Catering for 80/90 people.

[bluesue34]

Can I ask for some advice please as I haven't got a clue.


I'm having a 40th party and will have approximatly 80 to 90 guests. I will be doing the catering myself along with the help of a couple of friends.

How many sandwiches should I do?
How many sausage rolls would you buy??

ect, ect ?? :help:

TIA

[littlemissnaughty]

When ever I do parties I cater for about 80% because not everyone will have anything to eat.

[bluesue34]

Tried to rep you littlemissnaughty, but you must of had some from me recently, as it wont let me.


Thankyou

[Highland_Lass]

You will probably find that not everyone will turn up on the night even though they've said they're coming. I did the catering for my 50th a couple of months back and ended up with enough food to feed 5000. I'd probably do enough for 60 people.

[tiger]

I've been looking through some recipe books because I remember one with a section on catering but I can't find it.
I googled and found this (http://uk.geocities.com/caz39@btinternet.com/Catering.htm) for you which I hope will help.
You can change fillings to suit yourself but it gives a start.

One tip when making plates of sandwiches is to cut them into four triangles and place them on the plate with the corner upwards. That way people can see the filling and don't need to handle them to find out.

[janedoe]

When me and OH got married there was me and him, MIL and some other family members making food for our wedding reception and we spent all day doing the food and the amount that was left was horrendous and kept us feed for about 3 months after and we catered for approx 80 people, I would say cater for about half and if there's not enough don't worry as some people will probably eaten before they come and then you don't feel so bad about wasting food and have to throw it away, some friends of ours always have a 'do' around Xmas/NYE time and they say 'we will be doing nibbles' and the first year we ate before we went and when we got there it was a full buffet sort of but enough to 'fill your face' with and since then we don't eat before we go.

[bluesue34]

Good site, very useful Tiger, thankyou. Cant rep you either sorry.

Thanks H Lass & Jane

[Grace & Favour]

Blue sue . .

In addition to the other help in previous posts - - - have you thought about doing different food from cold finger-buffet.

I recently catered for a party of 90, and all the food was hot - - -

Chilli con Carne with Doritos
Warm baked pork pie with hot mushy peas
Chunky vegetable soup (for vegetarians etc)
and then added crisps, fresh 'oven-bake' rolls (the par baked ones) & various nibbles

I simply cooked them all the month before, froze them into packs in the freezer . . . . and on the night defrosted them, got them nice & hot in slow cookers, and let people help themselves (using disposable plates etc)

It was a real success, and offered me the opportunity of doing all the difficult and time-consuming preparation in my own time and at my own speed - - setting up on the night was a doddle.

(I got some great compliments for the food too - but it was easy!!)

[frexy]

The idea of using slow cookers is a great one.You will probably find family members have them stuck in the back of a cupboard somewhere.

Make sure you have enough fridge space, dont want anyone to get ill, at least its not the height of summer :rolleyes:
Keeping the food hot save that problem.

[mum1964]

Even when catering for dinner party at home. I use the large foil containers with lids. No washing up and you can cook in them as well.

[clockwatcher]

G&F - can I have an invitation to your next party please? :hungry: ;)

[Grace & Favour]

G&F - can I have an invitation to your next party please? :hungry: ;)

I shall be proud to invite you CW!!!!:)

[pookienoodle]

Blue sue there is a very good thread on the money saving expert website about catering for large numbers,log on and do a little search and it should have some good info.
I know lots of people who have done similar things to G&F,with great success,hot beef or pork rolls are also easy to do and well recieved.

[microjan]

not long done a 50th for my hubby, catered for around 60 at the house.
I used Lidls gammons, homemade
coleslaw, potato salads,salads rices, garlic/rosemary roasted new potatoes, garlic bread, pesto pastas, savoury chicken legs then the normal nibbles, peanuts, etc. all went really well

[bluesue34]

Blue sue there is a very good thread on the money saving expert website about catering for large numbers,log on and do a little search and it should have some good info.
I know lots of people who have done similar things to G&F,with great success,hot beef or pork rolls are also easy to do and well recieved.



Found some really useful info and recepies, thanks pookienoodle and everyone else for your comments / ideas.

[rach109]

not long done a 50th for my hubby, catered for around 60 at the house.
I used Lidls gammons, homemade
coleslaw, potato salads,salads rices, garlic/rosemary roasted new potatoes, garlic bread, pesto pastas, savoury chicken legs then the normal nibbles, peanuts, etc. all went really well

whaaaat no pavlova ?! :eek: