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?

Sounds good to me, and I wouldn't eat the hotdogs.

I would also, as a guest bring stuff with me. Id ask first, and if host said nothing i would bring alcohol and nibbles like crisps.

I would have lamb kofta and belly pork too, but because I pig out on those whenever I can.

Enjoy your BBQ!

@Theresip Your seafood bbq sounds great. Wish I could do it tomorrow but I have small children coming. Suspect they would like your hotdogs more than my sausages. But I am making jelly rabbits and ice cream!

Did you get the emergency alert?

When is the event?

How does that impact the bbq of the year?

Tomorrow.

Hope it goes well.

I think you have too much tbh
ditch the chicken or gammon
I would also ditch the Caesar salad you already have plenty

interest piqued Jelly Rabbits? I think I might like them.

Thank you!

Just had a shower now. Pulled pork made, one salad made, potatoes half made, coleslaw made, garden prepared. Will have to be an early start tomorrow to get finished.

It sounds delicious! I love homemade coleslaw.

Did you read the alert? Only disposable BBQs are banned. Presumably OP has a regular, non disposable BBQ, responsibly sited.

Indeed I do. I also give all the plants a good water in the mornings and hose down the decking, so the garden isn’t dry.

Ooh I missed what time it is, but I hope it went well or is going well!

Last guest has just left.

Didn’t cook 18 of the 36 sausages because it was clear they would not get eaten. Eight of 22 burgers left. Also left was half of the potato salad, 99% of the green salad, 80% of the coleslaw, and nearly all of the halloumi and veg skewers, because by the time they were cooked everyone was full. The cheeseboards had little left.

Absolute massive waste of food, as always.

Honestly, if 24 guests only ate 18 sausages and 14 burgers between them, there was something unpalatable about your food. I can understand the sausages if you were serving hot dogs, as most people wouldn't eat those, but it's really unusual for nearly half the attendees to decline a burger.

If people routinely don't eat the food when you host, perhaps take the hint and just stick to drinks parties.

Why were you putting out a cheeseboard before the BBQ? Cheesebards come at the end of the meal, surely?

🤣 you had to find a way to be a bitch didn’t you? Maybe they were all getting drunk. Maybe her friends are all skinni bitches. Maybe they were on the snow.

Don't be that internet twat.

I hope you had a fabulous time at your Barbie. So, your guests ate normal rather than gargantuan portions of food. Predictably. I’m sure there was absolutely nothing wrong with the food and people didn’t eat loads of burgers and sausages because

a) you provided lots of sides and grazing and in hot weather cold food is good
b) most people will eat a burger or hot dog but not both when there are lots of options available

The main thing is, did you enjoy it?

Maybe just do an enormous cheese board, next time? Perhaps some cold meats, pickles, cured meats, breads, olives, hummus etc to go with. Sounds as though that's more their bag 🤷🏼‍♀️

I did do that and said so in the OP.

@Theresip glad it went well? Cannot believe some people are still being arses to you on this thread. Half an hour ago I looked at my husband and said pulled pork!!! Forgot to serve it and it is in the fridge. So you are not the only one with stuff left over!

Hope you had a lovely day.

Other than the left over food, how did it go? Did you have a good time or was it stressful for you? Did anyone offer to help or did you do all the cooking yourself?

You can freeze the burgers etc or maybe have another smaller impromptu bbq today - invite the neighbours or family. That's what we tend to do if we have leftovers after a big bbq.

I bet you were itching for them to leave so you could get back on your Mumsnet thread

That delicious sounding seafood bbq you mentioned would no doubt have gone down a storm