Anonymous
11/21/2024 16:32
Subject: Re:Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
This might be a long shot, but does anyone (local) who might attend belong to a Country Club, Dinner Club, Social Club, et al?
With their "sponsorship," you might be able to use that club or facility - some clubs mandate that they attend, but even if it were a family friend, they might be willing to do it for you. You could get a room, plan the menu, etc etc.
Just a thought!
With their "sponsorship," you might be able to use that club or facility - some clubs mandate that they attend, but even if it were a family friend, they might be willing to do it for you. You could get a room, plan the menu, etc etc.
Just a thought!
Anonymous
11/21/2024 15:48
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We host a Christmas party for about 80 people every year in a much smaller house and without any help of staff. I take tge day before off to start the cooking. I don’t know why everyone is pretending that this is so difficult!
I have so many questions. How far in advance are you planning the menu and shopping for the ingredients? What are you cooking that only takes 1-1.5 days to prepare enough for 80 people? Do you make the same food every year? How many refrigerators and ovens do you have? How long does it take to clean up the kitchen afterwards? Is your house guest-ready at all times or do you also need to tidy up before your party? When does furniture get moved around to set up for such a big crowd? Do you get to mingle with guests or do you spend the whole party reheating/replenishing food?
I generally plan the menu a week or two in advance. I will order a jamon or prosciutto a couple of weeks in advance but will buy everything else the day before from Costco. I will make something like a brisket, pork butt, chili or beef rendang, flatbreads, salads, tapas etc. some dishes I do every year, some are new. My spouse does the desserts. we have one refrigerator and one oven, but I will usually cook some things on the BGE or pizza oven. We use paper plates etc so clean up is not an issue - I would rather hire glasses as I find the plastic cups a bit vulgar but I have to admit it is easier. Our house is never really “guest-ready” but the cleaners come on a Friday so it is in reasonable shape. We move the furniture around a couple of hours before the party. The food is usually laid out before guests arrive, only one or two things are replenished, and I usually get the kids to do that. Plenty of time to mingle with the guests. Everything is very low-key and relaxed. We are not fancy.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m in awe of people who entertain with ease. My parents and my spouse’s parents did very little entertaining and not on a large scale, so we really don’t know how to do it. When we host 10 extended relatives for Thanksgiving, the lead up is chaotic and we’re exhausted afterwards. Our guests end up with a good meal and things are calm while they’re here, but I always feel like I just *barely* pulled it off. You’re teaching your children a valuable life skill, even if it’s one they won’t use often.
I entertain a lot and have occasionally even been the house like 20-30 people show up to on short notice if something happened in the community. I do think the key is like pp said, to be relaxed and not too fancy. You need a decent amount of food, you need places for a decent amount of people to sit and relax but the reality is that guests kind of do most of the job themselves. People find places to stand and chat. They hold food in their hands on a plate if they want to. They find a table and sit and eat if they want to do that. They cozy up in a group on the sofa if they are feeling that. It just kind of works out, people like to be together!
I think there is a lot of overthinking that happens when people host, you just need good food and drinks, a lot of it and a comfortable and welcoming environment.
Anonymous
11/21/2024 13:17
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We host a Christmas party for about 80 people every year in a much smaller house and without any help of staff. I take tge day before off to start the cooking. I don’t know why everyone is pretending that this is so difficult!
I have so many questions. How far in advance are you planning the menu and shopping for the ingredients? What are you cooking that only takes 1-1.5 days to prepare enough for 80 people? Do you make the same food every year? How many refrigerators and ovens do you have? How long does it take to clean up the kitchen afterwards? Is your house guest-ready at all times or do you also need to tidy up before your party? When does furniture get moved around to set up for such a big crowd? Do you get to mingle with guests or do you spend the whole party reheating/replenishing food?
I generally plan the menu a week or two in advance. I will order a jamon or prosciutto a couple of weeks in advance but will buy everything else the day before from Costco. I will make something like a brisket, pork butt, chili or beef rendang, flatbreads, salads, tapas etc. some dishes I do every year, some are new. My spouse does the desserts. we have one refrigerator and one oven, but I will usually cook some things on the BGE or pizza oven. We use paper plates etc so clean up is not an issue - I would rather hire glasses as I find the plastic cups a bit vulgar but I have to admit it is easier. Our house is never really “guest-ready” but the cleaners come on a Friday so it is in reasonable shape. We move the furniture around a couple of hours before the party. The food is usually laid out before guests arrive, only one or two things are replenished, and I usually get the kids to do that. Plenty of time to mingle with the guests. Everything is very low-key and relaxed. We are not fancy.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m in awe of people who entertain with ease. My parents and my spouse’s parents did very little entertaining and not on a large scale, so we really don’t know how to do it. When we host 10 extended relatives for Thanksgiving, the lead up is chaotic and we’re exhausted afterwards. Our guests end up with a good meal and things are calm while they’re here, but I always feel like I just *barely* pulled it off. You’re teaching your children a valuable life skill, even if it’s one they won’t use often.
Anonymous
11/21/2024 10:00
Subject: Re:Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
My house is twice that size, with a large back yard, and I'd never host such a big group for a sit-down meal. The work involved will be substantial, including moving your furniture, renting tables and chairs, possibly a tent if outdoors, purchasing or renting the serving dishes and tableware, etc., including the wear and tear on the house. Even if you have caterers prep and serve you'll still need all the tables, seating, etc.
Save yourself a ton of hassle and go to Maggiano's, as previously suggested. You'll get a private room, reasonable prices, decent menu selections, good food quality, and people can choose their own hotels to meet their budgets and preferences.
Save yourself a ton of hassle and go to Maggiano's, as previously suggested. You'll get a private room, reasonable prices, decent menu selections, good food quality, and people can choose their own hotels to meet their budgets and preferences.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 23:08
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We host a Christmas party for about 80 people every year in a much smaller house and without any help of staff. I take tge day before off to start the cooking. I don’t know why everyone is pretending that this is so difficult!
I have so many questions. How far in advance are you planning the menu and shopping for the ingredients? What are you cooking that only takes 1-1.5 days to prepare enough for 80 people? Do you make the same food every year? How many refrigerators and ovens do you have? How long does it take to clean up the kitchen afterwards? Is your house guest-ready at all times or do you also need to tidy up before your party? When does furniture get moved around to set up for such a big crowd? Do you get to mingle with guests or do you spend the whole party reheating/replenishing food?
I generally plan the menu a week or two in advance. I will order a jamon or prosciutto a couple of weeks in advance but will buy everything else the day before from Costco. I will make something like a brisket, pork butt, chili or beef rendang, flatbreads, salads, tapas etc. some dishes I do every year, some are new. My spouse does the desserts. we have one refrigerator and one oven, but I will usually cook some things on the BGE or pizza oven. We use paper plates etc so clean up is not an issue - I would rather hire glasses as I find the plastic cups a bit vulgar but I have to admit it is easier. Our house is never really “guest-ready” but the cleaners come on a Friday so it is in reasonable shape. We move the furniture around a couple of hours before the party. The food is usually laid out before guests arrive, only one or two things are replenished, and I usually get the kids to do that. Plenty of time to mingle with the guests. Everything is very low-key and relaxed. We are not fancy.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 22:52
Subject: Re:Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
If you have a bunch of people coming from out of town, you will probably end up hosting mini get togethers at your house the day before and the day after the big event.
So . . have the big event at a resaurant. Invite all who care to, to come to your home after the restaurant thing, that evening and the next day.
Also, think about hiring a professional photographer.
So . . have the big event at a resaurant. Invite all who care to, to come to your home after the restaurant thing, that evening and the next day.
Also, think about hiring a professional photographer.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 22:47
Subject: Re:Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Where would everyone park? 60 people means 15 or 20 cars.
Do you have a garage? If so, I recommend you remove your vehicles from your garage so that the smokers and beer drinkers can congregate around the beer keg in the garage. That would cut down on some of the house traffic.
Do you have a garage? If so, I recommend you remove your vehicles from your garage so that the smokers and beer drinkers can congregate around the beer keg in the garage. That would cut down on some of the house traffic.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 08:58
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Hire a good caterer and have them come out to your house and advise.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 08:44
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
We do this but I have staff to coodinate the rental furniture/flatware/decor/tents/barware ect. Our chef hires on some extra staff to prep and plate. It's a lot of fun.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 08:26
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Is this a seated dinner where you all want to eat at the same time? Restaurant all the way!!
Buffet or just appetizers you could make it work but it’s a lot of work and coordination on your end.
Also, how many bathrooms do you have? 60 people is a lot for only 2 or 3 unless you want people in your bedroom.
Buffet or just appetizers you could make it work but it’s a lot of work and coordination on your end.
Also, how many bathrooms do you have? 60 people is a lot for only 2 or 3 unless you want people in your bedroom.
Anonymous
11/20/2024 00:22
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
if you have the money, do it at a restaurant!!!
who wants to try to seat 60 people in their house!??!
who wants to try to seat 60 people in their house!??!
Anonymous
11/19/2024 23:57
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
I have a 3500 sf house (not open floor plan, but kitchen and family room are open to each other) and could not even have 60 people here for standing cocktails, much less a seated dinner. So it really depends on your house/room layouts.
For example, a PP said she did this with a 3000sf home, and she removed the dining room table and replaced with smaller rounds to seat 20. Vs- in my 3500sf home, the dining room just fits a table for 10 but if we removed that table, we could not come close to fitting 2 rounds in its place.
And while I agree with pp’s who said a dinner at home provides more intimacy, I think a dinner for 60 isn’t going to feel intimate no matter where it is (fun and lively yes, intimate no), so I’d personally go with the easier option which I think is a restaurant.
For example, a PP said she did this with a 3000sf home, and she removed the dining room table and replaced with smaller rounds to seat 20. Vs- in my 3500sf home, the dining room just fits a table for 10 but if we removed that table, we could not come close to fitting 2 rounds in its place.
And while I agree with pp’s who said a dinner at home provides more intimacy, I think a dinner for 60 isn’t going to feel intimate no matter where it is (fun and lively yes, intimate no), so I’d personally go with the easier option which I think is a restaurant.
Anonymous
11/19/2024 21:38
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Oh, gosh, I’ve had 60 people back to the house after a funeral for a catered lunch.
I guess it depends on how formal you need it to be.
I guess it depends on how formal you need it to be.
Anonymous
11/19/2024 21:32
Subject: Re:Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
My biggest concern would be bathrooms! How many do you have that are accessible to guests? (I’m assuming you don’t want people marching through your bedroom to use your bathroom).
Anonymous
11/19/2024 21:11
Subject: Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January
Anonymous wrote:We host a Christmas party for about 80 people every year in a much smaller house and without any help of staff. I take tge day before off to start the cooking. I don’t know why everyone is pretending that this is so difficult!
I have so many questions. How far in advance are you planning the menu and shopping for the ingredients? What are you cooking that only takes 1-1.5 days to prepare enough for 80 people? Do you make the same food every year? How many refrigerators and ovens do you have? How long does it take to clean up the kitchen afterwards? Is your house guest-ready at all times or do you also need to tidy up before your party? When does furniture get moved around to set up for such a big crowd? Do you get to mingle with guests or do you spend the whole party reheating/replenishing food?