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Another way to look at this is to break down the courses and what you want to spend for each ... for example:

Starter, Cocktail/Wine/beer, + 2 starters + nibbles @ $15.00 each = $45
First Course, salad w/wine/beer/sparking water @10.00 each = $30
Main Course, meat/fish, veggie, starch w/wine @ $30.00 each = $90
Desert w/liquer or coffee/tea @ 15.00 each = $45
Total so far is $210.00

With $30 per person for dinner - I'd go for that standing rib roast with lobster tails!

I'm Rosezilla (named for my three year old daughter and the giant lizard thing that stomped Tokyo...it's what I call her when she's being...how you say...willful). My real handle is Mandy. I live in Santa Barbara County again after growing up here, but lived for 11 years in western Sonoma County...home of fabulous food and wines. It spoiled me rotten, to become an adult surrounded by all of that luscious produce and foodie opportunity. I managed a microbrewery's kitchen for 6 years, and have SERIOUS opinions about ales, should anyone care for them. Now I'm a home cook primarily, although I do a little catering here and there. My daughter's favorite foods are salmon and broccoli, so I feel as though I've triumphed a bit over the three-year-old beige-food diet. We do, however, eat at McDonald's every Friday after school...it's our little Happy Meal indulgence...and those tiny cheeseburgers are SOOO good. I live with and cook for my mother, as well. I am dating a high school band director, who has actually LOST weight being with me, as he's eating more asparagus and less fast food. I think that size 14 should be the new size 6. I am curvy, healthy, happy and active...and think that excellent foods should be part of everyone's diet. I am active in the "S'Cool Food" movement here, which tries to bring local and sustainable healthy food into school cafeterias. And I love, love, love this website.

5 bottles of wine and 1 jamesons for 3 people: i'll be shocked to hear from you tomorrow (unless it's under the hangover cure thread.).

sounds like an awesome dinner ahead.

Good luck today, Jenn. We're expecting a full report tomorrow!

Bro recently made these avocado eggrolls for a party. They are wonderful. We didn't use a sauce - no one noticed :D.

Whip 'em up and bring 'em down to the party!!

Even with high-end foods and multiple courses, you've got a very generous budget. So I'd want to be extra sure to serve several really good wines, and a bottle of top-notch whisky for the prof. Be sure to find out what he likes. If this is his liquor of choice, and if he drinks it regularly, he probably has very definite tastes. If he's not particular about specific brand, he'll almost certainly prefer a specific variety (e.g., Scotch, Irish, Tennessee, malt, bourbon, etc.).

Also, if you decide to server beef, I'd definitely spring for dry-aged prime grade with a budget like that. Very expensive (double or triple the usual price), but also very special.