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Kay 05/20/06 |
I am planning a 50th Anniversary reception for my parents. It will be from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon in July. I expect from 250 to 300 people to attend. Many of the questions regarding quantities for a large group seem to be for occasions where a complete meal is served, with casseroles, salads, barbeque, etc. I would like to serve a more "finger food" type menu. I have thought that serving fewer items in larger quantities would be easier than many different foods. But this might be right. My tentative menu is: Cake Punch - 30 gallons Coffee Frest fruit platter (12 - 18" platters) Pineapple - 12 Canteloupe - 50 Honeydew - 15 - 20 grapes - 25 lbs. strawberries 12 lbs. Dip for fruit - 12 cups Sausage balls - 900 Cheese balls - (don't know how many) Cheese/olive tray - (don't know how much) Crackers - 18 lbs. Mints - 18 lbs. Nuts - 20 lbs.
These quantities seem like an awful lot. Maybe it would be better to add more items and not have such large quantities of each. Do you have any suggestions as to what other items I could have that would be more of the "finger food" type? Also, can you tell me how many cheese balls to have and how many lbs. of cheese for a cheese tray? |
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ellen 05/20/06 |
For 2 hours, you want about 10 "bites" per person plus the cake. It looks like you are pretty close on the amounts, except the fruit dip- that is usually figured at 3 quarts per 100 not 1 quart per 100. Olives or pickles are 1 gallon per 100 people. Cheeses or cheese balls are about 7 pounds per 100 people. If you were to divide it up. you would see that this is not a huge amount per person. Hope you have a lovely day. |
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ellen 05/20/06 |
By the way, if I were adding something, it would be some little chocolate bar cookies or desserts. |
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kay 05/21/06 |
Thank you very much for your help. This morning at church a friend told me that she and some others wanted to make chicken salad sandwiches (to serve 250-300) for the recepton. With the sandwiches added to the menu how would the amounts change on the other items? |
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ellen 05/21/06 |
For food safety, as well as presentation, I would encourage them to bring the chicken salad separately and serve with tiny croissants and cocktail loaves, letting people make their own. The salads get soggy if made ahead, and are wasted if not eaten. With the separate presentation, you bring out just enough to last 1 hour or so and replenish with a fresh platter, never mixing, much safer and more attractive. I discuss chicken salad quantities in the plan for 100 table. You could lower the count on the sausage balls to 600 and reduce the fruit about 1 or two trays. |
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ellen 05/21/06 |
What I meant to type was, "the sandwiches get soggy" |
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Kay 06/15/06 |
Please tell me if these amounts are correct for fruit platters to serve 300. Also, if I were to add Kiwi, how many would I need.
14 pineapple Thank you |
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ellen 06/16/06 |
Sounds pretty. A pound of kiwis (5 largish) makes 50 to 60 1/8th inch slices. The fruit tray page will allow you to calculate haw many pieces of each type fruit you have planned. Basically, depending on whther it is dessert, an hor d'ouvre tray, etc, you want about 6 pieces, which is 4 to 6 ounces per person (1/2 cup). |
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joyce earl 03/21/07 |
retirement party for director of Senior Center I was wondering how many finger sandwiches it would take to feed about 300 people? I know I can get about 40 slices out of one loaf of party bread.We plan to put a small(cookie dough scoop size)on one slice of party bread. We will decorate with a 1/4 slice of grape,small amout of dill,parsley etc. I plan on making chicken salad,tuna salad,pimento cheese and cucumber sandwiches, fruit trays and dip, vegetable trays and dip,relish trays,chunk cheese trays,crackers. We are also having a large cake.Do you suggest any potato chips? I am volenteering my time to make the trays but need help on how many sandwiches to plan for.
Thank you so much for any help you can give me. |
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joyce earl 03/23/07 |
updates updates |
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ellen 03/23/07 |
Hi, Joyce, You want to look at my several tea sandwich pages. Note that you need more(double) at lunchtime than mid afternoon, when you would want about 800. I suggest some cheese balls and logs instead of chunks, these are seniors. Not too much raw veggie, more relish, again the chewing factor. I suggest you consider some Fritoes or pretzels instead of potato chips. |
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joyce earl 03/25/07 |
retirement party for director of senior center I want to thank you for your suggestions and for helping me to decide on how many finger sandwiches to prepare. Some have a problem chewing meats so we decided to go with the chicken,tuna and pimento cheese and we were going to serve more soft fruit as I don't think they eat enough fruit. Some will take some of the sandwiches home for a snack later. Again thank you so much.I am sure every one will have a good time.
Sincerely |
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ellen 03/26/07 |
A cut-up/frozen fruit salad would be a good choice. Maybe a yogurt dressing or honey and sour cream dressing. Cream cheese with dates, crushed pineapple and maybe finely sliced nuts make a very popular tea sandwich. One sweet sandwich would be a good addition. |