How much food for a lunch party?

DS' birthday party is this weekend and I need to call them today about what to have for the adults. The kids are taken care of as part of the party package.

It's just a 1 1/2 - 2 hour party in the middle of the day, but I want to provide a light meal for the adults as they are all family/close friends.

For around 22 adults, what do you think I would need if i got trays/half trays of food? Or if I did a hero, how long?

Thanks!

Message edited 2/10/2011 12:14:49 PM.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I always ask the place I'm ordering from when I'm not sure. We had a day party last Sat and had about 65 people... so we had a TON of food. But I asked the place before ordering to make sure it would be enough.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

Thanks. I will try that but I'm not sure how helpful they would be. They're new to the "catering" end of the business. They've really just been a diner for years. They told me to just give everyone a menu and order and pay for themselves, but I'm definitely not going to do that.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

where is the party? If its at the house, why not just get cold cuts and some rolls. Its only 1.5 hours no need to go nuts

Message edited 2/10/2011 12:39:44 PM.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

No, it's not at my house. It's at an ice cream parlor/diner. I do feel that I don't need to go nuts with food because of how short the party is, but people will be hungry. So I'm deciding if I go with trays or heros. thanks!

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I"d stick with the hero and some salads in your case.
Not sure what size you would need though- but if you tell the place you are ordering from how many peopel they will tell you how many people a foot serves...

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

Honestly, because it is such a short pary, I think I'd do something easy like a few pizzas or bagels. If it is in the middle of the day, most people with probably already have had lunch and won't be looking for dinner.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I would say a 6 foot hero (if cut into 2 inch pieces) and a few side salads would be perfect

Or I think, like the op said, a tray of 2 1/2 dozen bagels with different spreads would be nice also

Message edited 2/11/2011 7:37:28 AM.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I guess I wasn't super clear because I said catering, but I can only order what this ice cream parlor offers, so pizza or bagels are not an option. It's either hero by the foot or different trays or half trays of food. I do want to keep it on the lighter side, but it's 3:00 on a Sunday. It seems like a little bit of an off-time, but in our families, Sunday dinner tends to be much earlier than a typical dinner time.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I think I'd go with a hero, to keep it kind of light. I would think 1 6ft hero would be plenty. Can they do some side salads too or is that not an option? Either I think a hero is perfect in that situation.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I would go with a hero.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

I had my DS's party a few weeks ago with 30 kids and all their parents attended....I only had a 4ft. hero and a large ceasar salad for just the adults...it was perfect for a 2 hour party everyone ate and their was still some left.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

Thanks everyone! I am going to go with the hero. Safer bet.

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

Re: How much food for a lunch party?

at an ice cream parlor, all you need are heros and salads. Keep it simple.