Your opinion on when "dinner" should be served?

[karibritt01]

I agree with your wife. If people are attending a pig roast and can't hang around all afternoon, then there should be pig for them to eat within at least an hour of their arrival.

I disagree. A pig roast is an event, not an invite for a specific food. There is plenty for people to eat in the way of heavy appetizers if they just want to pop by. Do you go to a 4th of July party, expect the fireworks immediately because you can't hang out all night? Since this event is held every summer, the guests should be very familiar with how it is run. I think 5-6 would be perfect.

 

[dismom2]

I would serve it 5ish. I've been to my fair share of pig roasts and they are always social events, not a quick stop by for dinner. One of the biggest aspects of these gatherings is to socialize before and after eating so having the pig ready right at 2 or 3 seems a bit silly.

You can always put on the invitations that the party starts at 2 and the pig will be served around 5 so if someone wants to just come and eat they can get there a little later.

I think this is a good idea, to put what time the pig will be served. I know some people don't like to wait too long to eat. Also, if someone is hungry and they snack for a couple hours before the pig is ready, they might be full by then. I think 5 is reasonable, but maybe two hours after the party starts might be better. Sound like a fun party.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

5-6 pm

We always had our big July 4th bash starting at 3....munchies from the beginning and do the big grilled meal at 6. Been that way for 25 years.....never heard a complaint. People do show up late.
And if they are staying until 11, you need to space it out.

 

[Rora]

I vote 5pm!

 

[Goofy05]

I voted for 6pm. I've been to many pig roasts and as a kid my family has hosted pig roasts and we've always eaten later, closer to sundown. We never had the pig before 5pm and these were always all day long events. Snacks and drinks were on the table throughout the day, and it looks as though you've got that covered. Trust me when I say, it was always worth the wait! The smell is awesome good!

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I voted for 6 pm.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My invite has yet to arrive, as mentioned in other threads.


I think you should listen to your wife and NEXT year, state on the invites that the party starts at 2 pm, the pig roast served at 5 pm, and that the whole thing is a LOOOONNNG feast with plenty to eat all day long.

That said, I voted for 5 pm for this year. Your wife should have brought up her concerns (and I agree she may have overheard previous guests' words) BEFORE the invite was sent out. But, hey: She's just tryng to be a very good hostess and I applaud her for thinking of her guests.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd shoot for having the pig be ready around 4pm if the party starts at 2pm.

Here's how I look at it....the party starts at 2pm....guests will begin arriving probably 215, with the majority of people probably getting there by 3pm. An hour of munchies, hors d'ouervres, mixing/mingling, then eat at 4pm.

 

[ajk912]

I voted for 6. I don't see the logistics of how it would work if the pig was ready before then. Cooked food needs to be refrigerated within 2 hours. So the pig is done at 6, so it's in the fridge at 8. That's fine, most people should have definitely eaten by then and it's on to dessert and drinks.

If it's ready at 4..then what? You pack it up and put it away at 6? People may be just getting there. And what about people who want to snack on it at 7? Do they get a free pass to go digging in the fridge for leftovers?

To me, it's not Thanksgiving. A meal doesn't HAVE to be served within a few hours.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm one of the three who chose 7 pm. If it were the only food to be offered and if there were no games, etc set up, I'd choose 3pm, but since the guests will have plenty of things to occupy their time and the party will go on until 11, I think 7pm is the perfect time.

 

[Angelhalo]

I disagree. A pig roast is an event, not an invite for a specific food. There is plenty for people to eat in the way of heavy appetizers if they just want to pop by. Do you go to a 4th of July party, expect the fireworks immediately because you can't hang out all night? Since this event is held every summer, the guests should be very familiar with how it is run. I think 5-6 would be perfect.

I too disagree. Everyone expects fireworks to be at the end of the night. If I am going to a pig roast, I expect for there to be pig even if I am not staying until the end of the night. I wouldn't be mad or anything but after I left I'd be thinking, "Sure wish I could have actually had some pig at that pig roast."

Everyone's thought process is different

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'm one of the three who chose 7 pm. If it were the only food to be offered and if there were no games, etc set up, I'd choose 3pm, but since the guests will have plenty of things to occupy their time and the party will go on until 11, I think 7pm is the perfect time.

Yes indeed.

We have a pool. I have a volleyball court that I can set up. We have a horseshoe pit.... and we have all my DJ buddies spinning music all day.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I too disagree. Everyone expects fireworks to be at the end of the night. If I am going to a pig roast, I expect for there to be pig even if I am not staying until the end of the night. I wouldn't be mad or anything but after I left I'd be thinking, "Sure wish I could have actually had some pig at that pig roast."

Everyone's thought process is different

And I'm going to disagree with your disagreement .

A pig roast is not just the serving the pig...it's a process (hence the "roast" in the name!). Whenever I've been to one, I've always expected to spend a good amount of time anticipating that wonderful meat as it slowly cooks over the fire. The smell alone is one of the pleasures of the event, and if the pig is served too early, then this would be missed by those coming later.

I also would expect roasted pork to be served as "dinner", not as an afternoon snack. I still think a lot of the meat would go to waste or you'd be dealing with storage issues if you served it at 3pm.

 

[LuvBaloo]

I voted for 4pm before reading the opening post. we typically have thanksgiving and christmas dinners around that time. Big feasts should be earlier than normal dinners so there's more time to feast

In your specific case, if 5pm is normally when you do it, then stick with what's normal. Since DH and I often remember things differently, I have to wonder if your wife is remembering it starting earlier in the past or is she actually wanting to change it?

I really don't think you start it earlier to accomodate a few people that are just coming for the grub and then wanting to leave right away.
If you want it to become more of a drop-in, eat and leave type of party,

 

[AshleyW]

I voted 5pm! Our family does lots of "all day" gatherings, and the main food is usually served right in the middle of it. As long as there's plenty to munch on before, and good music and fun people to talk to - people will hang around for the good food!