Any ideas for a theme for 8 weekly dinners for 25 people?

Question

This is a church based weekly evening meal to be held every monday in the autumn-I have a team of 3 helpers-just need some good ideas to work around-must include some vegetarian.Thanks for any suggestions.

Answer 1

Foods from around the world...Greek, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Polish, American, Lebanese, Spanish. All of there have some great Veggie meal options!

Answer 2

I really like the idea of an earlier poster - an "foods of the world" type of theme.

Or how about "Souper Monday!" where you could prepare a different fall soup or stew every week. Add some bread, salad and dessert and you've got great fall meals. Yummy!

Or how about "Fall Favorites". You could ask your members to submit their favorite fall recipes and then pick the ones that you can make for a bigger group. You could print up the recipes into a little cookbook that you could give the group at the end of the 8 weeks.

Maybe you could think of some dishes that would relate to what the group is meeting about each week.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Others have touched on this idea, but I like the Flavors of Fall Theme - e.g.,

Week 1 - Apples or Cider
Week 2 - Pumpkin
Week 3 - Nuts
Week 4 - Maple Syrup
Week 5 - Cinnamon or Sage
Week 6 - Potatoes or Root Vegetables
Week 7 - Pears or Grapes
Week 8 - Turkey or game (There's Tofurky for the vegetarians)

Each week the menu could include foods that feature the selected Fall Flavor. Once you have selected your flavor, it will be easy to find recipes for all 3 courses (if you have them) that feature that flavor.

Happy planning!

Answer 4

Idea 1- Taste of New Orleans: Red beans and rice, put smoked sausage on the side (traditional Monday meal in New Orleans)
Idea 2 - Italian Feast: Spaghetti with choice of meat sauce or marinara sauce, garlic bread and salad.
Idea 3 - Warm Your Soul: Chili with and without meat, cornbread and salad.
Idea 4 - Clam Jam: Clam chowder and salad
Idea 5 - Mom's Kitchen: Grilled cheese, tomato soup and salad
Idea 6 - Monday Tune-Up: Tuna casserole and salad
Idea 7 - Break for Dinner: Veggie quiche and ham/bacon quiche with salad
Idea 8 - Spuds and Hugs: Baked potatoes with an assortment of toppings and salad.

Answer 5

1. Harvest - using traditional local produce fruit/nuts, traditional dinner - comfort food coming into the winter
2. Christmas - again very traditional
3. Italian
4. Halloween/Bonfire Night - sparkle - indoor bbq with mulled applie juice and fireworks
5. Indian - curry - meat and veggie
6. Middle Eastern - couscous, kebabs, mixed roast veg
7. It's summer in the southern hemisphere - a summer party to beat the winter blues with lots of fruit theme, summer punch and light, fresh foods
8. Japanese - noodles and sake. Sit on the floor at low tables and eat from lacquered bento lunch boxes

Answer 6

Why don't you have a 'Progressive Supper' Sorry, I just realised that this would not work, having read your question in more detail.
A progressive supper is where you go, from house to house and the first house cooks the starter, the 2nd house cooks the main course and the 3rd house cooks the sweet.!
Great idea though for a get together.

Answer 7

as it's going to be in autumn you should make use of the veggies that will be in season as these will be cheaper at that time too.
I would suggest
skewered veg e.g. courgette, peppers, mushrooms grilled & served with couscous
Chicken in White wine sauce with Mash and 2 veg
Beef Stroganoff, & mushrooms with rice
veggie & meat Lasagnes, coleslaw & garlic bread
Roast Beef and all the trimmings
Bean Chilli & chilli con Carne & baked potatoes
Sweet and Sour Pork/chicken with rice, veg stir fry with rice
fish/meat pies, roasted veggies with selection of pasta & breads
meat & veggie quiches

loads of veggie dishes on the net
the last evening could be a buffet style event with lots of finger foods and deserts

Answer 8

What a great idea! Here are some thoughts:

Week One: Spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs, green salad, hot garlic bread and brownies.
Week Two: Taco and Tostada bar with refried vegetarian black beans and spanish rice, custard for dessert.
Week Three: Three mushroom risotto, baby greens, gorgonzola, and oil and vinegar, apple crisp and ice cream.
Week Four: Chicken and cheese enchiladas, spanish rice, and green salad. For dessert, cupcakes.
Week Five: Vegetarian lasagne, green salad, hot french bread, chocolate cream pie.
Week Six: Pork roast and candied yams, mashed potatoes, and peas. For dessert, hot apple pie.
Week Seven: Meatballs over hot noodles, fresh green beans with bacon, and rolls. For dessert, carrot cake.
Week Eight; Tortolloni with Marinara sauce, bruschetta, caesar salad, and ice cream.

Be sure to keep a vege platter and fresh fruit on the tables as well for munchers.

Answer 9

How about a retro theme? Like a menu from the 40's, 50's, 60's, etc... What isn't vegetarian can usually be changed to veggie. Maybe it's just me, but I love looking up old recipes and adapting them.

Answer 10

Mexican- beef chilli, vege chilli & rice- dead easy. Italian Spaghetti, pizzas and garlic bread. Curry night. Pretty much anything that you can make a big pot of the meat dish and a vege alternative and serve it with rice or pasta, easiest way to serve a large group with a small team.