Thanks lindac! The short ribs are cooked with carrots which will be served with the meat. I like noodles and our friends like potatoes, so that's why I thought I'd do both. Maybe I'll rethink that one. I also thought of omitting the cheddar cheese from the salad this time around to make it lighter. Do you think that will change the flavor/texture dynamics too much?

I think you need another salad...Seems I always return to that broccoli, bacon salad... Or just a marinated veggie salad...I just cut up veggies, onions, green red and yellow peppers, zucchini, cukes, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower, carrots, snow peas Jicama, shredded red cabbage....just pick out 5 or so veggies that you love....then top with a vinaigrette, let it sit an hour or over night ands erve. I also think you could forget the pinwheel sandwiches and the chips.... And I hate that chocolate fountain thing! I know it's been served at some very nice parties and fancy buffets....but I think it's run it's course but for 10 year old's birthday parties. I don't know how big a Costco sheet pan is.....but what they call a "full sheet pan" which is 19 by 26 will serve 64 nicely....if you cut smaller pieces you can get 100 pieces. But lots of places sell a 3/4 sheet pan.....and others sell a half sheet pan.\ Also....after shrimp you list "meat"...is that different from the meat for sandwiches? I am trying to picture people's plates as they go through the buffet....there will be some cheese ball and a few crackers....2 or 3 shrimp, a blob of pasta salad and some fruit, a devilled egg tucked in at the side, and a pinwheel sandwich... a sandwich ( you having bread or buns?) of ham and cheese ( you planning on having mayo, pickles mustard catsup etc to put on the sandwiches?) and then piling chips on top of it all... Will the dessert table be separate? Are you thinking of an hors d'ouvre table....if so I would put the shrimp, cheese ball chips and pinwheels on that table...and then have the main table with sandwich stuff and 2 salads....then a dessert table with cake, fruit and the chiocolate fountain, if you must. Linda C

Okay, I've seen the High Line in a children's book, and do get the part about TJ's being far. The rest could have as easily been about Kamchatka, given how much I know about New York. :) TJ's has things that come and go, so if you're making a special trip, it might be worth calling ahead. I do the same with kale, in the low oven, but I cut out the heavy stems. Can't do it with kale sprouts, so did the hotter. They were probably too hot, but they got nice and crunchy. :) Your toasted garnish sound great! I was thinking more of the little shreds of veg that you're supposed to eat with the meat, which they also call garnish, but so much better yet to make the decorative bits into a snack! I think plenty of people in New York, at least among the people I know, are more like you with the less amount of meat. It's the chefs who don't get it! Or maybe not even the chefs there, but the ones who come here from there--maybe their fare wasn't what the New Yorkers wanted anyway. Or maybe an Eastern thrift thing of if you're paying $$$ or more, it should be for something with Calories. :) The French and German chefs seem to have at least a good acquaintance with vegetables. The Italians--the fine dining chefs here here--use them in the cooking, but it seems if you want one to actually bite into, it's in a salad, and the Brits promise all kinds of delightful veg, but it's really just a smear of puree meant to be eaten with the meat (high class substitute for ketchup) with a few micro greens and three twigs for color on top. The other fun thing that TJ's had this last year was "heirloom red spinach". I love that they're getting in these oddities, half cleaned and ready to use. :) I admire your vegetable garden. I have herbs and peppers, but I'm not a great gardener, and am not ready to commit to vegetables. Are there any you're planting now for the Spring?

We don't have BJs around here, just Sam's for a long time and Costco arrived a few years ago. Is BJs virtually the same in price, products, and policies? I never joined the Sam's because is was not convenient, and just not nice inside, kind of gloomy! The Costco is a nice experience to get to and shop in. Leaving is a pain with their checking your receipt, card, and cart, ugh. Just let me go! Re: the Sam's Club, why does the notice on the door say they will reopen the next day? Weird.