<p>D’s prom is always in very early spring and I have offered to host the dinner for at least 20. It is on a Friday evening, a couple of vegetarians. I have the china, glasses, utensils covered. Looking for suggestions for meals, drinks, desserts. Has anyone had things that have been great successes or failures. Any help appreciated.</p>
<p>I’d try to stick to typical teenaged favorites, but less messy versions so they don’t spill on their beautiful clothes. They will eat quickly…most will be too excited to sit down for long and some will probably eat standing up, so small bites and finger foods are good too. Ziti, penne, or lasagna, boneless teriyaki or buffalo wings, calzones sliced up, meatballs, spring rolls, cheeses, fruit. I’ve organized a lot of high school buffets, and the boys tend to eat lots of protein, especially chicken, while the girls like fruit, cheese, and bread.</p>
<p>I’ve hosted lunches for my D’s group this size (but not dressed for prom) and after a bunch of different things we found the best option to be pasta, salad, bread, soda/water and cookies and fruit for dessert. </p>
<p>That’s a great idea. Maybe go to a place like Costco where they sell heavy appetizers, salads, and a variety of desserts. They also sell platters. You could put place cards to label the food so that the guests know what is vegetarian. Maybe make some fancy beverages and go online to oriental trading company to order a graduation souvenir for each guest.</p>
<p>Are you planning an actual sit down dinner or just some easy appetizers for the kids and their parents while everybody takes pictures? If the latter, I’d go with a bunch of finger food. Pizza bagels, spanakopita, and mini quiche are great vegetarian appetizers (although not vegan). In my experience, little hot dogs are pretty popular as is a Chick Fil A tray of nuggets if you’re willing to spend the money. I also usually have a vegetable tray for any vegan or gluten free eaters. </p>
<p>A delicious and beautiful little appetizer is a very moist mini meatball with a little swirl of mashed potato on it. I saw them at a bridal shower a couple of years ago and have now served them twice and both times they’ve been huge hits. Super easy - I’ve left them in the little cupcake wrapper for easy pop in your mouth serving. Here’s a picture <a href=“Meatball Cupcakes with Mash Potato “Frosting””>http://sweetmivi.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2012/08/03/meatball-cupcakes-with-mash-potato-frosting/</a></p>
<p>As far as drinks go, I usually keep that very simple. Water, Coke and Diet Coke, maybe iced tea and lemonade depending on your crowd, as well as beer and wine for the adults. </p>
<p>H & I hosted a pre-homecoming dance dinner several years ago. We set up formal tables on our deck, china,
crystal, linens, candles - the works. We cooked the main dish (I second staying away from anything with a sauce that might drip) and some of the sides and bought the drinks. The attendees brought appetizers and desserts. It was absolutely lovely. We had a lot of desserts left over (the girls didn’t eat that much before the dance), so we took them along with the sodas, waters etc. to my friend’s house (she was hosting the post party). We bought several bottles of sparkling cider (non-alcoholic of course!), but none was left over as the kids loved it.</p>
<p>We ordered from the local Mexican place…soft tacos ( big trays of chicken, carne asada, and carnitas) with both flour and corn tortillas. Pans of rice and beans, lots of salsa/chips, guacamole and all the trimmings. I made a fresh berry/melon/pineapple fruit salad and homemade brownies. I’m hungry now… </p>
<p>We hosted the pre-prom dinner last yer, and also a sit-down fancy-dress dinner for D’s 17th birthday this fall. At both, the decor/ambiance was key for D: it was elegant, candle-lit, unusual. For the prom dinner, she did an eclectic table setting with mixed china, crystal, lots of flowers and vases and shells and stuff… and lots of candles. We strung up little Christmas lights for more ambiance.</p>
<p>Prom dinner was semi-potluck. Some other kids brought salads, pasta, bread, and cake. We provided a roast beef that was VERY popular with the boys!!! Since there were a lot of kids, that meal was served buffet style. it was rather like a buffet-style wedding dinner. We served sparkling cider in wine glasses along with sodas.</p>
<p>The sit-down birthday dinner was more elaborate with an appetizer course, main course, salad and dessert. We made “virgin” cocktails such as peach juice with sparkling cider “bellinis” and fancy things like that, served in fancy glasses.</p>
<p>Pasta is a good and popular suggestion for this type of event - maybe an alfredo based sauce instead of tomato for staining purposes?? Or if you are a good griller, poultry or beef on the grill with twice baked potatoes, salad, with a appetizer or two as people arrive (bruschetta or spinach artichoke dip) and then cheesecake for dessert. </p>
<p>Spygirl was a guest at a lovely homecoming dinner, where the girls cooked a chicken in puff pastry dish and a vegetarian version. Simple, delicious and easy to eat.
Other ideas: Soups, fondue, salads.</p>
<p>As@abasket mentioned, I’d stay away from anything with red sauce. </p>
<p>Proms around here serve a “heavy appetizer” buffets. It’s ridiculous because the kids go out for extravagant dinners beforehand so no one really eats, but the hotels require the purchase to rent the ballrooms. If yours also serves food, you may not need to work too hard.</p>
<p>My D attended a pre-prom dinner at a friend’s home. The mom made aprons for each of the attendees to protect their formal clothes. I believe she purchased plain, canvas, BBQ aprons and decorated them with fabric paint. I don’t remember what she served, though. I think pasta with several different sauces (alfredo, marinara, meatballs,etc) might please everyone. My D’s dress survived the dinner, but not the chocolate fountain at the actual prom. Really dumb idea. lol</p>
<p>Aprons sound like a wonderful idea for everyone. </p>
<p>You are very smart to host the pre-prom dinner instead of the post prom party. I am sure it is going to be a lot of fun.</p>
<p>The kids really want it to be special… formal. linens, crystal, etc. Sparkling cider in real champagne flutes</p>