Anonymous wrote:OP probably knows her crowd better and so I am guessing the menu reflects that.

So I guess we should stop offering suggestions as requested by OP? Confused…

Thanks all for the recommendations and congratulations. This is a late 20s / early 30s crowd and some of the more ‘elevated’ suggestions may not hit the park. Here’s where I’ve sort of landed:

Pizzas
Caesar Salad (both catered from pizza place)
Pita chips and hummus
Crockpot meatballs
Some sort of baked dip (likely ‘Mexican’ food style - elote corn, seven layer…) and tortilla chips
Vegetable tray and dip
A ‘charcuterie tray’ of sorts with dessert options (mini brownies, cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, etc.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Guac often has sour cream in it

But agree it's nice to have at least something for vegans to eat

I would love to have pizza at this party - I'm not sure why people are so opposed. It's easy, tasty, not too messy.

Salad would be good if it's an option but veggie tray will make up for it if not.

Agree something sweet would be nice.

Congrats on the house!

+ 1. Pizza is easy, tasty even cold, filling, and relatively cheap. Can’t beat it.

Definitely needs more salad or veggies unless no one will eat that. Fruit or fruit salad also an option.

Also nothing wrong with tortilla chips with any dip, potato chips, and pretzels!

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.

It's not 1986

Big men appetites b/c they are military. Dying over here....

When I do an open house, I do things that are in components, rather than all mixed together. Like a spiral ham, beans (no bacon), rolls, salad with dressings on the side, cheese tray, fruit tray, etc. This way you don’t have to worry about anyone’s preferences in particular because they can take the things that they can eat and make their own plate. Also agree that since its an open house over several hours to not plan for food that is great when it’s fresh but is not good when it’s been sitting there.

I love pizza and love that you have this as a hearty folly vegetarian option.

I would add some pita and other breads to your dips, rather than just crudites or crackers.

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

At a party there can never be too many types of alcohol.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ew, what is wrong with people? Do not serve gross fast food to your guests!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Guac often has sour cream in it

But agree it's nice to have at least something for vegans to eat

I would love to have pizza at this party - I'm not sure why people are so opposed. It's easy, tasty, not too messy.

Salad would be good if it's an option but veggie tray will make up for it if not.

Agree something sweet would be nice.

Congrats on the house!

Congratulations on the house!

If it is an open house then people will not eat at the same time, and so you need to keep food warm.

So, imho, also use crockpots for something like BBQ pulled meats, chowder, chili, soup, dips etc and serve with cornbread, buns, chips etc. Incorporate things like pasta salad, grilled or roasted veggies, fruit and cheese skewers, baked potatoes with fixing etc. You just need some infrastructure to keep food warm like crockpots, chafing dishes, warmers.

I would skip cocktails and instead just serve some good hard liquor, wine and beer - so it is easy to serve and there is no wastage.

Men with hearty appetite who will also be drinking? And they will also get their spouses/SO? And you want it to be casual but also expect people to linger (because military). You will need the menu that is a cross between a super bowl party and a holiday potluck and a 4th of July party.

Keep cleaning supplies around for spills and plumbing emergencies etc. First party in a new house usually sees some spills.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Guac often has sour cream in it

But agree it's nice to have at least something for vegans to eat

I would love to have pizza at this party - I'm not sure why people are so opposed. It's easy, tasty, not too messy.

Salad would be good if it's an option but veggie tray will make up for it if not.

Agree something sweet would be nice.

Congrats on the house!

OP probably knows her crowd better and so I am guessing the menu reflects that.

I'd make some small changes:

- pizza sounds good
- veggie platter and a fruit tray
- salad with a few dressing options
- chips and guac (no need for baked dip)
- a few meat-based apps like chicken wings, cocktail meatballs (no need for mozz sticks with pizza)
- add desserts: cookies, brownies, whatever
- Variety of beers
- Liquor (vodka / rum / tequila) with various sodas as mixers
- Some type of batch cocktail (currently thinking a strawberry margarita) - something fun

OP, you have had so many suggestions that you might be regretting ever posting. This isn’t a menu I would serve or relish eating, but the same is probably true if our situations were reversed. You know your friends the best and what they like to eat, so I think you should stick with your original menu and add fruit or veggies to round it out. I’m sensing that this is a group of friends who likes comfort food and lots of it!

In any case, this is your party and you are opening your home to your friends! Everyone will have a great time.

7 layer dip with chips