i think short rib. or prime rib. no to the crab legs for me.

i have done lasagne and people loved it.

1. Prime rib (but I would be very disappointed w/ truffled mashed potatoes vs. classic or garlic)
2. Short ribs
3. Lasagna
4. Crab legs

I would be super excited about all of them, if it was 1983.

The trend nowadays is to do lighter, healthier, and easier fare. You can't just master some recipes and then keep them unchanged for decades. You have months to master some new ones. And it doesn't have to be elaborate.

Something like Thai beef salad, and you can swap out the beef for any non-meat eaters. Or tabbouleh with chicken skewers and moutabal.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry missed the part where this was in October. I think I would be the most excited about short ribs maybe with potatoes or polenta

No need to be sorry that OP totally failed in her OP to mention that this was in October…which I think she invented after she got all the feedback that these were heavy, winter-y dishes.

It’s July and you’re planning a menu for a dinner party in October?

None of these sound appealing. They seem kind of elaborate to me.

Sorry missed the part where this was in October. I think I would be the most excited about short ribs maybe with potatoes or polenta

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Salad to start

Prime Rib + Truffled Mashed Potatoes
or

Pomegranate Short Ribs with Marscapone Polenta

or
Crab Legs and Tarragon Butter and Garlic Broccolini

or
Traditional Bolognese Lasagna with Bechamel

The only one on your list that sounds remotely appealing in hot summer months: crab legs and broccolini.

It’s summer. Think light. Seafood is great, maybe a summer-y pasta, fresh vegetables and fruit-based dessert. The other menus sound great…for WINTER.

I completely agree. All of the dishes sound great but I think you should really lean into the fact that it's summer and it's peaches corn and tomato season

If it’s in October, so not worried about what’s summery, prime rib first choice, crab second, ribs third.

Lasagna is like a casserole someone gives you when your spouse is in the hospital or you’ve had a new baby. Meh. Not for a dinner party, unless you’re some kind of extraordinary professional Italian chef.

Personal favorite - prime rib, but a lot of people don’t eat meat and it’s hard to cook to each persons desired doneness. Love crab legs, but too awkward to eat at a dinner party. Lasagna - too informal and some of us inexplicably don’t like pasta (but are confronted with it repeatedly - first world problem). Short ribs - maybe, but not very exciting. If it were me, I’d first try to figure out if there are any foods that your six guests can’t eat or can’t stand and go from there (you open yourself up to the gluten nuts, but I wouldn’t pay attention unless they have celiac disease). It might be a good time to challenge yourself to master a lighter, more updated menu, especially since you have time.

Well, I can't stand the smell of truffles, so truffled mash would be a no from me. To me truffles smell like rotting flesh. I eat everything else though.

I like the sound of pomegranate short ribs, but why ruin polenta with mascarpone?

Prime rib with truffled mashed potatoes sounds sooo good. But SOME people (cough DH cough) don't understand the art and delicacy of red meat that is...red. They are routinely horrified by my medium or (gasp) medium-rare steaks, and even more so when the kids try some and like it. So unless you know all your guests will eat it rare, maybe not.

Short ribs would be my next choice. I'd be excited to eat anything I either wouldn't think to cook or is too daunting to me to try cooking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: None.

+1 — These all sound heavy and unappealing for a summer dinner party. Also, a bit old-fashioned — like “Continental Cuisine”. Maybe you’re going for a retro feel?

That's exactly what I thought when I saw this list. These dishes are all so winter-y!

How about instead of:

Prime Rib + Truffled Mashed Potatoes - Grilled rib-eyes (or lamb chops) with chimichurri + greek lemon potatoes

Pomegranate Short Ribs with Marscapone Polenta - Braised lamb shanks with eggplant or greenbeans

Crab Legs and Tarragon Butter and Garlic Broccolini - Whole grilled or roast fish + broccolini

Traditional Bolognese Lasagna with Bechamel - Pasta with lemon and crab

I also wouldn't "start" with a salad, I would serve the salad alongside the main meal. A dinner party should feel more homey than dinner at a fusty hotel.

2nd weekend in October
All of them are recipes I have mastered that’s why they are somewhat traditional. I don’t like to make things I haven’t done before for other people!

Way to bury the lede, OP.

I would rank 1) short ribs, 2) bolognese lasagna, 3) prime rib 4) crab legs

Anonymous wrote:Crab legs if it was a group I knew really well and wouldn't be self conscious about looking like a slob eating them. The Prime Rib for a group I did not know as well.

Short ribs are too hard to eat without making a mess and I don't like lasagna.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Salad to start

Prime Rib + Truffled Mashed Potatoes
or

Pomegranate Short Ribs with Marscapone Polenta

or
Crab Legs and Tarragon Butter and Garlic Broccolini

or
Traditional Bolognese Lasagna with Bechamel

The only one on your list that sounds remotely appealing in hot summer months: crab legs and broccolini.

It’s summer. Think light. Seafood is great, maybe a summer-y pasta, fresh vegetables and fruit-based dessert. The other menus sound great…for WINTER.