Throwing a manly-man Cloudburst (rather than a shower)

[justanotherpenguin]

Son is getting married next month. Since all of the women have been running around throwing showers, I have decided to throw a Cloudburst. Pretty sure that we will do steaks & potatoes, but need ideas for appetizers and deserts that ooze of manliness.

We will have about 15-20 men of varying ages (14-84). It seems to me that food items requiring fire pits and blow torches will be appropriate. Clouds will be bursting this coming Saturday (5/21).

Input will be greatly appreciated.

[adido]

For savory:
Fondue bourguignonne which uses hot oil rather than cheese
Anything to crack with a hammer – king crab legs for example

For sweet:
Root beer and bourbon floats
Cupcakes with maple bacon glaze http://www.vanillagarlic.com/2007/05/maple-bacon-cupcakes-with-maple.html
Pumpkin pie- (scientifically proven to be a man’s favorite smell – a quick Google search will defend me
)Chocolate bars with bacon – Vosges style http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/category/bacon_and_chocolate?gclid=CM2WnZ-P8qgCFQcnbAodAjvGCA
S’mores – have to be done on an open flame
Bacon donuts – voo doo donut style http://voodoodoughnut.com

[awm922]

for an appetizer, an antipasti platter heavy on the sharp cheeses and dry cured meats. Asiago, Sharp Provolone, Sopresatta, Prosciutto, Pepperoni, Salami, stuffed hot cherry peppers, spicy Italian tuna, marinated veggies, roasted peppers. Serve with crusty Italian bread.

Endings should include cigars, port, Stilton, assorted nuts, scotch, cognac, patron, stories.

[alanbarnes]

Is the "manliness" you're looking for simple masculinity, or are you looking for some irony here?

For something that's simply masculine, steakhouse standards work well. Apps like stuffed mushroom caps, Caesar salad, onion rings, or maybe crab cakes or bacon-wrapped scallops will work. For desserts, think cheesecake.

If you're looking to go ironic, mini-corn dogs, hot wings, and sliders might be good appetizers. Creme brulee would be a great dessert, especially if each diner gets a blowtorch as a party favor.

Of course, you could always go full-on sophomoric. Mashed potatoes piped into mounds and decorated with salmon roe so they look like breasts are always popular. If you're going this route, the same crowd will be just as amused when you do the same thing with cupcakes. This shtick works especially well with teenagers and 40-year-old virgins.

My inclination would be to ignore the appetizers and desserts and focus on steaks, scotch, and cigars. Doesn't get much manlier than that.

[hamboney]

Wings, poppers, bacon-weaved caesar or (any kind of) salad.
Hammy

[S_K]

At an engagement party I attended years ago, there was a massive beef haunch roasting over a spit and people were marinating it continually and shaving pieces off it to serve people. A great memory...then there was a buffet of other stuff off to the side with salads and stuff, but I don't really remember what it was so I guess that says it all...

Do you have your own special go-to marinade for something like that?

[Emme]

Bonnie's Buffalo Dip with bread and veggies to scoop it up. Make double what you think you'll need.

Mini-meatballs in homemade BBQ sauce.

Mozzarella cheese stick or jalapeno poppers

Desserts... Brownies and Chocolate Chip Cookies - then make sandwiches with ice cream. (Make sure your brownies are of the chewier variety, so they can withstand the ice cream)

[gimlis1mum]

Manly desserts is a toughie. I just asked my husband and he agreed, dessert in general is not inherently macho.

How about Guiness floats (pint o Guiness with a scoop of vanilla ice cream)? Better than it sounds and you could serve it with the aformentioned Guiness cake.

[Veggo]

There aren't manly desserts, save for whipped cream and..oh, nevermind.
Wrap it up with porto, stilton, shelled black walnuts, good cigars, and a cognac.

[c oliver]

You can use your blowtorch on creme brulee.

Most of the "manly men" in my circle like things like pate', tapenades, shrimp salad, etc. :) Or maybe they're just faking it so I'll keep inviting them over!

