How about a potroast, with gravy thickened with tapioca flour, mashed potatoes and roasted carrots and some steamed asparagus just because it's spring.
Kind of old timey comfort food.
Linda C

Linda, I was thinking exactly the same thing - pot roast - sort of a "Sunday Dinner on the Farm" idea.

Yes I was first thinking of a roast beef but if he likes it better you could even do a big turkey or roasted chicken with all the trimmings. What is his favorite meal?

Thanks for the ideas! We've got a couple of weeks to decide, so we'll see what my mom thinks he'd enjoy. He's a really picky eater, so it's hit or miss that he'll like something and even if he likes it on one occasion, he may not like it the next. He's gotten to the point he cooks a lot for himself, and he can go for a couple of days just eating a grilled burger (no fixings) for lunch and dinner. So, the food will be mostly for the partygoers, and we'll just try not to make it too unappetizing for him. He's always been hard to buy for and to cook for!

Would a retro themed party be too corny? It might be cool to do a typical meal from the '60's, or serve a meal he remembered liking on one of his childhood birthdays. Any recipes from his parents or grandparents lying around?

Or, if you want to be really edgy, make it recession-themed? :-P

Here is a link that might be useful: Poor man's meals

"He's really a meat & potatoes guy - no casseroles! His brothers are pretty much the same."

That's your answer. A buffet with two or three meat choices, in suitably simple styles, and a few choices of vegetables, including potatoes might be best.

Jim

If you wanted to go a little elegant, how about a whole tenderloin? I have bought whole tenderloins at Costco for a fairly decent price (can't remember exactly, but certainly cheaper than the grocery store). Usually, I marinate them in the refrigerator in a 2 gallon zipper top bag for about 24 hours. My usual marinade is red wine, worchestershire sauce, low sodium soy sauce, EVOO, and minced garlic. I do not have a recipe.

The tenderloin can be roasted in the oven or cooked on the grill. I particularly like about using a tenderloin to serve a crowd. There is little or no waste, and most people only take a few slices, so the meat goes further than if you were serving everyone a steak.

I looked online. There are several sites with directions on how to bake and hold potatoes for a crowd. I've never done it so I don't know which to follow. There are some folks on this forum who seem to often cook for large numbers. Maybe they can give you advice.

All you need to round out the main part of the meal would be something green...salad, veggie, etc.

And birthday cake for dessert!

Wish your Dad a wonderful birthday from all of us! The food will take a back seat to the occasion of a fabulous birthday surrounded by a loving family.

I think Jimster hit on the head.

Shelley

Don't forget the Jello!

Yes, I think Jim got it too. With 25 diners, you could make several different simple meat dishes...a glazed ham, a roast beef or pot roast, a pile of grilled chicken parts. Easy sides. Maybe a big bowl of potato salad or mashed potatoes, one of rice pilaf, another of some noodle dish or other. A vegetable medley is always good, because people can eat those veggies they like and push aside those they don't. A "salad bar" so that people can build their own salads perhaps, with a few different dressings.

My guess is that your Dad will be far more interested and involved in being the star of the event than he is in the food, but having a buffet with several choices for all can't miss. And, that style of serving lends itself to ahead of time preparation, leaving you to actually enjoy the party as well! Your Dad will only have a 70th birthday once, and you should be enjoying his party with him rather than holed up in the kitchen!

Most importantly...do remember to take people up on it when they say, "if there's anything I can do to help..." Let people help, if it's only to assign one person to make some salad dressing, or another to help you do some dishes while you cook. When people offer, they really do want to help, and small things taken off your list can make your plans go so much more smoothly.

Yep. For this guy there is nothing better than familiar, homestyle cooking. He'll love it and so will everyone else.

Save the creative stuff for my 70th next year. Then go wild!

Jim