Poker Night Food

[vidjoe]

Just a little recipe I pick up to heat up the game!!
Little Mexico Hot Sauce Dip
 
2- 14.5 can Stewed Tomatoes skinless
 
1- Tsp White Vinegar
 
1/2  Tsp Nutmeg
 
1 Tsp Oregano
 
1 Med Onion
 
1/2 Jar Jalapenos (about 7 oz.) no juice
 
1/2 Tbsp garlic
 
 
Blend in Blender till like apple sauce

[nutN2Lewz]

This is what I offer the 16 guests at my poker nights:

peanuts
pretzels
3 lbs pastrami
2 lbs smoked turkey
5 loaves light rye bread
3 different mustards, mayo, butter, cheese, leaf lettuce
soda pop & coffee

Everything, especially the bread, must be very fresh. Other than washing the lettuce, there is no cooking or preparation required.  I throw everything on a table and let everyone make their own sandwiches. It's amazing how many married men appreciate a fresh deli-style sandwich.

I am considering adding a Poker Night Recipes page to my website. Can't you just see me on the Martha Stewart show swapping poker night recipes!

Good luck, nutn

[Royal_Sampler]

Sometimes I make pigs in a blanket, they are always a favorite and easy to make.

-Crescent Dinner Rolls or Biscuit Dough
-Fully cooked cocktail wieners (Lil' Smokies, regular or cheese filled)
-Cheese cut in to small strips
-Corn meal
-Assorted sauces. Ketchup, BBQ, Mustards, etc

1.   Heat oven to 375°F. Grease cookie sheet. Unroll dough; separate into 8 triangles. Cut each triangle into 3 smaller triangles. When using biscuits, cut each biscuit in to thirds and flatten into strips.
2.   Place 1 wiener and piece of cheese on shortest side of each triangle; roll up to opposite point. Place, point side down, on greased cookie sheet.
3.   Sprinke with corn meal.
4.   Bake at 375°F. for 11 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve with Assorted sauces
 

[PokerDude]

We started out just calling in some pizza but the cards were getting really messy. I like Nut's food layout! We also do a lot of make your own sandwhichs. Also help keeps the cards cleaner. I like the idea of a poker recipe area!

[Ranman]

I try to have something substantial since a lot of my players come to my games right from work. About half the time we order pizza or subs. The other times I make BBQ Beef (Manwich  ) or Meatballs in sauce (for subs) in a crock pot, Steam some shrimp, sandwiches like Nutn does, etc...

I was concerned about the possibility of the cards gettting messy, or worse my table taking a hit from a spill, so we take a break for the hot or messy foods.

I keep food at the table limited to chips, pretzles, peanuts ect, which I also keep on hand at all the games.

I think a Poker recipe area thing would be great also. I have had some of the best food at poker games.

[r3nder]

Most of the time we all chip in and order some pizzas. Other then that, I have sodas, chip & dip, pepporoni and crackers etc. Everyone seems to enjoy it.

[bigbadwoof]

I like a nacho dip.

1 package of cream cheese
1 small container of sour cream
1 jar of salsa
1 cup of pitted and chopped olives
1 diced onion
1 diced tomato
shredded cheese (cheddar is what i use but mix it up if you want differnt flavours)

Soften cream cheese and combine with sour cream until smooth in a casarole dish, even out covering bottm of dish. Place in fridge to cool and set, atleast a couple of hours.
Evenly spead the salsa, onion, olives, tomatoes(the onion, olives and tomato arent necessary but i like them) on top of the sour cream/cream cheese mixture.
Top with shedded cheese.
Grab some nacho chips and dig in!

