50th Anniversary Dinner - need your wisdom

gmac

Well, since my wife's brother is a useless tool, we are going to be hosting a party for my wife's parents 50th (he is 30 mins away, we are 2 hrs). 
So I need to do something for 15,people that is worthy of an event of this magnitude. I'm not sure brisket is the right thing so I'm looking at getting a big prime rib Monday and giving it 2+ weeks to age but these people all like their beef dried out and ruined (well done) so maybe a whole tenderloin would be better. I'm at a loss for what to do. Help. 
Plus I need sides and everything else. It's on Jan 28. 3 weeks to make magic. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Don't bring your girlfriend.

Billy Grill Eggster

Brisket, it will travel well in a warmed up cooler.  It would be a logistics nightmare trying to do a rib roast or tenderloin (cook for two hours trip? ?).
Maybe mac&cheese for one side and baked beans. both could travel precooked and go into a waiting oven.

blind99

Tenderloin. Easy cook, and delicious. No need for prime. 

Ina Garten has an awesome mashed potatoes recipe you make the day before and heat up before serving. 

gmac

Sorry, to clarify. They are all coming to my house so no transport is required. 
And @Ozzie_Isaac no girlfriend. I keep asking but the Mrs says no. 

blind99

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Don't bring your girlfriend.

You'd have to be nuts to want a girlfriend in addition to a wife. 

abpgwolf

I did a big beef tenderloin (7 lbs.) for Christmas. We had 11 people and it was just enough, no leftovers, so you may need two smaller tenderloins for 15 people. You could cook it early and FTC it for the 2 hour ride. I wouldn’t cook it much beyond medium, because there will be some carry over cooking.

I used this recipe: https://cookingquest.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/whole-beef-tenderloin-with-honey-and-worcestershire-crust/  it was outstanding! The recipe is a little complicated, but well worth the effort.  

lousubcap

Does it have to be only beef?  If so and given the well-done preference I would lean to the tenderloin as it will survive that treatment better than a roast. 
Another option is a beef wellington and @JustineCaseyFeldown is quite an expert on that front.  Hopefully he will be along.  
Edit:I note that you will be hosting so no travel for you.

PlanSB

 blind99 said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Don't bring your girlfriend.

You'd have to be nuts to want a girlfriend in addition to a wife. 

This is what I always tell my wife.

gmac

lousubcap said:

Does it have to be only beef?  If so and given the well-done preference I would lean to the tenderloin as it will survive that treatment better than a roast. 
Another option is a beef wellington and @JustineCaseyFeldown is quite an expert on that front.  Hopefully he will be along.  
Edit:I note that you will be hosting so no travel for you.

These people are crazy fussy and have no imagination...  For example, they only buy chicken breast, won't eat dark meat (and that's the best part), only buy eye of round roast, nothing else. Crazy city folk. 
Wellington is a nice idea though. Hmmm...

thetrim

Are any of @YukonRon petite meat destroying neighbors coming over?  If so plan for more.   I think prime rib or tenderloin roast are in order.  Creamed Spinach and a nice potato dish would be a good side.   I like provoleta as an appetizer but you need to serve it as an added in seats appetizer.   This is what I did for Xmas dinner at my house and it was nice.  Best with a sharp provolone.  Tell that tool brother in law of your to pony up for some sides or some good wine/booze for the evening .  

stantrb

I would make a pork loin porchetta and serve it with aged Tuscan wine.  Feeds a crowd, easy, totally cool, very memorable.  Serve it with a cauliflower/mascarpone/nutmeg puree pretending to be smooth mashed potatoes.  You'd blow their minds.

bgebrent

I would keep it simple and elegant.  Given your guests preference for ruined beef, I'd second the beef tenderloin.

Killit_and_Grillit

gmac said:

my wife's brother is a useless tool

This should be crocheted on a pillow. 



I did these a few a few months back and they were amazing and fairly light. 

I used @bgebrent s Rosemary garlic bacon recipe, then made a sheet of polenta cake and cut small cookie cutter circles out of them. Then I used a goat cheese cream cheese mix, blackberry BBQ sauce and a blackberry garnish. 

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1198019/bacon-weekend#latest

Hntnhrd

I have become real partial to
ny strip cut 3 inches thick . Can cook them to different temps for people that like their beef ruined. Thissize feeds four people each with sides

gmac

So is there any benefit to buying a tenderloin this weekend and aging it for a couple weeks?  @JustineCaseyFeldown @bgebrent @Little Steven?

