Anonymous wrote:Morning! We are hosting a casual backyard BBQ dinner for our son’s soccer team next week and I’d love your thoughts on the planned menu.
Background:
*20 adults
*10 kids (8-10yo) and a couple younger siblings
*One person with gluten sensitivity
*No other allergies, food restrictions, vegetarians etc.
Menu:
*BBQ chicken drumsticks
*Grilled chicken breasts (GF, made on separate sanitized grill)
*Bratwursts and hotdogs (GF) (with regular and GF buns)
*Baked beans (GF)
*Steamed broccoli (GF)
*Homemade macaroni and cheese
*Annie’s macaroni and cheese (because we all know some kids will only eat boxed)
*French fries (GF) (for kids)
*Orzo vegetable salad
*Green salad (GF with GF dressing option)
*Sliced watermelon
*Chocolate chip cookies
*Brownies (GF)
*Beer, wine, hard seltzer, soda, water, juice boxes, milk boxes etc.
A few guests are bringing a dessert of their choose too.
Does it seem like a good balance, particularly with the gluten-free options in mind? I would love to pare down on a side or two but I’m not really sure where to make that cut so I can easily keep the menu as is. Would love any input on any substitutions or changes you might make. Very lucky that except for the one person who has a sensitivity to gluten, there are no other dietary restrictions to work around. Crazy to find that with such a large group! Thanks in advance.
Anonymous wrote:My thoughts:
While it’s nice you’re providing gluten-free options, I don’t think you need that many for one person.
You’re menu seems a little hoity-toity for a BBQ, and some of the options don’t fit the theme (steamed broccoli?) You’ve got 2 kinds of chicken, 2 kinds of sausages, but no hamburgers?
Here’s what I’d suggest
Hamburgers
Hotdogs
Chips instead of fries
Baked Beans
Green Salad
Orzo Salad - nice option, not really necessary
If you want to throw in macaroni and cheese, only make one kind - it’s just a starch. If kids don’t like it they have buns and fried/chips. Frankly, I’d skip it altogether
If you really need more produce (which I don’t think you do), substitute grapes or another salad for the broccoli
Watermelon
Brownies/Cookies - optional since guests are bringing dessert and you’ve got watermelon.
Drinks