Catering help...I am catering dinner for 100 people on Friday night.
- Thread starter dawn_mo
- Start date
My record is 65. If I recall I made six recipes of lasagna and had one left over.
I make a regular "serves 12" recipe, bake it in 10 x 15 dishes, and cut it into 15 portions. A couple people have seconds, so "serves 12" works out.
If I were you I would make at least 5 such recipes of each lasagna, maybe six--you can freeze the leftovers after baking even if it was frozen before baking.
For the salads, perhaps you can have them prepped so that you can toss them one bowl at a time, especially the green salad. That way it won't wilt, and leftovers can be salvaged.
Garlic bread is cheap so bring tons of it. At least 5 or 6 loaves. Hopefully you can bake them as you go.
Meatballs: The sky's the limit, they'll eat them till they're gone. Sorry. I would make 200.
I hope that helps, and I hope it is understood that you plan to bring home any food that was not served!
I make a regular "serves 12" recipe, bake it in 10 x 15 dishes, and cut it into 15 portions. A couple people have seconds, so "serves 12" works out.
If I were you I would make at least 5 such recipes of each lasagna, maybe six--you can freeze the leftovers after baking even if it was frozen before baking.
For the salads, perhaps you can have them prepped so that you can toss them one bowl at a time, especially the green salad. That way it won't wilt, and leftovers can be salvaged.
Garlic bread is cheap so bring tons of it. At least 5 or 6 loaves. Hopefully you can bake them as you go.
Meatballs: The sky's the limit, they'll eat them till they're gone. Sorry. I would make 200.
I hope that helps, and I hope it is understood that you plan to bring home any food that was not served!
No personal experience, but here's a good link for quantities. Does your target audience
typically take "some of everything" on the table?
In other words, do you need to plan on one person taking a slice of lasagna AND spinach lasagna AND meatballs? Because that will radically change the amounts.
Keep some Tylenol Gel capsules on hand. My back would be killing me if I stood around long enough to feed this crowd.
http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/sphagetti.html
typically take "some of everything" on the table?
In other words, do you need to plan on one person taking a slice of lasagna AND spinach lasagna AND meatballs? Because that will radically change the amounts.
Keep some Tylenol Gel capsules on hand. My back would be killing me if I stood around long enough to feed this crowd.
http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/sphagetti.html
With lasagna, I have always liked to stand at the buffet and serve it. I hand the diner a plate with
the lasagna on it and they fill it with the rest of the food. That way the pasta doesn't look like roadkill halfway through, and you could give a half-slice of each to those who want it. It's also nice to meet each guest as they come through the line
I don't know if you have any help lined up or if this would be possible for 100, but it has always worked for me.
the lasagna on it and they fill it with the rest of the food. That way the pasta doesn't look like roadkill halfway through, and you could give a half-slice of each to those who want it. It's also nice to meet each guest as they come through the line
I don't know if you have any help lined up or if this would be possible for 100, but it has always worked for me.
You can also go to food.com or allrecipes and choose any lasagne menu and change quantites - just to
get quantities suggested. You can use any recipe there just as an example and then change quantities. It is helpful.
Good luck - it is quite an undertaking and I am sure it will
be fine.
get quantities suggested. You can use any recipe there just as an example and then change quantities. It is helpful.
Good luck - it is quite an undertaking and I am sure it will
be fine.
dawn_mo
Well-known member
You didn't do that to me Joe. I have had plenty of time to get ready for this
and as per my usual, I am cramming at the last minute, hence my nickname Procrastinating Pauline. smileys/smile.gif
It will all be fine. I am going to have an extra pan of baked ziti just as a back up. Bub is helping me and if I need more help, these are people that will kick in and help. It will be fine. Thanks for all of your advice, especially about the serving of the lasagna. That makes great sense. Have a great birthday!!!
and as per my usual, I am cramming at the last minute, hence my nickname Procrastinating Pauline. smileys/smile.gif
It will all be fine. I am going to have an extra pan of baked ziti just as a back up. Bub is helping me and if I need more help, these are people that will kick in and help. It will be fine. Thanks for all of your advice, especially about the serving of the lasagna. That makes great sense. Have a great birthday!!!
dawn_mo
Well-known member
Not this group. I will be putting it out there that the spinach lasagna
has mushrooms in it and that will drop off at least 50% of this group. I am only making one pan of spinach-mushroom lasagna, and I will have an extra pan of baked ziti just to be on the safe side. These are really nice people so everything will be okay. Thanks Joe!
has mushrooms in it and that will drop off at least 50% of this group. I am only making one pan of spinach-mushroom lasagna, and I will have an extra pan of baked ziti just to be on the safe side. These are really nice people so everything will be okay. Thanks Joe!
dawn_mo
Well-known member
Thanks everyone! Dinner went great and I had a lot of compliments.
Thanks for the suggestion about serving the lasagna, that was a great help. I was worried about the amount of meatballs I had, so I had them at the very end of the serving line. I made six pans of meat lasagna and one pan of vegetarian ravioli. I had three pans of lasagna leftover and the vegetarian rav was gone. I had a few people come up and thank me for providing a vegetarian option. Bub helped me in the kitchen and bringing out lasagnas as I needed them. He also did clean up while I was serving. smileys/smile.gif It all went very smoothly and I am glad it is over.
One thing I didn't take into account was the age of this group. Mostly older people, who don't have the appetites of teens. I took home one pan and sent the other two pans home with the family that hired me. Having done this large of group will now make any other size group a piece of cake. Thanks everyone for your advice and help. As always it is most appreciated.
Thanks for the suggestion about serving the lasagna, that was a great help. I was worried about the amount of meatballs I had, so I had them at the very end of the serving line. I made six pans of meat lasagna and one pan of vegetarian ravioli. I had three pans of lasagna leftover and the vegetarian rav was gone. I had a few people come up and thank me for providing a vegetarian option. Bub helped me in the kitchen and bringing out lasagnas as I needed them. He also did clean up while I was serving. smileys/smile.gif It all went very smoothly and I am glad it is over.
One thing I didn't take into account was the age of this group. Mostly older people, who don't have the appetites of teens. I took home one pan and sent the other two pans home with the family that hired me. Having done this large of group will now make any other size group a piece of cake. Thanks everyone for your advice and help. As always it is most appreciated.