizers and salads in addition to the meal.

 

[cheermom1]

I didn't read all the replies but I have to tell you I don;t like pork and wouldn't eat it. I would add more veggies and fruits though and maybe one non pork item. But at the same time I agree less verity and more of it. However op in my house it is the other way around dh thinks less and I think more. LOL

But I will tell you that when we have gone with what dh wants we always run out of food.

 

[Bluestars]

I agree with this. If you want to cook the chicken ahead of time, you could cube it into good sized bites, marinate it overnight in terriyaki sauce, and broil it. Once it cools off, put it on mini skewers, alternating it with cubed cheese or grape tomatoes or both. I served this at my housewarming years ago and everyone loved it. I love that I could do it the day before and the cost wasn't prohibitive.

I think this is a great idea for the chicken!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

90 is a lot of people. I suggest a little more variety (some vegetarian choices are recommended or atleast something other than pork) and more of it.

 

[pigletgirl]

What about catering it? Saves alot of time and stress!

 

[disykat]

What about catering it? Saves alot of time and stress!

And turn what started out as an informal picnic bbq into a thousand dollar event? Catering two or three kinds of meat and at the minimum 7 sides (since people didn't think the 6 sides + appetizers and desserts the OP was planning were enough) isn't going to be cheap!

 

[MAKmom]

With 90 people I would include more choices. You menu sounds thin, sorry. I agree with your dh.

I agree

 

[Planogirl]

Geesh. Maybe you should call everyone and take orders.

I suggest that you make what you know your friends and family will like. People keep commenting on pork then simply serve chicken hot dogs. Make sure you have chili and onions and I'll be on the way.

 

[krcit]

I think adding chicken will be great I would marinate it in either Italian dressing or Jerk sauce.

Now, on to the important part. The beer If I may suggest either Corona Light or BudLight Lime. People seem to consider them real summer beers. I'm partial to BL Lime but won't turn down a Corona Don't forget the lime!!


Have a great time! Congrats to your dd!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Steak for 90?!

I did post an update yesterday saying that we were going to add boneless chicken breast.



Let me know if you'd like the recipe.



I was thinking Trader Joe's but Merlot? Chardonnay? Zinfandel?...

I'd get two kinds of red wine and two kinds of white wine. Maybe Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc and then Merlot and Shiraz, or something like that. I know very few people that actually like Chardonnay but that's just my friends/family. I'm sure someone in the store will help you to decide, they're usually very knowledgable and helpful.

I think your menu is fine with the chicken added, the only thing I would also add is a green (mixed) salad, but my family loves salad at a bbq. We always have a few types of salad dressings - a vinagrette/cesar or italian dressing, ranch and honey mustard or something like that.

For beer I like Stella Artois, if I were a guest I'd bring some along.

 

[kilee]

I am in the camp of always having a large variety and a lot of each variety. My in-laws are infamous for always having just a smaller quantity of food and it drives me crazy. There is NEVER enough for everyone.

I don't know I just like my guests to feel they've got enough options to find something they like and that they can have as much as they want.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Another light veggie side instead of cole slaw.. is take pre-made broccoli salad (its a very inexpensive shredded broccoli , carrots in a bag) mix it with toasted slivered almonds and dried cranberries and toss with a raspberry or white wine vingerette... Its delish!

 

[C.Ann]

Glad to see you decided to add some chicken.. I'm one of those people that don't eat brats - and would only eat a hot dog if I had no other choice and I was really hungry..

The rest of your menu does sound a little thin to me for 90 people.. But then again, I always make too much food when I host parties.. I would just die if I didn't have enough food available for all of my guests!!

Good luck - congrats to your DD - and have fun!!

 

[luvmy3]

Another light veggie side instead of cole slaw.. is take pre-made broccoli salad (its a very inexpensive shredded broccoli , carrots in a bag) mix it with toasted slivered almonds and dried cranberries and toss with a raspberry or white wine vingerette... Its delish!

That sounds really good. I was going to do a cole slaw salad for an upcoming party but I may try this instead.

 

[smidgy]

I don't think anybody here has said they expect anything when they go to parties. Most here are giving suggestions of what they would do as hosts or hostesses.

I have never had a guest demand anything, nor do I ever expect my needs to be catered to at a party. If they have something that appeals to me, I will eat. If not, I will eat when I get home. Not a big deal. I don't know of anybody in real life who would think badly of a friend if they served something they didn't like. The only snowflake guests I have ever encountered are the ones posting here "I can't believe so and so only served xyz."

However, as a hostess, I do like to think about my guests and how to be a good hostess that offers a variety of food that will appeal to most. I will ask my vegan friend for a good recipe for something, have a gluten free offering etc.

Offering the OP suggestions of how to expand her menu does not mean that anybody here expects that as a guest. I have only read suggestions of what they do as HOSTS.

I never said "anyone here" said they expect anything. but many guests do.

I was just pointing out (rather toungue-in-cheekly, if that's a word... see my laughing smiley at the end?) how much easier it used to be to entertain "back in the good old days", before everyone got so particular.

 

[disykat]

I always make too much food when I host parties.. I would just die if I didn't have enough food available for all of my guests!!

Me too - but I'm still with the OP that there has to be enough of EVERYTHING to serve everyone. I'd be much less mortified to offer plenty of one meat choice and have some people not care for it than to offer two choices and run out of one of them and have the people who were served last not have it as an option while watching others eat it.

I find it interesting that so many people seem to think less variety means less food overall.

The question the OP asked was if people think there should be enough of every food offered to serve every guest. It hardly sounds like she's planning on running out of food!

 

[mookie]

It's no harder to cook but some like it walking off the table and some want it burnt. Also, we're not cooking during the party. We want to be able to enjoy the party so everything will be made shortly before and kept warm. I can't imagine that steak will taste good out of a warmer. Honestly, I'm not sure that our budget can handle steak for 90 people.

I'm reading bits and pieces of this thread here and there, but being from Chicago, I feel like you needed some support! We just had a 65 person party...here's what we did.

Go to Walmart (Super Walmart). We got an amazing 6 foot sub for 25.00. They sliced it up for us in nice individual sandwhiches and put it on a platter. They include all the veggies and you can choose from 6 different meats and 3 different cheeses. We got many compliments on it, and it didn't break the bank. It was nice because all condiments were supplied for us on the side, so it was easy to keep the sandwiches out for a bit. As far as wine and beer goes...we learned a lesson here. I had a little too much variety of beer, wanting to offer choices....but I didn't have enough of each beer! Meaning, I bought a case of Miller Lite, case of Coors, Case of Corona, and then I did 4 12-packs of different Sam Adams and higher end beer. Wouldn't you know it...everyone went for the Sam's, so each person only got a few of those and then had to switch to a different beer, which can sometimes give people a headache. Stick to 3 types of beer, and get them in abundance.

Also, what about just setting out a bowl of chips? Kids love that. You could also do a pasta salad that doesn't include mayo. Kraft makes one in "classic" that we used...throw in some carrots and cherry tomatos....maybe some olives, and you are set! Good luck!