Is this a cocktail party or a dinner party? Sounds more like a menu for folks expecting a full meal deal. I think I'd look more toward simpler, snack items if it's truly a cocktail, birthday celebration.

How about age groups? Will there be teens or younger there? Sounds like mostly an adult/older menu planned.

It's an adult crowd and it is meant to serve as dinner.
thanks,

sue

You are so ambitious, Sue; I'm sure it will be much fun. If I were doing it, I would have less of a variety of passed food, but increase the amounts of those I did fix. And nowadays, I prepare as many vegetarian as meat/seafood.

Enjoy!

Sue - I think your menu sounds lovely.

I would caution about passing the baby lamb chops and clams casino. In my experience, they can be awkward to eat standing up while holding a glass of wine, and then there is the shell/bone disposal issue. I have come to the conclusion that passed nibbles must be easy to eat in a bite or two, no fork required and no leftover shells/bones.
And I would lvoe to hear more about the Mac/cheese in parmesan cups. Would you share the recipe?

Thanks

Alexa

Yes - please share the recipe for Mac-n-cheese in Parmesan cups!

My SIL loves Mac/cheese and this sounds perfect while sitting around watching the football games.

Thanks cookingrvc! And your party sounds great!!

-Gloria

I've revised the menu significantly but need to keep the lamb chops. Here's the new menu followed by the recipe for the mac-n-cheese cups which might make it back into the menu in place of the clams...tho I could use a chicken item.

Passed food
Mini sausage quiche
Pigs-in-blankets
Baby lamb chops
Scallops wrapped in bacon
Clams Casino (I am still on the fence about these, but might make them a stationary item)
Birds nest
Fontina, arugula, and carmelized onion quesadilla wedges
Mini Knishes

Stationary
Lionshead meatballs
Shrimp cocktail
Crudite with Caesar dip (one in the dining room and smaller trays in the other rooms)
Sushi tray (still on the fence about this too)
Cheese platter
Hot dip in a chafing dish

This will come out around 2 hours into the party:
Cheese tortellini with Vodka sauce
Green chopped salad
Breads

Mini Mac and Cheese Bites
Source: My Italian Grandmother

Ingredients:
1/2 lb elbow macaroni
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (1 packed cup)
4 ounces deli-sliced American cheese, chopped
1 large egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika (I used regular)
Salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425.

In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process and to keep the macaroni from sticking to itself.

Spray two 12 cup muffin tins with Pam and sprinkle half the Parmigiano cheese into the bottom of the cups. (Can also use mini muffin tins)

In a large saucepan, melt the butter, then over medium heat, whisk in the flour. Cook for two minutes until boiling. Whisk in the milk and continue whisking until boiling, about 5 minutes. It should be nice and thick. Stir in the American and cheddar cheeses until melted. Off the heat, stir in the egg yolk and paprika. Fold in the macaroni. This is also a good time to taste and season accordingly. I like to add salt and a lot of pepper during this step.

Spoon evenly into the muffin cups and sprinkle with remaining Parmigiano cheese. (I have decided to skip this step and put all the Parmigiano cheese into the bottom of the tins, I think it makes the bites a little too crunchy to have this extra cheese on top, but that's just our preference).

Bake in the upper part of the oven for about ten minutes. Let cool for about 5 minutes so they don't fall apart. Use a spoon to remove them from the muffin tins.

Sounds like a great menu and definitely I would say to pass off as much work as you can to alternative sources so you're not killing yourself. You should enjoy the party too! Check for volunteers to help, use deli, caterer or whatever you need to do.

Enjoy the party!

Thanks, Sue-

I think I'll use the mini-muffin tins and the smallest elbow pasta I can find.

Look in the Hispanic aisle or at a Hispanic market for smaller elbow pasta. That is where I have seen them.

Teresa

One thing that jumps out at me, as a vegetarian, is that there are very few meatless options, and the ones you do have are very cheese-heavy. Even the Caesar dip likely has anchovies. I imagine with 60 people you'll have a few who don't eat meat/cheese and many of the dishes seem very heavy. I would recommend some lighter vegetarian dishes. Everyone can eat vegetarian so it's a good choice!

Some suggestions (since I know you have a TJ's): Trader Joe's makes some great frozen vegetable gyoza's. I like their dipping sauce as well. Maybe a pizza loaded with roasted veggies? Grilled portabella mushrooms. Maybe hummus with vegetables? TJ's makes an awesome white bean hummus. Bruschetta. Tomato/basil/mozzerella salad?

Sounds fun!

I would probably drop the clams casino, that would make 4 seafood items you have. The sushi is a good idea. I'd keep that. I'd put back the chicken satay w/peanut sauce for your chicken item at a stationary table. People really like those.
Sue, can I ask you how is your birds nest made. For our family it is a breakfast item.(sliced buttered bread with the middle cut out in a circle. Crack an egg into the middle of the empty space and fry on both sides.) NancyLouise

NancyLouise: Yes, I hear you with the Clams Casino. I too am leaning toward a chicken dish and that's likely what I'll do.

The birds nests are my big cheat. They're a lightly battered mix of zucchini, onions, carrots, etc from Trader Joe's. We roast them until they're nice and crisp.

Chi83
Yes, I am very conscious of offering vegetarian options as I have many vegetarian colleagues and friends. Right now I have the mini knishes, mac-n-cheese, birds nests, quesadillas, antipasto ( grilled artichokes, olives, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes), a sushi rolls, and tortellini. I thought that was a good selection and hadn't thought of it being too cheesy but perhaps it is. And yes, the crudite does have anchovies so I should probably have another dip available like the hummus you suggested which goes well with the veggies and with crackers(everything will have descriptions to avoid confusion).

I've also been toying with the idea of ordering a bunch of veggie dim sum from our local takeout which are excellent. They're smaller than the ones I make so they'll be easy to pass...and I could eliminate the mac-n-cheese.

Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate you both taking the time to respond.

Sue

With as much as you are preparing for 60 guests Trader Joe's certainly does come in handy. The roasted Birds Nest sound very good and they are crispy...a different texture when eating. Have fun at the party and best wishes to your DH on his birthday. NancyLouise

Okay it sounds like you have more vegetarian options than I thought so you might be okay! I assumed the ambiguous ones like sushi would have meat.

One thing I would also suggest is layering any meat in the antipasto so that it doesn't touch the veggies. I've had to decline many gorgeous veggies because they were laying on meat and it's such a shame!