Question about smoking for a party

[cinnamonkc]

My son's graduation party is coming up and I want to smoke for din din.
I was thinking brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs and kielbasa, but I'm wondering if that is too much variety.

If there are 30 people, would I have to make enough for 30 of each item? Would it be better to go with one or two meats?

We will have baked beans, potato salad and slaw as sides.

KC

 

[richtee]

Yeah..I'd limit it to the pork or beef and go with chicken. Some folks only eat poultry these days. kielbasa is easy too, for variety.

 

[fatback joe]

I think if you go 1/4 lb cooked for the brisket and 1/4 pork, 3 bones per person on the ribs..............you will still end up with plenty left over. Also kind of depends on the make up of the group. If the 30 is all 30 boys your sons age, I would up the amount. Pretty common to allow for 50% shrinkage/loss from raw to cooked weight so figure that in when you decide how much you plan on serving per person.

With that small of a group, is it possible to just find out what they want?

 

[fatback joe]

Tell the chicken eaters to party somewhere else. LOL

 

[cinnamonkc]

Totally...I hate chicken...it's icky :0-)

 

[cinnamonkc]

So brisket and spare ribs or pulled pork and ribs?

Looks like were closer to 50 pax with about 20 being teenage boys.

 

[richtee]

LOL... well, I don't hate it...but I'd rather something else for sure. But the wife don't eat much else. You are what ya eat? ;{) hahaha~

 

[sumosmoke]

Another question that came to mind - has anyone that's being invited to the party tried some of your finished smoked product? If they have, and raved about a particular item, that may be a "must have" on the list. The extra stuff will be goodies for them to drool over as well!

 

[cinnamonkc]

Good thinking! My dad is a freak about the kielbasa. Maybe I can make some as snackies before din din.

 

[pigcicles]

Graduation is a special time. If you want to smoke all that then as stated allow for about 1/3 to 1/2 lb per person (meaning total consumption, not of each item). Those boys will tear the ribs up, then the brisket. Pulled pork is great and will probably appeal to the 'older' crowd.

Depending on your budget for this event would determine how much of what you fix. Personally I'd go with the brisket and pulled pork mainly because of the amount of ribs teenage boys can rip through. Along with the sides you should have plenty. But again it's your budget, your time, and your son's glory ... what does he prefer???

Let us know how you decide to go with this and how it turns out.

 

[goat]

KISS is my suggested menu.

 

[williamzanzinger]

Dont fret, serve it ALL, if your game then do it. The key for me is the way you serve it, you need to govern the people to eat what you want

.
Heres my go at it

when guests are arrived (40% at least) you serve your keilbasa cut up in appetizer peices with some smoked cheese and crackers followed quickly with your abt's. Then followed immediately if not at the same time with mini pulled pork sanwiches. Follows is a recipe ive used t make very appropriate mini buns as youl likely not find buns small enough , roll them3/ inches in diameter and theyll rise t little ove 1 1/2 inches.You could prop get away with 1 nice size butt if you potion those sanwiches at 1 fluid oz per serving which is more than adequate as an entry to the smoky delights that await.

When all that food is gone or neglected you serve your 2 briskets with the main sides. Let people devour them until there is nothing left. Then serve the most awaited item the 10 racks of ribs(for 50 people) cut in two bone peices. If everyone has eaten all that other food not many people will eat more than 1. And if all they got were one they still would not be waling away from the table hungry and there mouth is gonna be so overstimulated anyway.
Thats my vote for...
2 buts
2 briskets
10 ribs
extras as deemed worthy

 

[williamzanzinger]

• Mini Hamburger Rolls:
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 large egg
• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 scant tablespoon active dry yeast

In a bowl or large cup, whisk together the milk, melted butter, and egg. Place the milk mixture, flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and yeast in the bread machine in the order suggested by your bread machine manufacturer. Run on dough cycle. Remove finished dough to a lightly floured surface. Roll half of the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness or slightly more. Cut out with a 1 1/2-inch cutter. You could make your sandwiches slightly larger using a 2-inch cutter.




Place cut-outs on a large greased baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until browned. Brush tops with a little butter while they're hot. Let cool on rack. Split the cooled buns.

Bake them close like cinnamon buns.

 

[cinnamonkc]

Thanks William!! I really appreciate the advice and the recipe!
That sounds like a terrific plan.

One question for all the brilliant minds out there. Since my smoker won't hold all of that at one time, which of the items hold better than the others?

 

[capt dan]

I agree with goat, Having cooked a pig for my son's grad bash last year, and a couple other parties pulled pork, you as a host will not want to be "teathered" to the food. Make some stuff that is easy and enjoy the celebration with your son. You have alot to celebrate too, you worked as hard as he did, just getting him there. It's great to see your enthusiasm and desire to go Q crazy, but that is a big undertaking, and you'll need a couple other smokers to get all of that stuff done.

I would recomend pulled pork, or pulled beef, and some type of chicken. Stuff that can be cooked/smoked the day before or a few days before and reheated in the oven, or electric roasters. Beleive me, when the guests start showing up, they will want to chat and spend time with you, and if you are working feverishly on the food, you will be ignoring your guests.

I wouldn't mess with the ribs, too much work for the amount of food you'll get, and the expense. Do a half dozen fatties a few days before and mix up the flavors a bit. People love fatties, and that would be a great appetizer.

Good luck to you, the stress before the party will be overwelming. I hope it all works out for you, and congrats for being a good mom!

 

[williamzanzinger]

To each his/her own and for me its cake cause this is what I do for a living. Food is a conversation piece, people will all ask to help and ill put each and everyone of them to work. You wont have to cut ribs OR assemble sandwiches trust me. When you do everything evenly planned out it makes it an occasion and the food isnt in the background.
Anyhow with the smoker I know your using.
Do the ribs up to 2 days ahead, there forgiving if you dont take em too far the first time. The briskets you would have no choice maybe for the sake of appointment to do a day ahead, slice and reheat with a nice aujus. put the pork on at 10 pm the night before wake up once to wrap and reheat(or ovenise). Which will leave your grill open day of for keilbasa and abts. All the while you can bring your ribs and brisket to temp in your oven @ a nice low/moderate temp. Ribs can even be sauced and grilled at a nice hot temp from a cold state. Good luck. Kiss is good but I say heres your opportunity get it out of your system.

 

[cinnamonkc]

I'm not a stranger to the cooking for a crowd thing. My entire family comes over every Sunday for dinner and there's 32 of us. I absolutely LOVE to cook. I've only smoked for them once or twice. I usually end up cooking instead and it's generally three or four courses. Soup or salad, main course and dessert.
So the prospect of a big cook isn't concerning, just that I've never done a smoke for a group. I usually smoke on Saturdays just for us and sometimes take stuff to my parents or brothers and sisters to critique.

I completely understand the KISS and agree I don't want to blow up in pre party prep but at the same time, want it to be spactacular for him.

Thanks again everyone, I knew I'd get lots of varied advice which is exactly what I was looking for!!

 

[richtee]

Tell ya what...the mini pita breads work GREAT for PP... good flavor compliments there.... give it a try!