hi internets!

i’ve committed to throwing a dinner party for my birthday. i wanted to be all retro and grownup, or something. now i need help with the menu planning!

parameters:
+ somewhere between 6-16 guests (final numbers will impact somewhat what i can afford to do).
+ at least two fo’ real veggies (no chicken stock, no gelatin)
+ at least two there’d-better-be-an-animal-for-dinner-or-else-it’s-not-dinner-it’s-a-snack carnivores.
+ i really really heart dessert, which means that i’m willing to go more all-out with the dessert than the rest of the menu.
+ a gas grill is at my disposal for the day. as is my boyfriend/sous chef.

i’ve dined well with a number of you. so…hit me with your bestest ace-in-the-hole recipes, will you*?

*and if no one responds, i’ll take it as a sign that those recipe-exchange chain letters that i ignored and deleted really DID come back to bite me in the ass with bad karma.