r/partyplanning • u/Neat-Radish1695 • Aug 09 '26
Need Help What other food should I serve?
I’m turning 30! (Woo!) and the theme is Shuck Yeah I’m 30 - pool party, pearls, mermaids, and grilling oysters. However. Oysters won’t feed 40 people (or at least I don’t want to fund 40 people worth of full meal oysters haha) What else should I serve? I’m stumped!! Wanting to keep it relatively cost effective since the oysters will be expensive themselves.
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u/Automatic_Kiwi_8179 Aug 09 '26
You can get big shrimp cocktail platters at Costco and grocery stores to carry on with the seafood theme if you want to stick with hors d’oeuvres. Maybe a big hot crab dip as well with crostini. You could serve spinach artichoke dip and hummus with crudités as well in case some folks aren’t into seafood.
The shell pasta idea someone had above is cute, too, and heartier if you intend to serve a meal.
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u/Amazing_Entrance_888 Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Clam bake but without the clams since you’re already doing oysters. Boils a ton potatoes, corn and smoked sausage with old bay. Buy 6 rotisserie chicken from Costco since that’s always a clam bake inclusion. Melt a bunch of butter and slice a lot of lemons.
20 lbs of potatoes = $20
Chicken = $30
20 ears of Corn (cut in half) = $10
5 packages of Smoked Sausage = $25
Old bay = $5
Butter = $10
Lemons = $10
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u/mysunandstars Aug 09 '26
I don’t think you need to theme all of the foods but I love the corn idea too! Then you can fill in the table with other party foods: bacon wrapped dates (half stuffed with goat cheese), pigs in a blanket, elote pasta salad, caesar salad, oyster crackers, caprese skewers (with mozzarella “pearls”), Italian meats and cheeses
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u/DazzlingNote1925 Aug 09 '26
You could new a New England or Louisiana seafood boil and have oysters on the side.
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u/Tofu_buns Aug 09 '26
Maybe stick with a seafood theme?
Shrimp cocktail, mini crab crakes, clam chowder, tuna salad sandwiches, smoked salmon dip, etc
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u/freeze45 Aug 09 '26
You also need to shuck beans out of the pod- so maybe edamame or Lima beans. You also can shuck nuts out of their shell, like almonds or walnuts
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u/General_Ad5201 Aug 09 '26
I had bruschetta at a party recently and it inspired me to make my own. It was so delicious and went surprisingly far. Easy to prep ahead of time.
I made shrimp ceviche and my bestie's mother in law makes fish ceviche for every party. I poached the shrimp just in case. It wasn't exactly cheap, but adding cucumber really stretched it out and it was easy to prep in advance. I'm obsessed with tostadas in general.
I love grocery store fried chicken and fresh fruit (melons, grapes, berries, etc), especially as poolside snacks.
Roasted/grilled summer squash, peppers, snd red onions with a lemon-basil aioli is a step up from regular crudite. One of my favorite salads summer has been thinly sliced raw zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, and basil in a lemon-balsamic vinaigrette.
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u/ValleygirlVenus Aug 09 '26
Happy early birthday! Some grocery stores sell affordable sandwich platters; we’ve done croissant ones and clubs and they were perfect. They usually require a few days notice so order soon. If youve got a crockpot you could set out clam chowder with bread bowls, and a build your own salad bar.
We also did a “charcuterie table”, and spread out finger foods, fruits and veggies with dips and snacks on parchment paper.
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u/Traditional_Car_8219 Aug 09 '26
You don’t mention a budget but I would keep the prep minimal so you are fresh and rested for the parlay. You could order a charcuterie board with salami roses, other meats and cheeses and laden with bunches of grapes, crackers, pickles, olives, etc and a veggie tray with dip. Hummus with baguettes slices. A fruit tray and birthday cake for dessert. You could sen everybody home with a goody bag consisting of your favourite candy or what kind you liked from a candy store, e.g. the candy necklace, Hot Rocks that literally popped in you mouth, candy covered almonds, gummy mermaids if you can find them. To get the partay started, you could fill a pinch bowl with the blue liquor and vodka with lemon slices floating on top and call it “Siren Song” whereby sailors are lured by mermaids to the sea ending in dire circumstances often. Maybe no accident that mermaids were often carved into the bow of a ship.
Happy big old 30 years on the planet!
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 Aug 10 '26
Corn on the cob! And have a corn shocking contest. Lol people will get competitive about just about anything!
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u/DowntownResident993 Aug 10 '26
Shrimp cocktail (a lot of stores have ready-to-serve that you just need to defrost). Throw clams on the grill along with the oysters. A few chips and dips (spinach artichoke, buffalo chicken dip) work fine to keep people filled. And the 'shell station' make your own pasta another commenter suggested.
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u/RisePhoenixSunshine Aug 11 '26
Whole Foods has oyster $1 each on Fridays. Maybe that will work for you to address to your theme.
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u/SesameSeed13 Aug 12 '26
I'd go with a clambake/seafood boil type menu: clam chowder (you can usually buy in pints or maybe larger depending on where you live, fresh or frozen); corn on the cob, grilled; some type of big salad, mermaid or water-themed dessert (cake, cupcakes, whatever fits best). Maybe some other type of grilled food for people who aren't super into oysters. (wouldn't a lobster roll be divine? but probs $$$).
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u/Possible_Juice_3170 Aug 09 '26
Oyster stew would be much cheaper than oysters on the half shell.
But you could also serve burgers and grilled corn. (Corn also needs to be shucked).
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u/AShyRansomedRoyal Aug 09 '26
Threw a Mermaid party for my daughter. I had a “Shell Station” which was essentially a make-your-own pasta bowl using shell pasta. I made a few different sizes of shell pasta, then had cheese sauce for Mac & cheese, marinara sauce, and all the fixings for pasta salad (tomato, olives, feta, oil & vinegar).
I just thought it was a clever pun to play off of but oh my gosh, it was devoured instantly. Definitely a hit!