Throwing first large get together - critique my menu

[Anonymous]

OP is a vegetarian. I doubt she wants to make pulled pork or chicken or other meat heavy dishes.

OP - your menu is fine! I doubt agree with one of the op’s that mozzarella sticks are hard to keep tasty once they get cold so I might try something in place of that or make sure you have a way to keep them warm.

[Anonymous]

I think that the menu sounds good. I would replace the veggie platter with a salad with a vinegar and oil dressing. Replace the cheese appetizers with chicken wings.

Maybe add some kind of dessert and possibly fruit.

[Anonymous]

Get a few boxes of Popeyes. If you’re feeding big eaters it’s easy protein they’ll gobble up and you don’t have to cook it or keep warm

Sub hummus for the ranch on crudite, in fact I’d do a mezze instead. Like add olives and grapes, stuffed grape leaves. Cukes.

Pasta salad instead of mozzarella sticks. Agree on adding green salad.

[Anonymous]

What time? Is this a meal, or snacks/appetizers between meals? And how long?

For snacks/apps, I really like the veggie platter instead of a salad. Easier to eat a small plate of carrot sticks with one hand while walking around mingling, and IME it's the one thing that people keep going back to for a couple more bites as the afternoon wears on. Salad works better if people are sitting down at a table for a meal, but it's messy to eat standing up and the lettuce wilts in the dressing pretty quickly.

Do think about how you'll keep each item warm.

[Anonymous]

BBQ meatballs in crock pot is a good option. I love Popeyes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make sure a stray vegan can throw together 600 calories of something or other.

I don't think it is the responsibility of the host to cater to vegans.

How can you construe that as catering? The tortilla chips and guacamole already get you most of the way there. You just have to add one more option, like a dish of nuts or a salad without dairy and you’re golden.

[Anonymous]

If it’s an open house, definitely no to the fried cheese apps. Those do not do well if they have to sit out for any amount of time.

[Anonymous]

I think there's too many types of alcohol. Will guests be mixing their own drinks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ditch the cheesy hot apps and maybe go for some side salads.

Mozzarella sticks usually get gross, cold, congealed, and greasy extremely fast. Same with things like mac and cheese bites.

Plus you already have pizza and dips--this is a very cheese/dairy heavy menu.

Agree

[Anonymous]

A pesto pasta salad would be a good make ahead. Crispy cauliflower bites with marinara dip is also super easy and delicious: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/8076436/lidia-bastianich-spicy-crispy-roasted-cauliflower/

A veggie platter is fine if you make your own. I would add hummus to the platter.

[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. Feels like a super basic menu.

[Anonymous]

If this is an open house with people coming and going over the course of a few hours, I’d do something other than pizza, which will be cold by the time some of your guests arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of the pulled chicken/pulled pork sandwiches with the meat in crockpots. Some soft brioche rolls and some with sesame seeds, pre sliced of course. Different bbq sauces for people to add. A vinegary purple cabbage slaw. A Green salad. Baked Mac and cheese or another hearty side if you can keep it warm.

And assorted mini desserts (mini brownies, blondies, small cookies, etc).

I’d much rather have pizza from a good local place than mystery meat in a crock pot.

Totally agree with this. All the suggestion for pulled meat sandwiches are interesting. I never want to eat that.

[Anonymous]

I think your menu sounds fine for a non meal time. If it were a meal time, I would personally struggle as someone who is currently limiting carbs for health reasons. The only thing I’d be able to eat is the crudite and maybe a scoop of your hot dip depending on what it is. I’d appreciate some type of protein option (wings, pulled meat, shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, Greek salad w chicken, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of the pulled chicken/pulled pork sandwiches with the meat in crockpots. Some soft brioche rolls and some with sesame seeds, pre sliced of course. Different bbq sauces for people to add. A vinegary purple cabbage slaw. A Green salad. Baked Mac and cheese or another hearty side if you can keep it warm.

And assorted mini desserts (mini brownies, blondies, small cookies, etc).

I’d much rather have pizza from a good local place than mystery meat in a crock pot.

Totally agree with this. All the suggestion for pulled meat sandwiches are interesting. I never want to eat that.

+1. Unless you got it from a restaurant. I don’t want mystery crock pot meat. It’s never good.