[Bawlmer_Flats]

I am more like Nut'n and offer a sandwich bar:

2 pounds freshly shaved lean roast beef
2 pounds freshly shaved pepper turkey
1 pound of ham
1 pound provolone cheese
1 pound swiss cheese
fresh tomato, lettuce, basil, red onion, about 10 types of gourmet mustard and mayonaisse
chips & salsa
pretzels
3-4 various loafs of really good hard crusted European style bread from the local bakery

Well worth the money and once set up, a minimal of effort as everyone helps themselves. --Flats

[BigKyle]

Soft drinks (coca cola, diet coke, sprite)
pretzels
tortilla chips with salsa
sandwiches (turkey, ham, cheese, bread, condiments)
something like hot dogs or hamburgers
cookies
occasionally beer
a pack or two of cigarettes

[wstarron]

I play with a couple different groups.  One group usually does the sandwich bar concept, with some potato salad, precut fruit and chips, plus BYO drinks.  The other group makes the food a centerpiece of the event.  Depending on who is hosting, the barbecue usually gets fired up and the carnivores enjoy a creative dish.  Everybody usually brings snacks and drinks for the group to share.  Some hosts get really fancy, marinating pork loins or steaks for a couple of days.  In those games we take a meal break, no messy food allowed at the table.

I like both groups...one concentrates on the game, the other on the food!

Wayne

[catmanducmu]

My group loves the salsa I made in my food processor.  Works best if you have one, but a blender may work well too, just be careful to not blend it too much.  (unless you like it like that)

1- 14.5 can peeled tomatoes (with liquid)
1-14.5 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1- jalapeno (remove seeds for less spicy)
1/4 cup diced red onions
1 red pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 clove garlic (or to taste) 1 clove makes it very garlicy
salt & pepper to taste

coursely mix onion, jalapeno and garlic in blender
add the rest of the ingredients and blend to proper texture (5 seconds?)
Let sit for atleast 20 minutes, better if it sits for a day or two

Enjoy

I'm also going to try the diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro

[ronhoffman2]

i always do hot dogs and sauerkraut in the crock pot. easy and cheap.  i also make some dogs and burgers on the grill.  chips too!

[doc]

these all sound good, but i had 55 at my last tournament.

i provide the following:

pepsi, diet pepsi, diet coke, orange soda, dr. pepper and bottled water - i will usually have 14 cans of each selection, except for water which i put out 36.

chocolate- individually packaged, m&m (plain and peanut), kit kats, fun-sized snicker, milky way, 3 musketeers, bit-sized hershey chocolate, mr. goodbar, dark chocolate, etc

gum- spearmint and big red

jawbreakers

mints- peppermint and wintergreen

chips- individually packaged, lays, fritos, doritos, etc.

nuts- individually packaged, peanuts, cashews, assorted

beer- i was providing bud light and corona's, but i am opting to discontinue, not that anyone has gotten out of hand, tipsy maybe, but not out of hand, but more due to a liability issue:  stop by police on way home, where'd you get the alcohol - oh, at doc's
also too there are some dad's that like to have their sons play who are 18 or old, but not 21

i put out a contribution basket and everyone gives what they feel like.  some nights are a bit disappointing, but overall, this group is pretty generous.

when it gets down to the late cash game, i will often make some pizzas.  joe corbi's is a fund raising company that uses pizza as their product and being a business owner i am quite often asked to contribute to school fund raisers.  nice, it's a write-off for me, monies for the schools and the guys get a little late night snack.

i mention above the individually wrapped items.  this is because we play in my unfinished basement.  the closest bathroom is on the main floor and there's a second floor one i allow the ladies to also take advantage of.  being the bathroom is upstairs and that i am surrounded by woods, i have no problem with the guys untilizing the woods to relieve themselves.

the problem is the women complained in the past, and rightfully so, they were not going to go grabbing nuts out of a jar when the majority of guys there run out back.  hence, everything is provided as individually wrapped.

i did try some mexican dip in the past, but i could not make it enough quantity or fast enough to satisfy and wife says its my games, i'll be responsible for the snacks.  she says this even though she plays every tournament and pay her way.

i get everything in one trip to bj's.

doc

[austin5string]

Doc,

Could there be a "rake" issue having a donation jar for food and drinks, or are you in the clear, provided you have proof that the donations do not cover the cost of food/drinks, and thus the house is making no money?  I know that donations are free will and not a fee, but I wonder how that stands up legally?  Do you know?

~John

p.s.- Sounds like a hell of a game.  Wish it was in my neighborhood!  Although, if I recall, your stakes are a little high for me.

