BBQ for 100 ppl - Menu Suggestions

Malcolm_McCaffery_279020

Planning a big BBQ for about 100 people next year for our office team, just planning ahead Thinking of best dishes that are relatively easy to either prepare in advance or cook in large quantities. Tools available will be smoker, sous vide, 120cm spit, electric oven, large charcoal BBQ grill.

Planning to do this with 3 assistants, we're not professional but do a lot of cooking & BBQ. Goal is to minimize effort on BBQ day...

My current plan includes

- lamb gyros spit roast, this is pre-prepared by butcher and spit roast on the day

- grilled chicken skewers, marinated day before and grilled on the day (although not sure if this is overambitious for amount of people)

- pulled pork, pre-prepared before and just reheated at BBQ time

- beef dish maybe, not sure what

- bread : slider rolls & pita bread

- salads: potato salad, rice salad, green salad, tomato feta salad

wolfiegirl

I've been thinking about your task ahead.

First I wonder why you decided on gyros? And if you go with that, don't you need a Tzatziki sauce as well as some fresh veg (tomato, cuke, onion) to stuff into the pita? More prep work. Then you'll have to man that station to slice the lamb as requested so you're three will be down to two on the day.

I like the idea of the pulled pork. Do-ahead, self-serve. Might need to add some sliced pickles and onions as condiments so add that to your prep work.

As for the chicken skewers, not a bad idea. Intensive prep and of course then manning the barbie, although you can do a bunch at a time and set them out for self-service. Maybe a dipping sauce or two?

Beef....well, I'm a brisket girl. Do ahead days in advance, then slice, heat and eat. Pickles and onions as a side as well. Or you could do slider patties instead. Shape ahead and cook on the day so man that barbie there as well but again, self service. Condiments: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, mustard, ketchup.

If it were my gig, I'd cut out the lamb, do sliders, chix skewers and pulled pork. Add in a big pot of a ranch style or charro beans instead. Slider rolls and sliced bread. I'd also cut out on of the salads. Potato salad is a whole lot of work if you're planning on making it from scratch. Maybe a pasta salad would work better since it's much faster to cook off pasta than it is to peel, cook, and cut up potatoes. Green salad is nice but don't forget salad dressings to appease the masses. Might not be necessary if you have condiments with the sliders and pulled pork.

Just a few thoughts I had. I've cooked for a crowd a few times. Daunting task. No matter how well you plan and prepare ahead of time, it'll still be a big undertaking on the day. But it's a whole lot of fun, too!

A couple other things you didn't mention. Drinks? Desserts? And the hardware....plates, napkins, flatware, cups, not to mention serving stations and utensils.

Whatever you decide on, good luck and have fun with it!!