Grad party butts...advice?

ksmyrl

The boy graduates high school next weekend. We are joining w another family to host a grad party this saturday. We are providing the protein, the other family the other stuff.  I just this moment was told "120 people". Been planning all this time for 50 or 60. I've got 20lbs of pork butts pulled and in the freezer. Now...how much more? It's a drop in from 12 to 4 and we are the only party this Saturday from the high school. I still don't think I need 50 or 60 lbs of pork. We've done big dinners many times before but never a drop in. Any of you pros out there got any advice?

I've made a vinegar sauce and bought a bunch of local sauces ranging from super sweet to hot and spicy.SWMBO thinks we need 20 more lbs.. I say maybe 10.

Here is the boy at a senior cookout. So we do have a reputation to uphold. Times are a changing at the ksmyrl house. 

Jstroke

My opinion, most people won’t eat much. Maybe 1/8-1:4lb net weight per person

nolaegghead

I agree, 10 more pounds.  There’s always the possibility you get the entire school, but these kids are busy thinking about sex and freedom from adolescence, many don’t want to kill their buzz with food 🤣

lkapigian

The general rule is 1/2 lb per person ( total protein, if you have more than 1 adjust accordingly) precooked weight , many many variables, I agree with @jstroke with1/4 per person, that being said, pork is relatively cheap, freezes well and it’s always nice to send food home , Congratulations!

nolaegghead

I thought you title said “Grab” for a fleeting second🤪

lousubcap

All I've got is congratulations to your son for the milestone and for you all to be appreciative of the opportunity to host the party.  Good luck gauging the final crowd but those for whom it matters will make sure to be there early on. 

fishlessman

Hs kids eat a lot.   Have extra hot dogs

ksmyrl

Thanks yall. I haven't been around a lot lately but am reminded why I like this group. @nolaegghead...you made me laugh...twice. I can't believe we haven't met in person after all these years....(10 ish???). We could have some gun (i meant fun and typoed but decided to leave it...) debates. 

I think I'll do 2 more butts. Maybe 12 lbs. We have Iike 6 heavy sides so we will be fine. If it's all gone at the end I get to brag about how much everyone loved the que. 

Dyal_SC

Congrats and a handsome youngin!  Heavy side like a big pan of meatballs/lil beef smokies mixed with bbq sauce and cranberry jelly is always an easy filler.  Just a big foil pan, coupla bags of thawed store bought meatballs, few packs of lil beef smokies, bbq rub, couple cans of cranberry jelly mixed with bbq sauce, stir it all together and let it ride until they’re hot and the sauce is incorporated. Toothpicks to go with. 

kl8ton

Just did HS graduation party Sunday for my oldest. He wanted small party... Just immediate family. 26 people and I smoked 20lbs bone in weight before cooking. Just under half disappeared. 

caliking

This is the constant struggle on this side. caliqueen is happy to run out of food at an event, and I can never understand what she has against having some leftovers, to have on hand for nights you don't feel like cooking, etc. 

I say go big with 50lbs of butt.Pulled pork is one of best kinds of 'cue to have left over. So many uses for it. Send some home with folks. Vac seal the rest. 

 Enjoy the cook. Enjoy being happy about your son graduating. Win some points for saying "yes, dear." 

And, congratulations to your young man! Looks like a fine kid.

RRP

Not sure what I can add to all of the above other than to again say congrats! Please be sure to keep an eye open for any drinking going on. You, his mother and the parents of all the other attendees want their new graduates home safe and sound!

I know...just color me that old fart...