[doc]

donations are no problem and don't constitute a rake or profit to the house.  so, i'm in the clear.

hey, i'm just outside of fredericksburg, virginia.  drop by anytime.

our buy-in's are $100.  as far as, i have seen it's about the highest here.

so, i won't mention our $500 tournaments.  we usually get 20 to 25 players there.

where are you located, john?

doc

[HanahanStan©]

Yeah John Docs buy ins are a little high but with a buffet like that whos counting,   

[doc]

well, stan, if that is a pic of your card protector, you may be able to play at a discount.

doc

[Seven®]

well, stan, if that is a pic of your card protector, you may be able to play at a discount.

doc

   lmao!

[austin5string]

donations are no problem and don't constitute a rake or profit to the house.  so, i'm in the clear.

hey, i'm just outside of fredericksburg, virginia.  drop by anytime.

our buy-in's are $100.  as far as, i have seen it's about the highest here.

so, i won't mention our $500 tournaments.  we usually get 20 to 25 players there.

where are you located, john?

doc

Nowhere near your neighborhood, Doc.  As you might guess from my username, I'm in Austin, TX.

~John

[HanahanStan©]

well, stan, if that is a pic of your card protector, you may be able to play at a discount.
 
 Hey Doc
 Thats not my card protector it's what I use to get rid of varmints and vermin. You never know what going to show up sometimes. By the way the cherry grips were hand made by my friend in Williamsburg Va. 

[doc]

wow, austin is a big, beautiful city.  my wife and i spent a week there about two years ago.  we enjoyed every minute of it.

there's a guy in our group that where a long horn ball cap to every tournament.  his sister attends school there.  the campus is beautiful.  i especially like the view of the tower against the moonlight.

so, stan, does that put you in va or do you just live close?  one of my partners practiced in williamsburg until he moved to fredericksburg to join my practice.  i grow up in richmond, but attended college at william & mary, played a little football for them.

doc

[HanahanStan©]

Hey Doc I'm stuck just outside Charleston SC. Home to hurricanes,icestorms,tornadoes and earthquakes.   

[wstarron]

Regarding how to "collect" donations for the host's food expenses:

One group usually gives up $5 or so at the end of the night, based on what they feel they owe in terms of amount eaten and type of food.  The other group collects $1 from the ante before every round, and hope they play enough rounds to pay for the food.  They usually limit the cost of the food to $40 or so (enought for a group of 7-10).  Just my 2 cents.

Wayne

[PokerDude]

Since we do have our regular game at a different house each weekend we don't usually take up a collection. During the summer it is the basic hamburgers/chicken on the grill. Winter (Houston, TX) if we play that weekend it is chilly. Mainly we do a big pot of hotdog with lots of sides.

[GoingGray]

Wow, alot of great suggestions here.  Should have viewed this section of the forum along time ago.

My weekly league games, I've been supplying the soft drinks and snacks..nothing too serious though, just chips, dip, sometimes the small kid size chocolat bars (btw, these go in a heck of a hurry).  Did the pizza one night when wifey and kid were away, that went over very well, and did nachos at one Saturday tourney I held.  For some reason, these didn't go over very well at all, which shocked me.

I like some of the suggestions here.  I'm going to try to do a couple for next week's game.  Great idea Nutn'

[Nanook]

We've had Lil Smokies in BBQ sauce, beans, Sloppy Joe's, and Chips & dip.  Next poker night will be something a little less messy.  BBQ sauce and beige carpets don't mix.

[Seven®]

BBQ sauce and beige carpets don't mix.

lol!  And that's why I put hard wood floors in my poker room. 

[Quintz71]

look at some of your local grocery delis for sandwiches. I went to wally world and got a 2 footer with choice of 3 meats and 2 cheeses, seperate containers of lettuce, tomato, and onions, and a bag of mayo and mustard packs for under 12 bucks!! It fed 8 guys perfectly. Was the perfect thing for the "main course" then I had the little smokies, chips, pretzels and BYOB.

