Cook Talk

all day party
becky
06/12/07 		Ellen~what a incredible site! I'm e-mailing everyone I know to check it out, although I don't know how you have the time to do this!

I'm having a grad party from 12-8~basically an "open house" at a rented pavillion. Let me know if this sounds appropriate food wise:
about 1:00 (lunchtime):
20# (80 qty) hamburgers + rolls
10# (80 qty) hot dogs + rolls
mac salad--8# of uncooked pasta (enough for 100?)
baked beans--20 28oz cans (enough for 100?)
5# chips + 2# pretzels
about 5:00 (dinnertime):
baked ziti--7# of uncooked pasta
chicken noodle cassarole--6# uncooked pasta + 15lbs chicken
mac salad and beans continued from earlier

As 100 people will be coming and going all day, I thought that I'd split up the menu--too much food?? too little food?? what's your thoughts?
I also plan on 32 2liter sodas, 4 gallons water, 1 keg of beer and much wine (we make our own) as well as a sheet cake and coffee for dessert.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks so much~Becky.

ellen
06/13/07 		Hi, Becky,
This sounds like a great party. I need a little clarification. Is this a college graaduation, thus slightly more adult persons? Is it 100 people total, or do you expect to have about a hundred people continuously as folks come and go?

I see a few of changes I would make:
1) You need an assortment of appetizers/hors douvres to have out at the start and to put on the tables between lunch and dinner. These don't have to be fancy or expensive (warehouse items, queso or bean dips, cheese balls and logs, veggie trays, relish trays, etc) but you need about 6 "bites" or small servings per person per hour).
2)I always allow 1 hamburger PLUS 1 dog/sausage per person, and I strongly recommend you get Polish sausage or kielbasa instead of weiners if it is a grown up party. Much tastier, they hold better and not much more expensive.
3)You need some salad or slaw and maybe some veggies or raw veggie trays with each meal. Could be slaw for lunch and Ceasar for dinner. Both items are covered in the plan for 100 lists.
4)Water, 1 pint per person, ice 2-4 pounds per person, depending on the weather, plus 40 pounds per cooler you are filling for chilling.

You might take a look at the baked potato bar page- it shows how to do a multi-hour transport and hold, and might be a better alternative than all the pasta casseroles at supper, save reheating and holding at safe temps, etc. You could use the chicken creamed with gravy or mushrooms as a potato bar topping.

becky
06/13/07 		Hi Ellen,
This is a high school graduation, however most in attendance will be adults--not too many teens/kids.
I expect to have about 30 people or so that will stay for the course of the day and about 70 that will come and go.
I do agree with snack food being offered in between the meals and will make arrangements for that--as well as having a salad option.
Do you feel that I'm about right in my food estimates?
ellen
06/13/07 		Yes, except as noted the food amounts look good with the additions discussed. I would be sure to add a veggie or veggie casserole option at dinner, or make sure the pasta recipes had lots of veggies in them- the meal is a little light on lighter foods.
becky
06/13/07 		Sounds good--I feel so much better going about this having a second opinion to back me up!
I'll make a posting after the party with updates and changes!!
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