Canugghead

calling @lkapigian

buzd504

Remember that the 20lbs you have already is already cooked, so it doesn't compare evenly to what you would buy uncooked - it's probably 30lbs uncooked.  I do think another 10lb would be minimum and you may as well cook 2 or 3 to replace the frozen stuff you are getting rid of.

dannys

Better to have too much than too little.  We usually did Thanksgiving here and one of the early years we had exactly enough mashed potatoes.  It would have been a tragedy for my Irish household.

ksmyrl

Thanks yall, I'll report back how it goes. The entire senior glass is 70 students. A lot of parents and faculty will be coming also so they all won't eat like 18 year old football players. But if "Big Jack" and "BBQ Ben" show up I'll be in trouble no matter how much food we have...

ksmyrl

Got word from co-host today that word is out "Big Kev" is cooking que. She says plan on 150 to 175 (she is collecting rsvps). I bought 40 more lbs of butts today and got em all rubbed down and ready. We will have 50 lbs of cooked pork. If it's good it'll be a blast. Pics tomorrow of the epic cook. Maybe even a few pics from Saturday. It's the least I can do. This a group of good kids. They like to have fun, but they are good kids. 

lousubcap

Whatever they devour and enjoy will not resonate a day or two later with them. Regardless of the 120-150-175 number the experience and pounding and enjoying pork sliders will be the recall. 

Way to support your son.  Congrats to all.

ksmyrl

So true @lousubcap. This turning into a school party. Head of School called today and said "you cooking? I'm coming". Sighh. The memories will be good. We will have fun. 

TechsasJim

Your boy looks like a strapping lad, are his friends like him?    If so I’d do as suggested about, 1/2_# per person knowing some less, some more.   

Regardless, enjoy the celebration and take pictures for your photo book.   Should be a highly memorable event.   

ksmyrl

182 and counting. I have seven 8lb butts going right now...in addition to the paltry 20 lbs I had already prepared.  Just don't tell anyone that two of them are in the oven. I'll mix it all in with the ones that I could fit on the Large and Mini Max.

Legume

This is fantastic.

JohnInCarolina

ksmyrl said:

182 and counting. I have seven 8lb butts going right now...in addition to the paltry 20 lbs I had already prepared.  Just don't tell anyone that two of them are in the oven. I'll mix it all in with the ones that I could fit on the Large and Mini Max.

lkapigian

You got this @ksmyrl !........Couple of variables I keep in mind is serving, If we are doing the serving ,I can pretty much pinpoint how much I need, if people serve themselves I plan on extra as people will heap on servings they never eat and it goes in the trash, I want clean plates 

lousubcap

So much for the guesstimates.  Obviously your son is quite popular and has spread the word about your great eats on tap. 

caliking

lkapigian said:

You got this @ksmyrl !........Couple of variables I keep in mind is serving, If we are doing the serving ,I can pretty much pinpoint how much I need, if people serve themselves I plan on extra as people will heap on servings they never eat and it goes in the trash, I want clean plates 

This may sound miserly, but this ^^^. Also, if you serve while holding bottom bun over the pan of PP, any excess/overflow falls back into the pan, and is less likely to be wasted.

I'm cheap like that. 

ksmyrl

Thanks yall. 5 of the 7 are pulled and ready to go. Mother in Law is here for party and helped. She sampled each butt and each passed her very stringent test. The two biggest are still rolling. Waiting for them to probe like buttah. 

caliking

Way to "carpe diem". Looking forward to party pics!

Some time from time now,  you won't remember how much pork you had left over, etc. You will remember what a good time everyone had, how much fun you had with this cook, and how awesome it was to celebrate your kid. 

Enjoy!

StillH2OEgger

This is very cool!

ksmyrl

I promise I'm not trying to be that guy. But, today's party was epic. We had over 200 come and go. The two boys were so humbled at all the folks that came to celebrate their graduation. I did a terrible job of getting photos. But here are a few. The cars pics was 1 hr in. By 3 hrs in cars covered the yard. We had two qt baggies of bbq left over. Just enough for a late night snack. Sitting on the porch now enjoying some brown water. (Full disclosure this was my buddies house...not mine). 

Thanks yall for all the advice. 

RRP

WOW! WOW! WOW!