[TheHuntress]

Yep, I was going to suggest creme brulee for dessert too - get that manly blowtorch out! Otherwise it would be anything you can set fire to like bombe alaska.

[MellieMag]

I made a chocolate bacon cake for my nephew's last birthday. Maybe brownies with cinnamon and cayenne added.? I have seen a recipe for a jalapeno apple pie recently. I keep thinking about S'mores,mostly because they sound really good to me right now.

[lilgi]

How about some Krispy Kreme burgers?
http://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/28/k...

[Hank Hanover]

Lots of suggestions for appetizers, already but people are struggling with the dessert.

How about a couple of boob shaped and decorated cakes or even individual C or D cup size cakes? You could even make a game of how they are eaten.

[JungMann]

For dessert I was going to suggest scotch. Or at least bourbon and bacon pralines.

[alkapal]

how nice!

[MellieMag]

With steak and potatoes, I would slice some onions in half,brush them with a little oil,season them however you want and put them on the grill. Same thing with mushrooms and peppers. Make Armadillo Tails-stuff jalapenos with cheese,wrap them in bacon, and place on grill. Thick slices of Texas toast,buttered,seasoned however, and grilled.Grilled fresh pineapple slices can be a side or a dessert with some ice cream added.We thread little smokies on a kebob skewer and eat them as an appetizer.And the men around here are always up for baked beans and deviled eggs in disgusting amounts.
Good for you to have a guys' party. I'll bet you'll have a lot of fun.

[Uncle Bob]

Plenty of Raw Oysters ~ Peel & Eat Shrimp ~ Chips & Top Notch Salsa ~ 4 or 5 Good Bourbons ~ If you're cooking manly sized steaks you want need many/much in the way of appetizers. ~~~ Desert? Son's favorite!!

[Phurstluv]

Don't forget the cigars!! Can't wait to throw one of these when my boys marry!!

[Phurstluv]

Bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed grilled knockwurst
mini sausage & pepper sliders
potato skins with bacon, cheddar & horseradish creme
bbq nachos
seared steak on mini yorkshire puddings
fried macaroni & cheese balls
meatball sliders
firecracker shrimp kabobs
baby back riblets

[vicarious]

Some more ideas:
For appetizers: spare ribs, nachos, stuffed jalapenos, pigs in blankets (and wings, of course)
For dessert: Love the idea of the stout cake. Diner pies also strike me as manly, particularly chocolate cream pie. Or maybe homemade ice cream sandwiches with lots of hot fudge sauce for dunking. You might also find some inspiration at "Epic Meal Time." (Don't forget the Jack Daniels.)

[THewat]

You could do the chocolate stout cake from the Barrington Brewery - a lot of people really love it - and the beer might make it "manly." My first thought was cheesecake, however, for what that's worth. (This thread is hysterical.)

[S_K]

I like this dip when cheese lovers come over:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/artichok...

What about making your own burgers and have all kinds of toppings with different cheeses, sauces and other fixings? When I think of "manly" I think of bacon...unless it's "manly vegetarian" then it's probably cheese with jalapenos for some reason.

For dessert, apple pie...everyone loves homemade apple pie...but I notice it's a clear winner (ice cream optional but welcome if it's warm) especially if the meal is heavy. You feel like you've done your bit towards fruit even though it's all sugared up.

[chowser]

My husband and son both love the meatloaf cake and prefer it to a regular one.

[ceekskat]

Spiced nuts
Chips & some really good guac & salsa.
Mini eggrolls (dads seemed to favor these at the last school social; gotta have something deep fried : -)
Bread (garlic or flat bread brushed w/ olive oil) that can be thrown on the grill? Flat bread or even pita can be served with cheese spread/dip or hummus.
Buffalo wings
Grilled spicy, Southwestern style sausages

Sorry, have no clue as to what to suggest for "ooze of manliness" dessert. What do you like?

[goodhealthgourmet]

re: spiced nuts, bacon might add an extra dash of manliness, as would a healthy pinch of cayenne.