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Fiesta menu
I got the guest list from the bride and 20 people is a reasonable planning number.
After looking at all the recipes for Mexican entrees, I'm going to cater like I thought - too much work otherwise. Since they don't speak good English at my favorite Mexican restaurant, what mains would you suggest? I don't know if I have room for a make your own taco bar (I'll have to do a mock set-up and see), so please suggest some things besides that.
ETA for clarification - the main will be catered (so tell me what to ask
the restaurant to do) and I'll do the apps & desserts myself.
Here's what my menu looks like at the moment. No dietary restrictions.
Apps
Chips with salsa and guac
Cowboy caviar served on endive leaves
Main
Mexican salad with pomegranate-lime dressing
Tamales if I can find them (a specialty a couple hours from here)
[Your suggestions]
Dessert
Mexican wedding cookies
Tres leches cake
Tequila-lime-coconut macaroon bars
[Hershey kisses IHO 6? lol I know there isn't any chocolate here - I found a recipe for a Mexican chocolate bundt cake, but I think there's a definite limit to how many sweets this crowd will eat, so what goes if you say chocolate's a must?]
Drinks
Beer - which varieties? Corona, Dos Equis, Bud Light lime, Tecate? (I think that's all I can get in this small town, but I'll look)
Virgin frozen lime-strawberry margaritas (I'll have tequila on hand for people)
W's white sangria
Re: Fiesta menu
We did mail-order tamales for Christmas dinner this year and they were good. If you want, I can ask my aunt what company we got them from.
As far as entrees go, I am a fajita/taco person, so I'm no help there. Beans and rice are a must IMO.
Beer choices for us would be Corona, Tecate and then I would probably serve something like Stella and Bud Light. Because apparently some people don't like Mexican beer...who knew?
I'm a little confused. Are you cooking or not? You say yes, but then have a bunch of recipes. Do they have menu you can link to if you are catering? It's probably not right for the rest of the menu, but I do a shredded mexican pork with cilantro lime rice that is easy and fantastic. You might be able to take the flavors and just do it as a marinated pork loin.
You didn't ask for it, but this cucumber salsa is outstanding and might be something different to put out as an option as well.
Desserts- How about using the cookies as a favor (I know how you feel about those though)? I would probably lose the macaroons. There is lime in the ceviche, the salad, and the drinkes. It might be lime overload. Is the party still in winter time? If so maybe instead of a full chocolate dessert you could serve mexican hot chocolate.
Drinks-
Corona, Dos Equis, Negro Modelo, skip the Bud Light lime and pick a non mexican beer if you want.
If you have countreau that's really good floated on top of a margarita.
Kate - The place I knew of for tamales just closed last week, but I got the name of another place from a friend. Williams-Sonoma does mail-order tamales for $55 for a dozen if that's maybe what you're thinking of. Around here, they're normally about $1 each, less if you get a whole bunch.
6, sorry, I said in my original post that I'd do apps & dessert, but not the main. You're supposed to remember that, obv
Party's March 24. It should be well into the 70s here by then.
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Hi! Your menu looks awesome!!! Love everything - am saving your Shrimp Ceviche and Mexican Salad recipe to my files...also 6's Cucumber Salsa.
Re: a Main Entree would choose something that will hold well - perhaps a smothered Burrito or Enchiladas. Chicken or Beef...
BTW - If you feel you must have chocolate - perhaps Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Fruits - I don't know if you need it. Your other desserts are very authentic. I don't think anyone would miss it.
Re: Drinks - Your beers look great - I'm not a beer drinker but will drink Coronas and Bud Light (haven't tried Dos Equis). Your Margaritas for a crowd looks awesome; I personally like Classic Lime Margaritas with Salt... Cannot go wrong with a bottle of Tequilla.
Can never have too much lime in your menu... but that's just my opinion.
Here is the White Wine Sangria (It is very sweet BTW - almost like a punch):
Marie's White Wine Sangria
1 Bottle of Pino Grigio
1/2 Cup of Triple Sec
1 Cup of Orange Juice
1 Full Can of 7 Up
1/2 Cup of Sugar
Slices of Mango, Peach, Lemon and Lime
Add honey to taste...
Re: Temperature - Am jealous re: your mild weather in March...
PS. Here is a view of our backyard in March.... (just kidding - January
.
No, Williams-Sonoma isn't what I was thinking. They're mail-order food is waaaay overpriced. I am thinking it's the Texas Tamale Warehouse...http://www.thetexastamalewarehouse.com/
Their prices are really reasonable! Thanks for the link. Clicking and ordering's almost easier than finding this other place in town. I wonder if I could get away with only serving that for dinner? Probably not.
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That'd be fun for a day or two, then I'd be tired of it! It was 72 here today and will be 60 here all week. Admittedly this is a very warm winter, even by our standards. Normally we get one good ice storm every January, but none yet. My hyacinths are coming up already and it never even got cold enough for my crocus to think they're due.
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That'd be fun for a day or two, then I'd be tired of it! It was 72 here today and will be 60 here all week. Admittedly this is a very warm winter, even by our standards. Normally we get one good ice storm every January, but none yet. My hyacinths are coming up already and it never even got cold enough for my crocus to think they're due.
That must be nice.....
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I think your menu looks great! That salad looks amazing!
As far as the main course - if not a taco or fajita (less toppings, might "fit" better)bar, I would order enchiladas, some beef some chicken. I envision them coming in a large tray and people can portion out their serving, like lasagna. They may even have some with a red sauce, and some with a green sauce, for variety. Also I would have a side of rice and beans.
I also wanted to suggest this salad, in place of your shrimp, just because I love it so much!
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2009/07/recipe-for-spicy-shrimp-and-cucumber.html
I add avacado, and sometimes small tomatoes, and use cilantro in place of the mint, and it is fabulous! The dressing is perfect!
My problem with suggesting a main is not knowing what to choose from. The rest of the menu seems "fancy" mexican so an enchilada and burritos in a heavy sauce doesn't feel right to go with it. I was thinking fajitas, but you still have that build your own issue. That's why I was thinking a pork roast with mexican flavors. Our local place does beef tips in a red sauce that are really good, but I don't know if your's offers something like that.
I do think chili rellenos would be nice.
Hi! I second the above... also if you change your mind and decide to cook instead I have two great recipes for a simple Mexican main course. Quesadilla Casserole which you can make ahead and freeze and then re-heat day of and Turkey Enchilladas - which don't freeze well - but could make earlier in the day (a more elegant recipe from Taste of Home). Someone will have to tell me what Chili Rellenos is...
I know I suggested the tamale website, but I love the idea of a taco/fajita bar...so yummy!
I like the tamales, I just know some people don't care for them. So maybe taco bar (shredded chicken, ground beef?) and black bean & monterrey jack and pork tamales?
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Just be sure to have something spots designated for the husks otherwise your guests will pile them on their plates and that takes up a lot of space on the plate. The rest of the menu sounds great.
My suggestion is to skip the tamales (mostly b/c they're individual size servings, which can be tricky at a buffet - not knowing who will want a whole piece, etc.)
I would go with the following 3 for the main:
1. Some sort of shredded-mexican-seasoned meat: either pork or chicken.
2. Mexican rice (or that awesome cilantro rice 6 suggested)
3. Beans (either refried or black)
All of these are easy to self-serve in varying portion-sizes.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need help with the Spanish translations for any of these. GL!