Throwing first large get together - critique my menu

[Anonymous]

Husband and I recently bought our first house and are having an open house to celebrate - expecting about 30 people. There are lots of men with big appetites coming (husband is military). This is my first time hosting this many people, please critique my menu - we want to keep things pretty casual.

- Pizza (ordering multiple pies from a local shop, vegetarian / meat options)
- Vegetable platter with ranch dip
- Some kind of 'baked' dip (street corn, 7 layer, etc.) with tortilla chips
- Homemade guacamole (also with tortilla chips)
- Two kinds of "hot" appetizers: thinking mozzarella sticks and Mac n cheese bites
- Variety of beers
- Liquor (vodka / rum / tequila) with various sodas as mixers
- Some type of batch cocktail (currently thinking a strawberry margarita) - something fun

[Anonymous]

If you’re having pizza, I’d add a simple salad. Also have some sort of desert.

[Anonymous]

It’s not bad but feels a little 10 yo birthday party.

I would skip the pizza and opt for pulled pork or bbq chicken or brisket and rolls. Do it all in a couple crock pots to make it easy. Maybe a crock of green beans.

For the apps I’d skip Mac and cheese bites and add something not fried- chicken wings or meatballs or bacon wrapped scallops perhaps? Even shrimp cocktail. Maybe offer a couple different sauces for the wings. Have a box of veggie wings in the freezer just in case. Fried apps aren’t good once cold and with 30 people they’ll be cold.

Ditch the veggie platter for grilled veggie skewers or pasta salad with veg.

Throw in a bag of regular chips and dip.

I’d also offer dessert. Cookies or brownies maybe. Smores if fire is involved.

If this is an all night party order pizza later to sober them back up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bad but feels a little 10 yo birthday party.

I would skip the pizza and opt for pulled pork or bbq chicken or brisket and rolls. Do it all in a couple crock pots to make it easy. Maybe a crock of green beans.

For the apps I’d skip Mac and cheese bites and add something not fried- chicken wings or meatballs or bacon wrapped scallops perhaps? Even shrimp cocktail. Maybe offer a couple different sauces for the wings. Have a box of veggie wings in the freezer just in case. Fried apps aren’t good once cold and with 30 people they’ll be cold.

Ditch the veggie platter for grilled veggie skewers or pasta salad with veg.

Throw in a bag of regular chips and dip.

I’d also offer dessert. Cookies or brownies maybe. Smores if fire is involved.

If this is an all night party order pizza later to sober them back up.

Agree on the meatballs or chicken wings. Need protein on the menu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bad but feels a little 10 yo birthday party.

I would skip the pizza and opt for pulled pork or bbq chicken or brisket and rolls. Do it all in a couple crock pots to make it easy. Maybe a crock of green beans.

For the apps I’d skip Mac and cheese bites and add something not fried- chicken wings or meatballs or bacon wrapped scallops perhaps? Even shrimp cocktail. Maybe offer a couple different sauces for the wings. Have a box of veggie wings in the freezer just in case. Fried apps aren’t good once cold and with 30 people they’ll be cold.

Ditch the veggie platter for grilled veggie skewers or pasta salad with veg.

Throw in a bag of regular chips and dip.

I’d also offer dessert. Cookies or brownies maybe. Smores if fire is involved.

If this is an all night party order pizza later to sober them back up.

Agree on the meatballs or chicken wings. Need protein on the menu.

Ooh shrimp cocktail is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Deviled eggs! You’re missing those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Deviled eggs! You’re missing those.

I hate making deviled eggs - I feel like I have to put my hands all over them LOL

[Anonymous]

Add a big meat lasagna!

[Anonymous]

Also congrats on the house!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bad but feels a little 10 yo birthday party.

I would skip the pizza and opt for pulled pork or bbq chicken or brisket and rolls. Do it all in a couple crock pots to make it easy. Maybe a crock of green beans.

For the apps I’d skip Mac and cheese bites and add something not fried- chicken wings or meatballs or bacon wrapped scallops perhaps? Even shrimp cocktail. Maybe offer a couple different sauces for the wings. Have a box of veggie wings in the freezer just in case. Fried apps aren’t good once cold and with 30 people they’ll be cold.

Ditch the veggie platter for grilled veggie skewers or pasta salad with veg.

Throw in a bag of regular chips and dip.

I’d also offer dessert. Cookies or brownies maybe. Smores if fire is involved.

If this is an all night party order pizza later to sober them back up.

Agree on the meatballs or chicken wings. Need protein on the menu.

Ooh shrimp cocktail is a good idea.

sort of off theme and runs up the budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bad but feels a little 10 yo birthday party.

I would skip the pizza and opt for pulled pork or bbq chicken or brisket and rolls. Do it all in a couple crock pots to make it easy. Maybe a crock of green beans.

For the apps I’d skip Mac and cheese bites and add something not fried- chicken wings or meatballs or bacon wrapped scallops perhaps? Even shrimp cocktail. Maybe offer a couple different sauces for the wings. Have a box of veggie wings in the freezer just in case. Fried apps aren’t good once cold and with 30 people they’ll be cold.

Ditch the veggie platter for grilled veggie skewers or pasta salad with veg.

Throw in a bag of regular chips and dip.

I’d also offer dessert. Cookies or brownies maybe. Smores if fire is involved.

If this is an all night party order pizza later to sober them back up.

+1

I would find pizza an odd choice in this context.

[Anonymous]

I would add one or two salads if women are coming. At the parties I have been to with pizza, a lot of women are really happy to see salad.

I think pizza is fine of you are going for a casual vibe.

[Anonymous]

Maybe add a few pasta dishes from the pizza place so that you have more choices for a main dish than just pizza. Something like penne with chicken in an Alfredo sauce, and a lasagna?

Congratulations on your home, OP! And thank you to your friend group for their service.

[Anonymous]

A large green salad would be a nice addition.

Agree with others that hot, fried appetizers cool and get greasy very quickly. Set out a cheese board, meatballs in the crockpot, soft pretzels cut in pieces with mustard or beer cheese dip, etc.

You need something sweet -- cookies, cake, fruit

Strawberry margaritas in January seem off -- that's a poolside drink. What about a pitcher of Moscow mules (add ginger beer to glass when poured), or something citrusy like a greyhound or orange crush? Vodka is so neutral you can do a lot of different things.

[Anonymous]

Instead of pizza and hot apps like mac and cheese bites, why not just get meat, rolls, and sides catered from a BBQ place? Then you would just have to be responsible for apps, drinks and dessert. You could do all the apps and dessert ahead of time and just pick up the BBQ.

Catering Provides:
Meats (Pulled Pork and Chicken)
BBQ Sauces
Rolls
Cole Slaw
Mac and Cheese
Potato Salad (or baked beans)

You Provide:
Chips and Dip
Veggies and Dip
Maybe add Pimento Cheese and Crackers or Cheese and Crackers
Dessert (Maybe some sort of cookie bar or brownie)