[madmankinu]

my last poker night, 10 people

100 Wings, I know messy but wasn't bad
Skyline Taco Dip <----Awesome.  Those in ohio know what I am talking about
3 Bags of chips
Dips
Lil' Smokys wrapped in crestent rolls.
Preztels
Nuts
Brithday cake.  Friends birthday
Chips and salsa.

I plan on doing to hoagie thing at the next one.

Always BYOB

[bubbajit]

Barley sandwiches all around, but bring your own.
Sandwiches sound like the least messy and easiest way to go.
But if I was doing an all day think, I would do the break for late lunch /early dinner.
Would be mostly family so souvlaki in a pita, sausage, hotdogs, burgers, salad, roasted peppers, and all the fixins. oh sounds so good.
WHEN'S LUNCH.

[madmankinu]

Barley sandwiches all around, but bring your own.
Sandwiches sound like the least messy and easiest way to go.
But if I was doing an all day think, I would do the break for late lunch /early dinner.
Would be mostly family so souvlaki in a pita, sausage, hotdogs, burgers, salad, roasted peppers, and all the fixins. oh sounds so good.
WHEN'S LUNCH.

souvlaki!!!!  Count me in on your next when.  I can never get a good souvlaki around my area.  Need to run into Philly if I want one done right.

[fuglyguy]

beside the usual snacks at least 1 hot dish usually goes over well.i make poker chip killbassie.

slice up 3-5 lbs killbassie   or slice thick chunks if pressed for time.
1 onion
3 green peppers
4 12oz bottles bbq sauce
mix it up in a croc-pot on high for 2-hours before the game starts then put on low
slice up 6 mini-sub rolls(fresh)and put out in a bowl next to the pot
styrofoam bowls seem to work better than paper plates as far as spills
                                           
cost is less than $15 depending on # of players 8-16 i usually have.30-40 minutes to prepare

[Poke-Her]

chicken and beer

[Made in Detroit]

Barley sandwiches all around, but bring your own.
Sandwiches sound like the least messy and easiest way to go.
But if I was doing an all day think, I would do the break for late lunch /early dinner.
Would be mostly family so souvlaki in a pita, sausage, hotdogs, burgers, salad, roasted peppers, and all the fixins. oh sounds so good.
WHEN'S LUNCH.

souvlaki!!!!  Count me in on your next when.  I can never get a good souvlaki around my area.  Need to run into Philly if I want one done right.

  You need to drive up to Greektown in Detroit!  Tons of great resturants with that kind of food!

[Wedge Rock]

Last tournament, a friend calls me up and says he's on the way over...  he asks me to fire up the barbecue...

He brings over jalepeno poppers...  He split the peppers and took out the seeds, etc.  Then he filled the inside with cream cheese (which included sun dried tomatoes and basil, I think), then he wrapped it in a piece of bacon and held it together with a toothpick.

I think he threw about 50 of 'em on the grill.  Yum.

But frankly, I don't like to serve food.  I don't want food/grease on the cards/table/etc.  We've been doing food at the breaks...  Maybe pretzels, or some other greaseless snack...

[Ducannon]

I ran a 30 person tournament with 3 tables of 10 players each and I managed to snag a buddies house that is just a mansion (has like 8 bedrooms and all that amazing stuff) But anyways he was still living with his mom at the time, and I think still is, good poker play but kinda a momma's boy .

However we were all going to bring over chips and our own pop but we got word 3 days before that his mother was going to have snack for us, so we all figure cool save ourselves money on the chips and pop.

We get there and her whole kitchen was filled with veggie trays, crackers, about 12 bowls of chips, home made pig in a blankets, home made bread stick and just anything you could think of, it was a feast fit for a king. The 30 of us did our best to finish it off but in the end there must have been half of the mountain of food she cooked left. It was a sad day when I had to leave that house:(

On a side note, came in 11th place in the tourney, my brother managed to come away in first place though pulling in a cool $300.

[Trips]

Iced Oatmeal Cookies, Put them out with Salsa and nuts, people were all over them.

