Originally Posted by PresRDC

My wife and I are hosting a "Holiday Open House" at our home next Saturday. Expecting around 20-25 people in total. Adults only. Mostly friends we've met through our son's school, with a few neighbors and work colleagues thrown in the mix. Not a formal event. Starts around 6 pm.

Intent is to be finger foods, mostly with a New York City theme (we're East Coast transplants in the Midwest). What I cannot get local is ordered through Goldbelly.

Menu:

• Cheese Board (TBD, but thinking 5 cheeses with at least one washed rind cows milk, one aged cows milk (cheddar or gruyere type), one blue, and one goat's milk, with a spot for something local if I can find a good one); served w/ a variety of crackers, fresh fruit, and some type of preserve (TBD)
• Chateaubriand Crostini Topped w/ Horseradish Sauce (it's the Midwest, not offering something with beef is a hanging offense )
• Scottish Smoked Salmon (Sourced from Sables in NYC) on Mini Potato Latkes w/ Crème Fraiche and Minced Shallot or Chives (may do some w/ caviar as an option if I can find it)
• Sables Smoked Whitefish Salad on H&H Bagel Chip w/ Pickled Jalapeno
• Mini Country Ham Biscuits from Callie's Hot Little Biscuit in Charleston, SC

Desserts:

• Italian Christmas Cookie Tray from Veniero's in NYC
• Mini Black & White Cookies from William Greenburg in NYC

Drinks:

• Cave Dweller Red (Blend, Mostly Cab and Syrah) & Chardonnay from Porter Family Vineyards in Napa
• Schramsburg Blanc-de-Blanc Sparkling Wine from Napa
• Tattinger Champagne (the Business Class one)
• JW Black
• Woodford Bourbon
• St. George Gin
• Avion Tequila
• Tito's Vodka
• Mixers (Fever Tree, Ginger Ale, Sparkling Water, Ginger Beer)
• Soft Drinks
• Water

With a mix of pre-made items that just need heated and cook more complicated than roasting meat, I think the food prep is largely assembly. Idea is not to have to do much work once the guests arrive, other than general hosting duties. We wanted to hire a waiter, but there is no service for this in our city. At least none that we could find.

Any thoughts? Menu too simple? Too much?

Thanks!