I’m having a dinner dance for my son’s 21st birthday. The party is going to be in July and the venue is about two hours from my house (in my son’s neighborhood). In addition, I will not have use of a kitchen at the hall. We are having chicken and rolls with salad catered. I am looking for some other food ideas that are not the typical buffet style dinner foods, i.e… pasta, and beef. I’ve been trying to find other main dishes that would go along with the jazz theme, but haven’t had much luck. One idea I have been kicking around is a “roll your own wrap” putting the fixins out there and letting guest make there own, I’m just not sure if it would be too much for the guests to do or too big and not go with the theme of the party. I would really appreciate any advice or ideas. Thanks!
Since Jazz originated in New Orleans, try something either Cajun or creole. Also since itis his 21st Bday, do a Hurricane drink for everyone. Love them at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans.
Hurricane Drink Recipe
2 ounces amber rum
1/4 cup passion fruit juice, or 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon grenadine
Juice of 1/2 lime
Cherries and orange slice to garnish
Ice cubes
In a cocktail shaker mix the rum, passion fruit juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the grenadine, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Add the ice cubes and shake. Strain Hurricane into a cocktail glass. Garnish with orange and cherries. Yield: 1 serving
Interesting tidbits of the origin of this famous drink:
The creation of this passion-colored relative of a Daiquiri drink is credited to Pat O’Brien. He is reported to have invented the Hurricane in the 1940s in New Orleans. Rumors say he needed to get rid of all the rum that Southern distributors forced him to buy before he could get a few cases of other spirits. He poured the concoctions into hurricane-lamp-shaped glasses and gave it away to sailors. The drink caught on, and it’s been part of the celebration ever since.
Pat O’Brien operated a speakeasy during prohibition known as, “Mr. O’Brien’s Club Tipperary”. The password to get in was, “storm’s brewin’”. In 1933, after the repeal of prohibition, he moved across the street, opened Pat O’Briens, and later down to the present location at 718 St. Peter, in the French Quarter. During W.W.II, it was difficult to get whiskey, but rum was in ample supply. With the help of the liquor salesman, this cocktail was born. It is served in a 26 oz. Hurricane glass, which is named after the shape of a hurricane lamp and the drink.
Enjoy and hope that he has a great BDay. What a wonderful Mom to put this much into making this special day memorable.
A jazz party seems kinda fancy for a roll your own wrap kinda thing. I had a dinner at my house last year with a jazz theme to celebrate my father in law’s birthday.
So I had New Orleans/ Cajun dishes. I made a big pot of jambalaya and served it with spicy shrimp shishkabobs (not sure how to speel it…sorry). Everybody loved it! I also bought some of those New Orlean bead necklaces and gave them out to guests as they came in. It kinda of sat the mood.
..The idea of wrap is good .buy the wrap and filled with different filling such as salmon ,feta cheese . (this is 2 different filling) .add parsley.. roll it cut the wrap to 3″ and keep it in the fridge.use your imagination.
you can use the paper rice as wrap ..it is easy to do .. boil the kettle hence your warm water. put one rice sheet for few second until is soft. take it out .. put you filling ..roll it .. you can make it look like the Saxophone if you wish.. but i would rather to eat it.
Jambalaya , of course.
Probably Turkey. (Big Turkeys)
You can make the wraps in advance and slice them and place on trays… they do go over big.. here is a Summer dessert that is a favorite also and easy to make… light and such a delight… LOL
Make a Fat Free Strawberry/Pineapple Angel Delight
1 frozen strawberries- thawed
1 can of crushed pinapple- drained
1 angel food cake – torn into pieces
1 container of fat free cool whip
4 bannanas- sliced
Nuts are optional
Mix up right before serving.. is a favorite and only takes 5 mins to prepare – very popular and everyone will steal the recipe and use it themselves… yummy YUM
Good luck
HOTTTTT dog
Love aliasre22’s idea. When you said “jazz-themed” that’s what came to mind. Since you already have chicken, how about some good cajun sausage gumbo.
have a wonderful time!
Jazz comes from New Orleans and so does crawfish. And its so simple to make. Go to fish monger or supermarket and get the crawfish, (cute little lobster looking things,) usually they are already cooked and only need be heated. I like to take them home and after adding some seasoninga to thwe water , like hot sauce and old bay I simply staenm the little fellows til they are nice and hot. place in a large bowl with hot sauce on the side.
For a great side dish okra stewewed in tomatos or collard greens slightly fried in bacon wopuld be wonderful. For more elaborate and costlier ideas consider a gumbo or jambolaya.
Shrimp , boiled in old bay with the addition of hot sauce and then set on dish as a peel and eat is also in the Jazz theme.
how ever you do be cool and sweat it not , Great Jazz music makes hot foods cool and cool food hot!!!
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