Menu dilemma

We are offering Northwood's Seasoned Grilled Salmon and Rosemary Walnut Chicken with Feta, Green Onions and Roasted Walnuts.

I went to two open houses for my caterer and they offered these 2 main entrees as well as flank steak with 3 different sauces. Both times the salmon was to die for, juicy, tender, cooked perfectly and the chicken was delicious. Both times the flank steak was tough. The sauces were good, but the steak was overdone.

I'd rather have 2 dishes that I know are consistently good.

I think the pork sounds great. I'd rather have good pork than just okay steak.

Flank steak is difficult to deliver to a crowd in a well cooked way; it just doesn't have the fat necessary to make it tender and the difference between 'fine' and 'cement' is minutes.

I'd go with the pork honestly. No one is going to think flank steak is a luxury choice, and I wouldn't spend the extra bucks for strip (also a bit hard to handle; I'd really go with a filet mignon, but that would probably be even more..)

The cool thing about pork is that it's still a protein that many people don't cook at home; it's interesting and fun.

I wouldn't offer the steak. It doesn't sound like you're thrilled about it and getting the NY Strip would put you over your budget. It's ok to splurge a little on things that you love, but if you're just doing it to not seem cheap, I don't think it's a good idea. I would go with the pork, chicken, and veggie option. It gives the guests a good variety while still be delicious and on budget.

Can you add a beef skewer or tenderloin on crostini to the hors d'oeuvres?

@celia, FH is the cook of the family and he knows how temperamental flank steak can be, you said exactly the reasons he gave for being unsure. For cocktail hour we have grilled pizzas (veg), chowder and clam cakes, and a gazpacho shooter plus local cheeses and crackers. No real meat there, but seafood lest anyone feel cheated being in RI without a fish option. Do you think there needs to be a beef option somewhere?

I'll share all of your input with FH before we reach out to the caterer. Eta: clarity

Thanks!

I'd be disappointed- but I'm a die hard steak person- so I'm always sad when I don't see steak- but I'd be even MORE disappointed to get a crappy poorly cooked (over cooked) cut of meat- and flank is EASY EASY to eff up- it's just not that great of a cut.

Pork, Chicken and veggie is fine as long as it's all delicious- you'll be fine- and ultimately- "me" the hypothetical guest- isn't paying for it LOL so you have to do what's best for you budget wise- and if the steak is underwhelming and the other options are out of pocket- then go with the options that work.

Sounds good to me, app wise; I can tell you that the gazpacho shooters, as cute as they sound, will be the sad puppies in the corner. Maybe swap them out for something else. Maybe nothing else but more cheese (this is me, lol......)

The shooters are the one thing FH has his heart set on, and since they're being passed, I hope people take and enjoy them. He serves soup shooters (that he makes) at our holiday party every year so I think our friends will see it and know it was his touch. We'll be doing pics during cocktail hour so if they aren't as huge a hit as we'd like, at least he won't see. ;-)

I say ditch the flank steak and go with pork. No one will think it's cheap. I've been to weddings where beef isn't an option. It's fine. I like beef and I like pork, either one would be fine. Save some money (by not going with the strip steak) and go with the pork.

It's definitely way worse to offer a meh steak. Go with the pork!

I definitely say go with the pork. I agree that it is a much better option to go with the entree that will be consistently good rather than the entree that appears fancier (which I don't necessarily think that flank steak does). And after your seafood apps, I don't think anyone will think you're being cheap.