Is this enough food for a barbecue?

[Theresip]

I’m having a barbecue for 24 people on Saturday. I haven’t hosted for this many before so can I check with those if you who are more experienced whether this is the right amount of food?

On the barbecue:

24 burgers
24 hot dogs

Prepared in advance and served cold:

50 buns
A large gammon joint
15 barbecue chicken drumsticks
15 plain drumsticks
A potato salad with lemon and garlic
Homemade coleslaw
A Caesar salad
Another type of vegan salad

Then for people arriving I’ll have a cheeseboard, crisps, dips, and sweets out.

Is it enough? Should I add a pasta salad?

I was going to ask if it was a BBQ where 75% of the guests were vegan! Is there a North / South divide here? Class divide? I’m not sure but every man (personal experience) I’ve ever known eats approx 1kg of meat, does fuck all all day and then complains about stomach ache at every BBQ I’ve ever been to 😂 I think if the host puts the burgers and hot dogs into the bread before serving to guests then maybe that makes a difference. When I did keto I was so excited to get invited to a BBQ and would have eaten 2-3 pieces of meat with some salad.

You need at least 100 extra hotdogs and a million jacket potatoes otherwise the hoards just won't be full

😃

Sounds fabulous op crack on

In my experience of catering for big groups of people, they always eat less than you think they will oddly. Especially if not sitting at a table

I think salads often get left alone because they're so tricky to eat standing up and holding a plate. Always loads of salad left. My experience is that burgers and sausages go first because they're filling and easy to manage whilst hanging around. All the rest is a pain in the bum.

Thank you! That is reassuring.

You can’t be arsed cos most havnt stroked your ego as you expected , don’t want opinions don’t ask

I don’t know how many different ways I can say that I am going to get more burgers and sausages. It isn’t hard to read.

For what it’s worth this is a mainly working class barbecue in the North East. I can fully see some people having two burgers or two sausages or both, but I can’t see anyone eating four burgers and sausages, gammon/pork, chicken and sides. It would be painful.

Why would by ego be stoked by hotdogs? This place gets more and more bizarre.

I do think it’s unusual to be able to eat two burgers, two hot dogs, chicken, gammon/pork and sides. Fair dos to those who can but it isn’t the norm

That would be unusual, but people will eat more of what they actually like rather than eat a bit of each. e.g. I would 'only' eat the burgers and sausages because cold chicken is unappealing and I'd consider gammon a bit of a faff. You need to cut it up.

Op we can all give our list of what we would eat, but you are not a five star buffet service, stick with what you want, and don't worry (just get plenty of anything otherwise you will sound like Matron ordering one each only people!!) Most will be glad to be invited and enjoy your BBQ

And 5 of them didn't eat at all!

Yes, and I’d only have the chicken and gammon, so we’d balance out? That’s what I was thinking, that it’ll balance out.

What is this “it’s too hot to eat much” business that you speak of? That is absolutely not a universal experience!

It wouldn’t I’m from the north east too and you would be ridiculed if you serve ye olde hotdogs you can’t possibly be a proper geordie

Well, I am, and my Geordie friends like them too. Maybe you’re from Jesmond.

You’ve got plenty of food OP and I’d be happy with all of it. MNers are weird when it comes to food. It’s either “I couldn’t possibly eat more than half a sandwich all day” or “a burger, a hotdog, chicken, 3 different types of salads and some crisps wouldn’t touch the sides” depending on what they wanted to judge you on at the time of posting.

Yes, and I’d only have the chicken and gammon, so we’d balance out? That’s what I was thinking, that it’ll balance out

That would be ideal if you could be sure it worked out that way, but it's a gamble I wouldn't take. I realise now you're getting more sausages and burgers so that should fix it.

What is this “it’s too hot to eat much” business that you speak of? That is absolutely not a universal experience!

Dh always says 'that's a girl thing'

(And no, he doesn't generally call women girls. Just in this case)

I've found the opposite, all the healthy stuff gets left!

I think you are fine with the meat as a burger a hot dog gammon and chicken drumsticks are plenty but I would do a pasta salad, some corn on the cob and maybe a tomato and mozzarella or feta and watermelon.

I don't eat meat so am not bothered by the quantities of burgers/sausages, but have never, ever seen hot dogs on a barbecue- and my family have frequent barbecues.

😂 this thread.

I love food threads on MN. I think they are my favourite. People are OBSESSED with the idea of hosting and being a good host. Whatever happened to having some mates round for a BBQ and a chat? Some people really need to relax a bit.

It wouldn’t matter what your list of food said, some people would come in and tell you it’s shit and you should replace the whole lot.

For what it’s worth OP it sounds like a typical BBQ to me and very similar to many I’ve been to. Stick to your gammon if you like it. Your friends won’t care, I’m sure. I would certainly want my friend to have something they can eat if they were inviting me round. Also, I’m vegan and as long as the salads are vegan, I’d be more than happy with what you’re offering.

Enjoy!

I would do some belly pork ( salt and pepper , chilli honey) a pasta salad some bbq pulled pork and chicken kebabs with pepper , onion, mushroom, pineapple and chicken ( obv) ,corn on the cobs in butter and some baby potatoes some in butter some in mint sauce

Pasta salad keeps coming up, personally I think cold pasta is as appetising as a hot dog sausage.

I agree with what others have said, some people will want more than one burger and sausage, not so but some, I'd do 36 burgers and 48 sausages if a regular sausage size not jumbo ones. I personally wouldn't be keen on cold chicken, you may find it gets left. Leftover BBQ meat is great with salad the next day, so in our house you can never do too much as it will get eaten