DoubleEgger

gmac said:

Sorry, to clarify. They are all coming to my house so no transport is required. 
And @Ozzie_Isaac no girlfriend. I keep asking but the Mrs says no. 

bgebrent

gmac said:

So is there any benefit to buying a tenderloin this weekend and aging it for a couple weeks?  @JustineCaseyFeldown @bgebrent @Little Steven?

Not really in my opinion.  You have a lean cut that your crowd wants overdone.  No benefit from a dry age here.  You could set it out overnight but that's all I'd do.  Be too easy to get too much jerky rather than tender tenderloin.

Wolfpack

Tenderloin doesn't have a lot of fat and no cap so if you age go with a wet age.  Do you have a sous vide?you can get theirs cooked without being shoe leather... I would probably do some kind of sauce to add moisture and make it something special. 

i would cut cut off a hunk for your crowd (before cooking) that doesn't like burnt beef. 

But for me- tenderloin doesn't have a lot of fat so it can dry out.  I would go with rib roast- more fat may keep it a little more moist plus the presentation is different and cool. 

Eggscuses

DoubleEgger said:

gmac said:

Sorry, to clarify. They are all coming to my house so no transport is required. 
And @Ozzie_Isaac no girlfriend. I keep asking but the Mrs says no. 

My a$$ just fell off I laughed so hard   

Dobie

Killit_and_Grillit said:

gmac said:

my wife's brother is a useless tool

This should be crocheted on a pillow. 



I did these a few a few months back and they were amazing and fairly light. 

I used @bgebrent s Rosemary garlic bacon recipe, then made a sheet of polenta cake and cut small cookie cutter circles out of them. Then I used a goat cheese cream cheese mix, blackberry BBQ sauce and a blackberry garnish. 

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1198019/bacon-weekend#latest

Oh snap! Want! 

Dobie

We went to Ruth Chris for my folks 50th and enjoyed the service and time with family.
Worth every penny. 

gmac

Good @Dobie @Dobie but the closest one is back by the brother in laws and we're not gonna make it easy for him.

Dobie

gmac said:

Good @Dobie @Dobie but the closest one is back by the brother in laws and we're not gonna make it easy for him.

Understand, just saying sometimes for these big milestones it's better to let someone else well qualified to handle it so family can just enjoy the moment. 

gmac

Dobie said:

gmac said:

Good @Dobie @Dobie but the closest one is back by the brother in laws and we're not gonna make it easy for him.

Understand, just saying sometimes for these big milestones it's better to let someone else well qualified to handle it so family can just enjoy the moment. 

You saying I'm not well qualified ???  

GregW

gmac said:

Well, since my wife's brother is a useless tool, we are going to be hosting a party for my wife's parents 50th (he is 30 mins away, we are 2 hrs). 
So I need to do something for 15,people that is worthy of an event of this magnitude. I'm not sure brisket is the right thing so I'm looking at getting a big prime rib Monday and giving it 2+ weeks to age but these people all like their beef dried out and ruined (well done) so maybe a whole tenderloin would be better. I'm at a loss for what to do. Help. 
Plus I need sides and everything else. It's on Jan 28. 3 weeks to make magic. 

I have a few people in the family who insist on well done beef. Needless to say when they come over to eat, they get hot dogs and burgers. It would be a crime to waste good beef on them.

calracefan

Just saw a post about Flannery Beef, why not order some dry aged steaks !

Dobie

gmac said:

Dobie said:

gmac said:

Good @Dobie @Dobie but the closest one is back by the brother in laws and we're not gonna make it easy for him.

Understand, just saying sometimes for these big milestones it's better to let someone else well qualified to handle it so family can just enjoy the moment. 

You saying I'm not well qualified ???  

Nope just saying it takes away from time with family doing the work. I do it routinely, but there are some big moments you just need to take the time to soak it all in. 

StillH2OEgger

Rather than overcooking a nicer cut of beef to suit their tastes, I would be very tempted to go the brisket route.

gmac

Yeah. The Mrs is saying brisket too. She is often right. 

Toxarch

If they only eat overcooked beef, then go with brisket. Doing a beef loin/tenderloin will just make you upset. Now if you go with a pork loin/tenderloin, then everyone could be happy. A regular pork loin is good. A stuffed pork loin is even better.