[Made in Detroit]

Hey, this is Mrs. Detroit,. Here's my recipe for Bite sized loaded bake potato skins. They're easy to make and taste great!!! You'll need the following.....
 1 bag of Small redskin potatos
 1 can of bacon bits
 1 bag of cheese (your choice)
 Chives
 Sour Cream
 Olive Oil
 Oven (LOL)
  Pre-heat oven to 350. Cut small redskin potatos in half, Dip them in olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.(remove) Let them cool for 2 minutes, then take a spoon and scoop out the middle (like coring a melon). Fill with cheese, bacon, chives or what ever you like. Then place in oven again on same temp for 3-5 minutes or untill cheese is melted. Remove again and let stand for 1 minute.  Great with sour cream! In all it takes about 10 to 12 minutes for prep and cook time.  Enjoy!!!!   Mrs. M.I.D.

[Wedge Rock]

...MID wants us to believe that was his wife...

:eye roll:

whatever, Emeril!

[nutN2Lewz]

It's kinda embarassing for me to admit that I have recipes on my website.

[Wedge Rock]

Your other content more than makes up for it...

[bigpokerfanatic]

I just started having a monthly game.  People want to know what to bring??  I don't know what to tell them.  Is it rude to ask for $5.00 a head and provide the food??  Make a list and let people pick??  any sugestions??

[bigpokerfanatic]

This is what I offer the 16 guests at my poker nights:

peanuts
pretzels
3 lbs pastrami
2 lbs smoked turkey
5 loaves light rye bread
3 different mustards, mayo, butter, cheese, leaf lettuce
soda pop & coffee

Everything, especially the bread, must be very fresh. Other than washing the lettuce, there is no cooking or preparation required.  I throw everything on a table and let everyone make their own sandwiches. It's amazing how many married men appreciate a fresh deli-style sandwich.

I am considering adding a Poker Night Recipes page to my website. Can't you just see me on the Martha Stewart show swapping poker night recipes!

Good luck, nutn

I think a poker Night Recipes page would be great

[Wedge Rock]

If its not rude to ask them to bring $5 for food, it may be illegal.  As has been said before, you can try putting out a coffee can for donations, or people can bring something if they choose.

Myself, I provide beverages...  and light munchies...  I don't like a lot of food because I don't want grease coming back to my chips, cards and tables.

If you have a place for plates (TV trays behind the players), some non-finger food would be best, IMHO.  Or order pizza after the tournament, if that's not too late.

[bigpokerfanatic]

If its not rude to ask them to bring $5 for food, it may be illegal.  As has been said before, you can try putting out a coffee can for donations, or people can bring something if they choose.

Myself, I provide beverages...  and light munchies...  I don't like a lot of food because I don't want grease coming back to my chips, cards and tables.

If you have a place for plates (TV trays behind the players), some non-finger food would be best, IMHO.  Or order pizza after the tournament, if that's not too late.

Thanks for the info.  I'm all about the poker and the food now seems to get into the way.

[Ducannon]

Usually soft drinks in a cooler is what I provide, if you want munchies you bring them yourself or ask a mate if you can have some of his. But if you spill on my table and stain my chips, you pay and or dont get invited back.

[Hustler]

MGD is all I need.And if I get busted out I just raid my friends fridge 

[RODOG]

I REALLY like those Southwest Eggrolls, you can purchase at SAM'S club.  the sell about 2 dozen per box for $12 and they come with a sauce!!

My wife's specailty is Chocolate covered strawberries, which is suprisingly easy to make.  All the ladies aka wives that attend my poker nights go straight for the wine and chocolate covered strawberries.

[Ducannon]

My wife's specailty is Chocolate covered strawberries...

Lucky dog

[austin5string]

I REALLY like those Southwest Eggrolls, you can purchase at SAM'S club.  the sell about 2 dozen per box for $12 and they come with a sauce!!

My wife's specailty is Chocolate covered strawberries, which is suprisingly easy to make.  All the ladies aka wives that attend my poker nights go straight for the wine and chocolate covered strawberries.

Are the Southwest Eggrolls at all like the ones at Chili's?  If so, I may hafta look into a Sam's Club membership.. LOL