Plan for Big Cook (~50 people)

[jfmorris]

bbq_esq Cheesesteak sliders are an awesome idea, and a great way to give folks a taste of beef in these days of crazy expensive beef. I may have to give that idea a spin myself. I've got a deli slicer and am wondering if a cheaper cut like bottom/top round could even work, sliced thin before cooking on the griddle. Might be too dry though? Hmmm.

[bbq_esq]

bbq_esq Cheesesteak sliders are an awesome idea, and a great way to give folks a taste of beef in these days of crazy expensive beef. I may have to give that idea a spin myself. I've got a deli slicer and am wondering if a cheaper cut like bottom/top round could even work, sliced thin before cooking on the griddle. Might be too dry though? Hmmm.

I am spending a lot of time on FB marketplace looking at deli slicers, to my wife's chagrin. I worked in delis for years so I do know how to handle the thing (not that I never cut myself on it) and clean it.

The one I did the other week was prime ribeye, which was obviously insanely good, but probably not strictly necessary. I think you need something with a bit of fat. I was trying to think of other options. I think a lesser grade of ribeye would work fine - it's not exactly a "cheap" option, but what beef is these days. You could probably get away with select if you are really shaving it but I don't know where I'd even find that.

I'm curious what other cuts might work. You could probably something very good with a chuck roast honestly - the way I do my cheesesteaks, they are getting chopped up on the grill. You shouldn't be pulling big piece of steak out when you bite, so you just don't want any gristle.

[bbq_esq]

I think I am going to try the nacho bar idea this year, which more than one person suggested. I've already ordered a heated nacho cheese dispenser. Plan would be big tray of tortilla trips, 2 proteins (thinking pulled pork and either a faux-birria smoked and braised beef chuck or chopped marinated steak, flap or skirt). Then go nuts with the toppings - diced onion, pickled jalapenos, roasted corn salsa, pico de gallo, guac, sour cream squeeze bottle, black olives, shredded lettuce, scallions, etc.

I'd still have rolls so if someone just wants a pulled pork sammich they can do that, but now the pulled pork pulls double duty.

So, nacho bar with two proteins, pork belly burnt ends, hot dogs (which I could see getting a trip down the nacho bar line by a creative diner) and then I am thinking I'll just do a big buffalo chicken dip. Easy to have ready to go on smoker, crowd pleaser and leaves me nothing but hot dogs to really attend to on the day. Plus, I've got a Mr. Softee truck arriving so I think that should be plenty of food.

[bbq_esq]

So, final menu v3.3, because my wife’s gonna kill me if I change anything:

Nacho bar w/ fixings
-pulled pork (rolls also available)
-ground beef

Pork belly burnt ends

Cheesesteak pull-apart sliders

Hot dogs

sides from local deli

Mr. Softee supplying dessert

[Jerod Broussard]

Dang....nice menu!

[bbq_esq]

Well I am already second guessing chicken thighs for the nacho bar lol. It's either chicken thighs, which then have to be chopped, or I just do pulled chicken, but then I have to deal with a bunch of whole chickens at like 30% yield. I'm probably overthinking and chopped marinated and grilled thighs with whatever reserved juices there are will be just fine in a chaffing dish for an hour.

This post has become my BBQ diary sorry for those just waiting for pics. This year I promise a full pictorial - we have a server who I have tasked with that job.

[bbq_esq]

As always, forecast looks like rain for party day. Always a fun week lol

[RonB]

It just might work out. We just got back from a week in the OBX with rain forecast every day. We did have rain a few days, but only Friday did we get enough rain to affect our activities.

[bbq_esq]

RonB we ended up having a beautiful day last year after a bad forecast up until the morning of. I’m trying to not think about it

[jfmorris]

Weather around here is a crap shoot, and days I think will be rainy turn to sun, and vice versa. Praying for sun for you, or at least overcast with no rain.

And I thought you had decided no chicken - just pulled pork and ground beef? Now you are swinging back to chicken?

[bbq_esq]

jfmorris I am back to no chicken. Pulled pork, ground beef for the nacho bar (though will be rolls if someone wants a pulled pork sandwich), hot dogs, pork belly burnt ends and cheesesteak sliders. Gonna just pick up the sides from a local deli.