busdriver11

Not to get obsessed with flatbread (okay, I'm obsessed with flatbread, I love it)....I have to try that American flatbread. I read about it online and wanted to pick it up for a huge party I had (what a horror, so many people). But it looked kind of small, and pretty expensive. Then again, if it is tasty, I'm happy to buy it for my family. But not for 50 people! I shall try it.

bethievt

Well, busdriver, I'm thinking 20 people, not 50, so maybe I can get American Flatbread.

What about drinks, though? A party from 5-7pm, I'll have to have wine and other things. Can I let people serve themselves?

SteveMA

If you have the space, set up a little bar in your kitchen. I put a bar towel over some plastic storage things and set up a place to keep glasses and then next to that put bottles/cans of whatever you are serving. I keep a bucket of ice near with soda, beer, white wine, etc. I usually get the first beverage for people and then let them know to help themselves later on.

I would keep it simple with some wines, soda, beer.

bethievt

Thanks! I think I can do that. I go to fundraisers where there are bartenders. I'm just not in that league.

Bromfield

BV: I hear you on the cost of doing a fundraiser. I probably host 3-4 fundraisers a year for a couple of groups/charities in my town. First thing I'd say about the bar is keep it really simple. I used to think I needed to have all sorts of drinks available. Now, I serve wine and sparkling water. If it's an afternoon event, I'll also have small bottles of water. (You can get a case of those 8oz mini bottles of Poland Spring water for less than $15 at Staples.)

Another thing that I learned--there's a downside to leaving wine/alcohol out and readily available: you go through it in no time at all. What I've done is to ask a friend to volunteer to be bartender. You'd be surprised at how many people don't mind being bartenders for an evening, especially if it's for a good cause. A few times, I've asked friends of my kids (over 21) who were home. I have one friend who is really shy and hates small talk, she's actually likes doing something like pouring wine. My husband likes to do it too--he's not a small talk person either. Just a thought.

bethievt

Thanks, Bromfield! My son is a trained bartender and I'd love it if he would come home.

SouthJerseyChessMom

Just joined Costco yesterday- here was the deal-
Executive membership 110
Guarantee to refund $55 even if you don't hit the qualifying amount via cash back offer-
With new American Express card- credit $55 on first purchase

And $20 Costco card

So bottom line they are paying me $20 for shopping for next year there !

MD Mom

As to the comment about red wine and meatballs...I just looked at my rugs and two of the three are mostly burgundy or black, so it is not a problem at my house. We serve the hot wine in coffee cups, so we do not have many spills.

I make my own meatballs (400 for my holiday party; yes, I am nuts). The sauce I use is a bottle of barbecue sauce and a jar of apricot jam.

For drinks, we offer red and white wines, beer, and soft drinks.

BunsenBurner

Good luck with your party! For wine and other food spills I have one word of wisdom - Oxyclean. The stuff took care of the spilled 1/2 bottle of red wine on my light grey carpets so well that it is impossible to identify the spot where the accident happened. Yes, it DOES make sense to have a bartender instead of letting the guests pour their own drinks - those red wine glasses are huge.

Kajon

For liquor, I do a red and a white wine. If cost is an issue, most people are okay with Ménage à Trois. If you need more stemware, Home Goods is a great place to pick them up. Offer to serve your guests their first drink and then let them know where everything is. We usually have a couple bottles of each color opened.

If you are doing beer, then put it in a large (or small and keep it refilled) vessel with ice. Make sure you have a small basket next to it for the caps and the opener. Select a few European beers and maybe a lighter American beer.

As others have said, offer small bottles of plain water, maybe some Pellagrinos for sparkle and we always have one diet and one non diet caffeinated soda on hand for those who are tired at the end of the evening and need to drive. (also in large ice filled container)

People will ask where you want the recyclables, so have a spot picked out.

Go to the party store and get some of those inexpensive small foil pans so you can have extra appetizers ready to refill.

See if you can hire a teenager from the neighborhood to come over and refill appetizer plates/keep kitchen area clean and to pick up empty plates. it is well worth the money and everyone has black pants and a with shirt. (if you hire a helper, make sure you have a sample plate of what each appetizer is supposed to look like and heating instructions)

MD Mom

Kajon, with shirt made me chuckle. Must be autocorrect.

Kajon

too funny.....It should be "white" shirt

MD Mom - I too use a store bought barbecue sauce for my meatballs. (Ken Davis), but I never thought about adding a jar of apricot jam....Yummy

chocchipcookie

Bethie:

Have you decided on the menu after all these ideas?

For drinks, maybe you can keep it inexpensive by buying a box of Crystal Light Lemonade and Crystal Light Iced Tea from Costco and just have some pitchers of those......maybe along with a sangria type fruit punch........will be much cheaper to make then serving wine........do you have a nice punch bowl & ladle? I got one as a wedding gift and I had no idea how handy it would be! You can probably google recipes for a simple fruit punch and sangria type wine and fruit...........might be just the thing and will hopefully keep the cost down a bit...

snowball

A bit off topic, but I have my carpet cleaned yearly and always do it right before Thanksgiving which I host. We have light beige carpet, two dogs that go in and out several times a day, so the beige carpet can look rather brown after several months! My brother-in-law is an accident waiting to happen and usually spills something wherever he is; if not during appetizers in the den, he is usually good for a spill at the table My brother had a solo cup full of coke when his cup sprung a leak and the genius decided to walk through the entire den while it was leaking to get to the kitchen, as oppose to grabbing napkins to cover the cup!

My mother always asks why I bother cleaning before Thanksgiving instead of waiting until after. Because we are big floor sitters and I have little ones that play on the floor, plus a few non dog people, I like the carpet to be free of dog smell, hair and dirt!

akck

We have a Asian eatery that offers a platter of 55 spring rolls (5 free), plus dipping sauce with 24 hours notice. If you have one nearby that you like, maybe they could do the same (maybe 25 instead of 55, but here, 20 can go through 55 because they are well liked). I'd request that they cut them in half for presentation and it will cut down on double dipping (spoon in sauce helps).