I could certainly be wrong but from the sound of your post you sound like someone who has "aspired" to have a SubZero fridge not necessarily for a functional reason but to have the brand. It sounds as if you're going all out - two Miele dishwashers, etc. - so why not just go for the SZ? If you think about all the people who have been keeping their food chilled without investing in SZ, there has to be something people "value" about SZ other than it's functional ability to keep food chilled or frozen that would make them pay the premimum price. Could be appearance, appeal of saying you have the brand, etc. In any case if you want one and want to spend the $ go for it. It seems you can count on repairs with any brand these days - kind of like luxury auto brands. Just because you spend alot doesn't mean it will be trouble free.

I'm not having a Super Bowl party this year, but this is a very good way to celebrate it without too much work. We eat lots of Mexican food here in south Texas. Depending on how much time, effort, availability of food and money you want to spend, you might want to consider serving all or some of the following foods. If possible, I would serve lots of different meats including ground beef with taco seasoning, beef and chicken fajita meats, shredded pork, fried and/or grilled shrimp and fried and/or grilled fish (fish tacos). Also be sure to serve corn and flour tortillas and crispy taco shells. For toppings have on hand shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, both sweet yellow and red onions, black olives, stuffed olives, several types of shredded cheese, chili peppers including jalapeños, serranos and habaneros, sliced avocadoes, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, and sliced lemons and limes. And beans (frijoles), pintos and/or black, frijoles soup and/or refried beans. I would skip the boxed Spanish rice. The Mexican restaurants down here serve yellow rice which I much prefer. Brown the yellow rice in a little oil with diced onions and garlic, then substitute chicken broth for water, and I add a can of drained baby peas and a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, RO*TEL or Hatch. Both are very good. Also lots of chips served with chili con queso, guacamole, salsa and pico de gallo. And you might want to make up a big tray of nachos that can include meats, refried beans, cheese, etc. Jalapeño poppers would be good, i.e. peppers stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon and cooked. For drinks be sure to have margaritas, frozen, on the rocks, with salt, without salt, sliced limes and be sure to add a couple of green stuffed olives for an extra flavor. And be sure to use a good tequila. And Mexican beer served with sliced limes and salt is good. For desert fresh fruit, sopapillas, ice cream and/or flan. The following might be of some help. Ortega has some good suggestions. It states the following: A Taco Buffet When you have a taquisa (taco party), you can join in on the festivities because your guest fill their tacos to their own liking. Have both crispy corn taco shells and soft flour tortillas warmed and on hand. Then, let your guest choose from a variety of fillings: shredded beef, pork or chicken; different varieties of refried beans; a vegetable filling, such as, fried potatoes and zucchini with chiles; crisp, cool garnishes, such as, shredded lettuce, dices tomatoes, sliced radishes, sliced green onions, sliced ripe olives and fresh cilantro; an assortment of shredded and crumbled cheeses; sour cream and guacamole; and, of course a range of salsas to satisfy all tastes, from mild to fiery.

Oh, this is so much fun! Beverlyal, wow, thank you so much for all that work. That's a whole cookbook. I do think a tea sounds nice. I bet my friends will like it. I won't worry too much about leftovers. We can eat them the next day or so and give the rest to the shelter. Besides, it will be a pretty small group, so I can plan it so there won't be too much leftover anyway. I love little sandwiches! I will probably make more sweets and fewer sandwiches only because I can do the sweets way ahead and freeze. I want to be able to run around with FMTO and her mom, not be stuck in the kitchen for days in addition to what I'll be doing for Passover. As for tea ... How would you serve it? I do have a silver tea/coffee service (actually my mom's on rather permanent loan). But the tea and coffee get ice cold in them! I mostly use the pots for flower arrangements, but I use the sugar bowl, creamer, and "slops bowl" a lot (the last for artificial sweetener packets -- how tacky!). Anyway, I'm guessing more people will want wine than coffee or tea. The "tea" in "tea party" will be more an indicator of the type of party than of the beverage service, I guess. I will probably just have hot water and an assortment of tea bags available for the tea drinkers, coffee in the coffee maker, and a few bottles of wine; maybe sangria or one kind of cocktail in a pitcher. I love the champagne idea, too! Does anyone know about freezing petit fours? Would it depend on the type of icing?

Thanks everyone! Joyful, my daughter will have a Bachelors in Recreation Management.. she had her internship at the zoo in Omaha and already has been offered (and accepted) a job there. The party will be on a Sunday and our family has always had a large meal around 2:00 on Sunday parties. I may rethink the time to serve the main meal though.. maybe change it to 4:00 or 4:30. We are not having a open house, but I know we'll have the usual late stragglers. I hadn't planned on having appetizers, but may add some now. It'll have to be ready made stuff cause I will be out of town the day before the party for DD's graduation. Trying to make this easy on myself. :) I do plan on hiring someone to tend to the kitchen while I socialize with the guests. There will be plenty of food. Probably 4 different pasta selections and 3 or 4 different salads plus breadsticks.. olives, pickles.. that sort of thing. Once the food is set up we will continue to replenish it.. it's not that I thought we would run out of food, I just know hot pasta and bread tastes better when it is first brought out. Beer. Yes! I'll also have plenty of coffee, bottled water, tea and sodas. Desserts will include a large cake and hot from the oven cookies. Any more suggestions are welcome.