My wife (italian) started making Pernil and Arroz Con gandules for many parties. It always goes over well. I'll try to get the recipe from her.
I know she only uses Pork Shoulder Picnic and they are large like 10+ pounds. Deep slices, lots of garlic and store bought Soffrito. Marinade for like 2 days then cooks all day low.
It's good because it's fall apart tender and shreds easy. It fills an aluminum tray and people grab what they want. She keeps the pork and the rice in separate trays.
Depending season/weather/temperature she also does a nice large cucumber salad, a cucumber/tomato salad, Macaroni salad. We also get from local place that makes a ranch pasta salad that even has small ham pieces in it as well as a broccoli salad.
Other parties she does the baked ziti, eggplant parm, sausage and peppers, swedish meatballs, chicken marsala, penne alla vodka. Depends on what parties for what family gatherings
