Party for 50 - ideas welcomed

[taffetacat]

We are having an afternoon/evening party in a few weeks for about 50 people including kids. I would like minimum work at the time so was thinking of doing slow roasted pork in baps with apple sauce, with a few side dishes - maybe a rice salad? Not sure what else.

On the pudding front I was pondering chocolate brownies, ice cream cornets if the weather is good, if not a couple of baked cheesecakes and a coconut macaroon tart? Again not really sure. Ideally do ahead stuff, so not pavlova as don't want to be faffing about assembling.

Was also wondering about pre food snacks?

Anyone with any brilliant ideas?

slow roasted pork sounds lovely although i might have another choice of sauce on offer as well,prob bbq and having kids about have lots of crisps available!
just a thought but as it's almost PYO season why not have bowls full of strawberries with cream on the side for people to help themselves,no effort required apart from washing and hulling!
do you really need to have pre-food snacks when you are laying on such a fantastic spread tho?

oooh the pyo strawbs are a great idea thanks

also good point about the sauce

I love your idea of pork baps - simple but everyone loves it and easy to do for a crowd. I would really enjoy that - so much nicer than a fiddly "buffet" with a load of stuff in pastry and a load of nasty "dips". I like your pudding ideas too. A few big lumps of cheese and some baguettes/biscuits/grapes might go down nicely with the grown ups too. If I was having a pork bap I would only really want a lovely green salad and a tomato salad with it rather than any potato/rice salad, but maybe that's just me. Have a great time - sounds like fun!

oh - just thought - maybe you need to provide a non-pork option for anyone who won't eat it - maybe some cold cooked salmon or cooked roast chicken?

how about loads of roasted chicken drumsticks, marinated in soy sauce, ginger, honey and garlic?
good hot or cold, and cheap for a big do.

Keeping the food simple is a really good idea with a few really well loaded platters, rather than lots of fiddly different ones.

like the chocolate brownies and try mixing cream with instant coffee(diluted with a little milk) and icing sugar to make a lovely sauce

i'd buy in mini ice creams/lollies if you have lots of children coming as much easier than ice cream cones.

can i come?

Wow a party for 50 people sounds like fun but hard work! Slow roasted pork sounds great but will you also need a veggie option? Maybe you could do a couple of cheese and tomato quiches or frittatas as well. As for puddings, the cheesecakes sound yummy and for simplicity, a fruit salad would be nice too.

Or you could stick DH on barbecue duty and enjoy the party!

Amy

No way DH will do a BBQ - he wants to be relaxing too.

Have found a good Jamie 12 hour whole shoulder of pork recipe I think I'll use, and then do baps with apple sauce and bbq sauce as options. I am liking the sound of the chicken drumsticks, iwastooearly, but am worried about oven space given the length of cooking time for the pork. I may just do a giant salad - y platter maybe with some shellfish or cold salmon in for those that don't like pork.

And then chocolate brownies which I can make a few days ahead, and if the weather is good then ice cream or if not cheesecakes. I love the idea of the PYO strawbs, but our local one in Kent doesn't start til the week after.....grrrr

I'm impressed - I am catering for 50 in July and was just thinking of getting Mr Waitrose to sort it out for me

Perhaps I should be more alpha-mummy and try to do it all myself? I just fear the inevitable yelling and tears (from me, not my toddler) as I will be 5mo pg and doubtless rather (ahem) irritable

haha novice- i was just about to say call mr marks and mr spencer - suprisingly affordable and very yummy.

novice - can thoroughly recommend Waitrose. I used them 2 years ago for a joint 70th/40th/1st birthday for my mum, me and DD. Twasn't cheap, mind. Neither was the jazz band, but once a lifetime do.

This is just a party! I have catered for this number before and spent the whole blardy time in the kitchen. Not this time! Hence the advance planning and lack of side dishes.....she said hopefully.

Yes, definitely plan NOT to spend entire day in the kitchen facilitating everyone else's fun and having none myself. I've done that one before and it's rubbish. This is my inlaws 40th wedding anniversary and will be a total surprise for them so want it to go perfectly. So nice to hear that Mr Waitrose does a good job! I was thinking Mr Majestic would probably do the booze - any thoughts?

(BTW taffetacat, the slow pork idea is making my mouth water!)

It's making my mouth water too novice! And if DH doesn't want to barbecue, I'm sure'll it'll be hit among the diners. I think a big potato or pasta salad would be very yummy. Can we come too?

I think most off licenses will do a drink or return policy, so any unopened bottles can just go straight back (yeah right!)

On the drinks front, as well as the usual beers and wine was going to make a big vat of cheat's Pimms. I haven't made it for a few years and am struggling to get any Orange Curacao . Would rather not go online as the delivery cost seems high.

Anyone know anywhere that stocks it?

hi again TC!
iirc oddbins stock it and poss.waitrose.
meant to ask you what size joint of pork you are going to cook?

pork baps sound fab, go with it (providing vegetarian alternative.) Coleslaw would be great with that. Keep it simple as others have said. If weather not great you could still serve icecream, in bowls, with seasonal berries? I'd also put out a large cheeseboard.

I think a whole shoulder of pork should do it, hopefully it will fit in the oven. Going to take my biggest roasting pan along to the butchers and let them laugh at me see what they think. As a main dish this serves around 16 I think, but as its in baps I am hoping for double, ie 32. Also bearing in mind kids, those that don't eat it etc. I will see what the butcher thinks - may end up needing two I suppose.....

I think I will def go for a seafood salad thing too. Maybe a massive green salad ( have loads growing ready to be picked )with seeds and herbs and then maybe a separate plate of salmon and prawns etc with a creamy lemony dill dressing on the side and maybe some sliced rye bread.

Breadsticks and crisps for snacks. Brownies and ice cream for pud, maybe some berries if I can find a PYO starting soon. And a few big cheese hunks and baguettes for later.