Catering Guidance Needed

DH and I are hosting a Christmas party in a few weeks and are expecting between 30 and 35 people.

We want to get trays of food but I don't know how much to order. For instance, I see different recommendations for how much a tray feeds, but does take into account I will be serving appetizers?

Can someone just plan my menu for me?

If you've thrown a similarly sized party please share what you've served and how much to appease the masses.

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

I usually cater for my DD's Bday party. We get the half trays which serve about 12 people. We usually do half trays of:
-chicken marsala
-eggplant parm
-sausage and peppers
-meatballs
-shrimp oreganata (family's fav)
-panini platter
-penne with broccoli, garlic and oil

We usually make our own tray of baked ziti and salad. We also get 2 pies for the kids.

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

Message edited 11/30/2014 9:34:55 PM.

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

I think that you have to keep in mind that if you have appetizers and a variety of dishes, not everyone is going to eat everything. So if a tray serves 10-12, you don't necessarily need to double or triple it if you are having a bunch of things on a buffet. People will sample a variety of things but won't take a full portion of everything (esp. if you have heavy appetizers).

I've also found that at many places, full trays of food are HUGE and feed many more than I would have expected from what was indicated on their catering menu! I always order a smaller green salad, too, than you would expect to need, because I find people don't eat mounds of it.

I host Easter for 30-35 and usually make most of the food, but I always find that I have way more leftover than I expect. For example, I usually have 2 lasagnas, cut in small squares, and I wind up having A LOT leftover. (I also serve heavy apps, various sliced meats -- roast turkey, ham, sliced London broil -- and tons of side dishes.

Can you talk to the place where you are catering from, tell them what you plan to serve (apps and all), and then get suggestions on how many trays of food you need (half and/or full) for your sized crowd?

ETA - Also is your party going to be like an open house, where people are in and out at different times? Or you expect people to arrive and be there the whole time.

Message edited 12/1/2014 6:35:45 PM.

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

If you call the catering place and tell them how many people you are expecting, they should know how many trays will be enough to feed everyone.

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

Re: Catering Guidance Needed

We have a little less than 30 for my son's BD and we do the equivalent of three full trays (usually one full and four halves) with a salad and bread and have lots of leftovers.

I have to accommodate some picky eaters and therefore need the variety otherwise I would probably do a little less food because the leftovers are ridiculous.