I am planning a surprise anniversary dinner for my parent's 25th. Menu suggestions?

Question

I want to keep it simple but elegant. There will be about 20 people, all family. I had a menu all planned out, but I have a feeling it's going to be very warm Memorial Day weekend, and I'm comtemplating something more light. Any suggestions or summer menu ideas for a simple, yet nice meal for about 20 people?

I had planned paella, and chicken cacciatora as main dishes. I've got the side dishes pretty much figured out, but I think those might be a little heavy. Any comments or suggestions. Sound all right for an out door summer dinner party or not?

Side dishes are green salad, fresh tomatoes and basil, corn on the cob, cold pasta salad, and maybe roasted potatoes/vegetables.

Thanks for the suggestions so far...:-) Any opinions on whether paella and/or caccitora are too heavy for an out door summer dinner? Should I go lighter, more casual?

Thanks Brandi, love the suggestion! :-)
And veggies with Green Goddess dressing for a dip. Mmm.

Answer 1

you can have a display meal of soft foods (boiled cabbage, mashed potatoes and mushy carrots) since they are getting "old". lol...

Outdoor... Memorial Day... I would think the real meal can be grilled kabobs and ribs or grilled salmon.

Answer 2

Here's an idea that would be a lot of fun for everyone. It's easier to cook this way when you have to feed so many people since you cook the main & side dishes all together. A little more prep maybe but fantastic results: a lobster/crab/clam bake! Plus this way you get to socialize with everyone instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

Backyard Lobster Bake

15 pounds of seaweed (your fish person can get you some)
16 (1 1/2 pound) lobsters*
16 ears corn, shucked
5 pounds red potatoes, parboiled halfway in salted water
10 pounds large clams
1 (750 ml) bottle white wine
2 yards wet burlap

Special equipment: #3 galvanized washtub (easy to find at a local hardware store)

Start the fire 1 hour in advance, making sure the coals are white hot before you begin cooking.

Spread 1/2 of the seaweed on the bottom of the tub to protect the lobsters from burning. Place lobsters on top of seaweed. Place the corn on top of the lobster, and the potatoes on top of the corn. Arrange the raw clams on top of the vegetables and top with the remaining seaweed. Pour the wine into the tub. Place the wet burlap over the food and tuck the edges into the tub to retain the steam inside.

Place the tub on top of the coals. Every 15 minutes, moisten the burlap with water. Cook for about 45 minutes.

Serve the lobster bake strewn out on newspapers, with melted butter, piles of coarse sea salt, and favorite spices as condiments.

*Chef's Notes:
Do not buy lobsters that are over 5 pounds, as the meat tends to get stringy. Look for flexibility in the tail and a healthy sheen when selecting the lobster.
You can do this on a stovetop using the exact same method. Be sure to place the pot overlapping a couple of burners to get the heat you will need.

Answer 3

I agree that fish would be good. It's slightly "fancier" than typical backyard fare but not complicated.

Poached salmon is easy to prepare ahead of time, it can be cooked in individual portions or whole fillets for platter-style serving, and tastes good hot, room temp, or chilled. Plus, it'd go well with your chosen side dishes.... especially if you served it with a parsley-lemon pesto.

Paella would be good, but I'd cut down out the potatoes and pasta salad in that case, since it's rice-based already. Chicken cacciatore is a messy, knife-and-fork kind of meal. It's tasty, but might indeed be a bit heavy for Memorial Day weekend.

Answer 4

I think since you are going with the paella and chicken cacciatora as your main meal whihc is very filling and hardy I would just go with a simple green salad, asparagus spears since they are in season and don't matter if they get cool and do a fruit salad as a light dessert or even a Strawberry shortcake. Dont forget the crusty bread and butter to dip into their left over cacciatora sauce. YUMMY

Answer 5

Since the 25th anniversary is the silver one, why not try a fish dish, something silvery and baked? That would be light and tasty, not so heavy for outdoors and perhaps it could be prepared ahead and baked or grilled right before serving. Congratulations to your parents, long commitments are a testament to their dedication and love. I hope it is a glorious day for all of you! Love & peace

Answer 6

what about an elegant soup like crab bisque or creamy asparagus, with herbed butter and french bread, paired with a spinach, strawberry, almond salad with sliced chicken on top. i think these would be satisfying without being too heavy. they'd probably be easy to prepare for a large group as well. congrats to your parents and what a great person you are.

Answer 7

you have it covered just add the cheese and meat plates
oh, and olives