Adult birthday party, gastro pub, sliders, crab cakes, soft pretzels, candied bacon
For her Hubby’s 50th birthday, Elle wanted to showcase the handcrafted beer he makes. We decided on a gastro pub theme party with 3 types of sliders, homemade soft pretzels and candied bacon.  She created a personalized newspaper, featuring pictures and articles about her husband, as a table runner.

I love birthday parties, even if they aren’t my own.  When my dear friend and interior designer extraordinaire Elle (check out her blog here) asked me to work with her on her husband’s birthday celebration,  I was happy to be the chef and a guest.  Elle styled the party in black and white using chalkboard paper as a table cover.  If you use contact chalkboard  paper don’t remove the paper on the back if you don’t want the contact paper to stick to your table.

chalkboard contact paper, chalk board paper
Repositionable chalkboard contact paper makes a great table cover or a menu board on a wall
beer, craft beer
The birthday boy’s handcrafted beer was the centerpiece of the party

For the menu we decided that sliders would be the main event.  What goes better with beer than a hearty burger.  In addition to traditional beef sliders I made crab cake sliders and little roasted veggie hoagies as well, something for all tastes.  We did delicious snacks as well like sinful candied bacon and  homemade soft pretzels with sea salt.  The candied bacon was a big hit, and of course I used some of my own homemade house cured bacon coated with brown sugar, cayenne pepper and rosemary.

Salt pretzels, soft pretzels
Homemade sea salt soft pretzels, the perfect partner with craft beer
candied bacon, bacon, sweet
Sweet, smoky, spicy, salty candied BACON! So delicious

Buffalo chicken meatballs with hotwing sauce and bleu cheese was also on the menu.  This is a tasty dish for a party, especially during football season.  The birthday boy’s hand crafted beer was the perfect foil for the spicy sauce.  The recipe is below

buffalo chicken meatballs, meatballs, chicken
Buffalo chicken meatballs with crumbled bleu/blue cheese. Bake the sauce onto the meatballs for 5 minutes and the sauce wont be drippy
party forks, bamboo
I used bamboo party forks like these for the buffalo chicken meatballs. They are sturdier than toothpicks and look good too

Buffalo chicken meatballs for a party

Makes about 32- 1.5 ounce meatballs

1 small onion cut into fine dice (about ½ cup)1 garlic clove cut into fine dice2 tablespoons canola oil

3 pounds ground chicken (dark meat if possible)

3 egg whites

3/4 cup bread crumbs

1 teaspoon paprika

1 ½  teaspoon salt

¼ cup hot sauce

¼ cup butter

4 ounces of blue/bleu cheese

Heat oven to 400°Coat 2 rimmed sheet pans with canola oil.  Saute onions and garlic in canola oil until translucent. Cool to room temperature.Mix ground chicken, egg whites, bread crumbs, salt, paprika, sautéed onion and garlic.  Form into meatballs about 1 ½ inches in diameter

Place on an oiled sheet pan  and roast for about 20 minutes or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 °

In a separate saucepan mix hot sauce and butter heat to boiling then remove from heat.

Pour sauce over meatballs and bake 5 minutes.  Place on a serving tray with bamboo party forks and top with crumbled blue cheese

28 Comments

28 Comments on Adult Gastro Pub Birthday Party with Craft beer + Buffalo Chicken Meatball recipe

  1. Elle C Wolfe
    October 28, 2013 at 10:30 pm (10 years ago)

    The party, and food was awesome, we had a great time together! Can’t wait to collaborate on something else. And damn, the party looks really good! 🙂

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm (10 years ago)

      I predict we will work together VERY soon

      Reply
  2. Anita
    October 26, 2013 at 9:19 am (10 years ago)

    Wow your food looks amazing! I want to try it! Love you blog cant wait to go through it! 🙂

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 26, 2013 at 3:28 pm (10 years ago)

      thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate it

      Reply
  3. Kimberly
    October 25, 2013 at 11:40 pm (10 years ago)

    I wish I had been invited to that party. Soft pretzels are my absolute favorite! I have a book on how to make them, but I never got around to it. Instead, I just bought a kit at the grocery store the other day. Your food always looks so good. I just want to nibble on that bacon.

    Reply
  4. Rae (@fromraewithlove)
    October 25, 2013 at 9:09 pm (10 years ago)

    It all looks amazing!!! And loving the table!!! Did you you chalkboard paint?

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:38 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks! The table cover is chalkboard contact paper

      Reply
  5. Demi
    October 25, 2013 at 8:06 pm (10 years ago)

    looks delicious!

    Reply
  6. PoisedinPrint.com
    October 25, 2013 at 6:50 pm (10 years ago)

    Fantastic idea. This is perfect with the onset of so many food allergies.

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:46 pm (10 years ago)

      Absolutely! The chalkboard contact paper is perfect for writing out the menu or ingredients so your guests will know what their getting

      Reply
  7. Alisha Lampley
    October 25, 2013 at 5:06 pm (10 years ago)

    Hey BLM Girl! Lawd these look so good! I’m always re-pinning your stuff on Pinterest and all of this food from this party look so good. And I love the handcrafted beer. I should try and make my own wine to serve at a party. Great tips!

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 5:53 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks so much, BLM in the house. My Aunt and uncle in SC used to make their own wine, mmmm SO good, I need to see if they still do. My FiL occasionally makes it too

      Reply
  8. EatStylePlay (@_Michsi_)
    October 25, 2013 at 3:56 pm (10 years ago)

    This looks really good!! love all the food! Those meatballs look really good! I love writing the name of everything on the chalkboard.

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:47 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks so much. The chalkboard paper is a practical and stylish idea

      Reply
  9. Jen (nai1chronic1es)
    October 25, 2013 at 3:47 pm (10 years ago)

    Love the table set up. And I licked my screen chile. BLM girls rock!

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:48 pm (10 years ago)

      LOL!! Licked your screen!HA so funny

      Reply
  10. Candyce Nicole
    October 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm (10 years ago)

    I need ALL.OF.THIS!! It all looks soooooo good!

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:50 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks so much for stopping by

      Reply
  11. Sabrina @seriouslynatural
    October 25, 2013 at 3:27 pm (10 years ago)

    Girl, those chicken meatballs look and sound amazing. Gonna have to try that!

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 10:51 pm (10 years ago)

      cool, if you try it please let me know how you like it

      Reply
  12. Katherine G
    October 25, 2013 at 2:35 am (10 years ago)

    Looks like a great party!! The food looks yummy too.

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 3:45 am (10 years ago)

      I had such fun. It’s a challenge to be a chef and a guest, but I’m glad I could make it happen

      Reply
  13. Angie A,
    October 25, 2013 at 2:29 am (10 years ago)

    All those things look so yummy, and that party looks so elegant! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • sweetsavant
      October 25, 2013 at 3:46 am (10 years ago)

      it was very elegant thanks to Elle’s styling. she’s so talented

      Reply

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