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Favorite meal - eating in at villa?

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:47 pm
by NCSue
We're trying to organize and plan menus for group of 11 for two weeks. Just wondering what everyone's favorite thing to cook for dinner at the villa. With a group that big - going out MIGHT be a little challenging!

Thanks!!

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:02 pm
by sailorgirl
Chili
Tacos

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:02 pm
by lovethebeach
We took a group of 9 to Maho two summers ago - four couples and a single guy. Each of the couples were responsible for making a meal one night. That took care of four dinners and you only had to cook once. We did simple meals like hamburgers, spaghetti, pork steaks, etc... since we were at Maho Campground. We are renting a villa this summer with a party of eight, so we can make more challenging meals. I'm anxious to hear the other replies to this post.

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:17 pm
by Jan&MikeVa
Cook in, cook in, cook in!!!
Our favorite is steak on the grill (spread w/olive oil & St John Steak Spice), salad & baked potato or no starch at all. It depends on the appetizer ;)

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:49 pm
by krislbi
I agree...stick to grilled foods. Fish, chicken, steak. You can even do a whole turkey or chicken on the grill. Nothing like beer can chicken!

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:22 pm
by XOXO
Grilled meat, grilled veggies, baked potato and a bun.

Easy! We brought a lot of meat from our own freezer. I marinated the meat and threw it in the freezer waiting for the trip.

Gina

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:06 am
by mahojim
Do yourself a favor & bring down a butt load of frozen burgers, hotdogs,chicken breasts, steaks and breakfast potatoes. (There's thousands of frozen breakfast potatoes to choose from.)Be careful not to overpack, as far as the weight limit of your "checked bags."
We usually get ours meats from Omaha Steaks for vaca.
You can get just as good quality meats at a cheaper cost from your local supermarket, but I like how they're vacuum sealed by Omaha.
Just seems safer for travel.
Also, you can NEVER go wrong with "spaghetti & meatball night!" at the villa. I'm sure you can find frozen meatballs at your local market.
Put it all in a soft-sided cooler and use said cooler, not only for a "checked bag" on the way down, but also to bring back souvenirs in on the way home.
Good luck, and have fun!
Sounds like a wonderful time!
There are plenty of local joints for not only delicious take out eats, but pretty much all of them serve generous portions.
Uncle Joe's is my favorite, so far.
Great bbq!
Smiles-
MJ

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:15 am
by mahojim
XOXO wrote:Grilled meat, grilled veggies, baked potato and a bun.

Easy! We brought a lot of meat from our own freezer. I marinated the meat and threw it in the freezer waiting for the trip.

Gina
Awesome advice!
Smiles-
MJ

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:46 am
by JT
I second Sailorgirl's taco suggestion. You make it so there is something for everybody to fill their own tortilla, and it's pretty economical for that many people. Leftovers disappear,too.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:50 am
by djmom
Grilled chicken and/or grilled shrimp kebabs.

Serve with Pad Thai (in a kit from grocery store-can't remember the brand name but in orange box I think-don't get Trader Joes brand-not good).

The pad thai is fabulous when cooked as directed (very easy to do). It is cheap and makes a lot. You can just bring it them in your dry goods box and buy a few eggs at store. We add broccoli to it also. We sprinkle peanuts on top.

Of course you would need more than one kit for your size group.

Also if you have siracha (sp?)chili sauce for those that like extra heat...yum!

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:08 am
by waterguy
I like Mahi Mahi veracruz

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:30 am
by chicagoans
I'm another fan of grilling - steak, fish, chicken. (We brought some frozen vac-packed steaks and seafood with us and have also found some good seafood etc. on island.) It all tastes better on the grill, especially when that grill is on STJ! Use some spices from STJ Spice Shop, add some crusty bread with olive oil, a fresh salad and of course a good bottle of wine.

I like to make enough extra meat so that we can slice it up for wrap sandwiches or fish tacos the next day. (Add some pesto or salsa, lettuce and tomato and you've got a great lunch.)

For a big group I really love hanging out at the villa for dinner. Relaxing, easy, no driving after drinking.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:28 am
by pipanale
We have a whole weekly menu itinerary that I have been forbidden to deviate from.

Saturday: Arrive and I cut up cheese and the leftover cold cuts brought from home

Sunday: Grill chicken breasts and vegetables. This generates a lot of leftovers which, in turn, get turned into lunchtime soft tacos for the week.

Monday: Usually a leftover night

Tuesday: Steak night! I bring 4 huge steaks, usually to celebrate a birthday. By now, the Mrs has made her famous potato salad.

Wednesday: leftovers. I usually get blindly drunk on Wednesday

Thursday: Pork chop night! This year, we may have ribs night. I haven't decided.

Friday: Clean the fridge out or maybe go to a restaurant that we end up being disappointed by.

That's our routine.

My name is Rob and I'm a cooler person.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:06 am
by toes in the sand
Fajitas.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:50 am
by LysaC
Hubby and I grill at the villa- steaks and/or chicken, lettuce salad, bread.

We also made pasta a few times- so easy! Pasta, jarred sauce, bread, lettuce salad.

For pasta- seems as if water takes a long-ass time to boil on the stoves in the villas we've rented though.

See a theme here?- we go super simple whe cooking at the villa- main entree, lettuce salad, bread.

We've also ordered pizza from Donkey Diner, picked it up, ate it at the villa!