Food Ideas Needed - 30th Birthday Beer Tasting

Wittlebuddy

Hi all. I haven't posted here in almost a year but know this board always has great ideas when it comes to food and party planning. I am hosting a 30th Birthday Beer Tasting party at the end of this month to celebrate my husbands birthday. I have been so busy lately that I haven't had the chance to start planning the menu or decorations. I plan on cooking all of the food for the party myself and am looking for menu options. Also, any decorating tips would be greatly appreciated. I plan to make Blue Moon cupcakes and Stout Cupcakes as a dessert, along with having a small birthday cake. Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

GABride2010

The amount of food depends, of course, on the number of people attending. This is the menu DH and I would make:

Appetizers:

-Ham, cream cheese, and pickle rolls (lay out piece of deli ham, spread cream cheese over 1/3 of it, and cut the pickle into pieces and lay it over short length of ham slice, roll the ham, put toothpicks through the ham and into the pickle, and cut into bite size pieces)

-Cocktail weenies/meatballs

-Chips and salsa (guacamole)

-Crockpot buffalo chicken dip with crackers: http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-buffalo-chicken-dip-266810

 Entree and Side Dishes:

-Smoked chicken quarters

-Squash casserole

-Mac n cheese

-Grilled veggies (zucchini, portobello mushrooms, etc...)

-Salad

Good luck planning the party!! Let us know how it turns out. 

ohpagrl

Sounds like a great party! What about pulled pork for the main dish? Slaw is always great with that. A nice pasta salad with chunks of fresh mozzarella and pepperoni is always really good. You could also do hot roast beef as a second option for a hot sandwich main dish.  

 

Of course, there's always the Italian lasagna, baked ziti, or sausage and peppers route.

 

I love buffalo chicken dip like PP suggested; that is so good and always loved. Let me know if you need that recipe. 

 

This is another keeper that adults and kids have always loved at every party I've served it. I always do it in the oven, always use lil smokies, then keep warm in crockpot or over sterno.

 

APPLESAUCE SAUSAGE BITES 

Serve this in larger chunks as an entree or in smaller pieces for an appetizer. People will rave over this quick and easy dish! If desired, this can be made in the crockpot on low heat for 3 hours. 

2 pounds smoked sausage or kielbasa or little smokies 
1 cup applesauce 
2/3 cup brown sugar 
1 small white onion, finely chopped 

Cut sausage into desired size pieces. In a large baking dish, combine applesauce, brown sugar and onion. Stir in sausage and toss to coat. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring once. 

 

The lil smokies app can be made a day or two ahead too, so that might help with your planning.

 

I don't have a lot of ideas about decorations except to try to do something cool with those coasters that have all the different beer logos on them? Garlands to hang or to loop in front of the food table? IDK...

 

I can't tell if you're having a buffet or a sit down meal. Could you use glass beer steins/mugs to hold the silverware or a bouquet of flowers for the table? Ohhh, or you could fill them with Bacon Wrapped Bread Sticks as an appetizer:

Bacon Wrapped Bread Sticks:

Paula Deen

1 (16 oz) package bacon 
1 (4.4 oz) box sesame seed breadsticks (crunchy kind) or homemade is even better 
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap bacon in a spiral around breadsticks. Place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is cook through. Reverse the sheet halfway through for even cooking.

 

Place cheese on a plate. When breadsticks are done, remove from baking sheet, and dredge in Parmesan while hot. Set aside on a clean baking sheet or cooling rack, and allow to cool and crisp before serving. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

 

bpphoto785

For a beer tasting party I would pair different foods or courses with different styles of beer. Burgers & a Pale Ale, BBQ w/ a Porter or Lager, an IPA with dessert, etc.

alithebride

If you are doing a beer tasting base the food on the beers you're serving.