What is the obsession with chilli?

[ClaraThePigeon]

Every time someone asks what to serve at a party on MN, people always suggest chilli. They always have to specify a big pot of it too as though if they didn't the host would give everyone a teaspoon of it each.

Do people really like chili that much? It's ok. I enjoy it a couple of times a year but that's it. It isn't something that I'd want at a party and it's rather messy not to mention trying to satisfy everyone's heat level preferences.

Curry is good. Easy to make ahead. Can do a veggie and a meat one plus trimmings

Just like chilli then!

I find that chilli is more palatable younger than curries. Just my experience of my family and friends, please don't jump on my if you weaned your baby on vindaloos.

@ClaraThePigeon can you name just one or two of the thousand dishes that you find more acceptable?

We serve it every year at our Halloween party with various toppings, rice, mini jackets and bread.

Also serve curry (also in a big pot!) and sometimes soup.

It's not cheap.

Party is for around 100 people so need something easy to cook in bulk.

I make a very small pot of chilli in the hope my guests don't stay too long.

I like your style. Personally I choose never to invite anyone to mine. Problem solved.

I don't have any friends anyway.

Queen!

@penguinsaurus I make macaroni cheese with more cheese than you'd think, a bit of grainy mustard, pinch of cayenne pepper. And I'm in Scotland so I use spirali instead of macaroni as that seems to be the norm here. Anyway, it always seems to vanish instantly, so I reckon that whatever people say they would like at a party, mac&cheese is the ideal food for drunk people.

Yes, that’s exactly my point. Curry and chilli good for the same reasons.

I love this! It’s our go to for family/friend get togethers especially if there are kids too. A big pot (obv) of chilli, jacket potato halves, grated cheese, all the salsa and guacamole bits, tortilla chips and a tin if coleslaw. Generally everyone can find something they are happy to eat, it’s easy to put together and equally ok be it summer or winter.

It’s this or sausages/fried onions in rolls generally. There’s usually a salad but it doesn’t really get eaten though everything else gets hoovered up. Followed by cheesecake for afters. Don’t know why cheesecake, just always is.

tin if coleslaw

A tin of coleslaw? A tin?

I remember Tim's of coleslaw! My Nan always had some in. Heinz tinned coleslaw!!

This thread has just made me want chilli every time I read it so it's on the menu here tonight!

@NotLovingWFH Are you me?! 😁 Those are my rinse and repeat mass catering offerings. Also curry. Good quality butchers sausages with French bread and onions, again easy to adapt for veggie/vegans. Same with curry, one chicken one lamb one veggie, and then obvs the chilli, served on the mild side with optional fresh or dried chillis or chilli sauce to heat it up a bit as required. With nachos/sour cream/guacamole etc. And obvs a veggie option.

I have 3 MASSIVE pots for this purpose. Curry and chilli can be made in advance and leftovers frozen in smaller portions so little waste.

There was tins of vegetable salad and I think potato salad, but not sure about coleslaw.

Tinned coleslaw

I remember a friend serving tinned 'Russian salad' once years ago - utterly disgusting: like cat sick.