Catering for 100 people

[Phantomdodger]

Planning a party for my 40th
In local hall
Want something easy and no stress so have emailed a couple of hog roast companies for quotes but also like the idea of somehinf like a ploughman’s buffet. I think we could probably do this reasonably ourselves but I usually struggle with estimating how much we need and end up with a lot left over.
We also thought about fish and chips but how would that work practically?
Budget isn’t main concern-want to offer something a bit more special than an Iceland buffet but anything we could save to spend on wine would be a bonus!

The key thing will be the practicalities -so understanding what space, ovens, hobs, fridges, storage, cutlery and crockery you have. And time too.

Also, knowing wjat dietary requirements you might be catering to, and what meal times you'll be doing.

Always much easier to do lots of a few things, rather than a few bits of many things.

How about approaching a local butcher one that cooks there own cold meats, and get a full joint of ham, beef and pork, served with homemade coleslaw, mimi jackets, if you buy the little washed new potatoes you can just stick them in trays in the oven, bakery rolls will go down a treat. I'm married to a butcher and this is something we would do. Or what about a couple of shoulder of lamb served with flatbread.

We went to a wedding recently where there was an ice-cream man with a bike and trailer serving ice-cream for pudding. That was fun.

Seating too - are people sitting down to eat? If standing, things that will need to be cut up on the plate aren't the best idea.

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Will you have to prepare it and take it to the venue or can you cook there?
Finger food only or is there space for people to sit down to eat?
What time is the party?
Are your lot more ......refined or piss heads who will need hearty booze soaking food?

What about big wheels of cheese and lots of lovely pickles and maybe a Serrano ham that you can carve tiny yummy thin slices off? Lovely different loaves and rolls and big bowls of coleslaw and potato salad and actual salad leaves ooohhh and pickled onions.

Sorry am just really hungry?

I don’t really want to use any ovens there-if we diy it needs to be cold but meat platters sound good-we don’t know many veggies!

Would do paper plates I think and would prefer finger food although we will have tables and chairs

Our local deli (attached to the butcher) does buffet food for groups. They offered 3 different menus at 3 prices. It was pretty good.
Waitrose entertaining is also good, and of course they deliver.

You could also add crisps and so on.
All I had to to was remove lids.

Hmm-I would describe us as refined piss heads

We did this last year catering for about 100+ people. Costco was fab. Loads of sandwich and fruit platters. We did costco desserts, cup cakes, crisps and dips, supplied bottled water, soft drinks and got big containers to use as ice buckets for drinks.
Later on we did a barbecue, ordering burgers etc from local butcher. We had a few veggie burgers and kebabs as well. I ordered a few fancier salads from M&S. if you order from them you need to do so a week in advance. They have a fab selection of everything.

Hog roasts are awesome!
Local cafes and delis would also do the job. Waitrose entertaining is good.

For fish and chips I would take the orders in advance and just speak to your local chip shop.

Also need to check in advance on special dietary requirements eg vegan, gluten free etc

Haven’t seen it in years but do you remember chicken in a basket?

I often cater for massive groups. If you want something simple I would suggest pre roasting chickens (around 10). Serve cold with potato salad, green salad, coleslaw and French bread. You could also add in some cheese. You can either make the sides yourself or buy in pre made.

There were no allergies back then, no one said they didn’t eat meat or if they didn’t they just quietly had chips only!

We have done curry buffets twice now - brought in by curry house and served in the warmers they use - works brilliantly!

Just order half of what you think you need

Curry would be nice. But messy

Ok-here’s my plan:
10 tables of 10
Each with:
Cheese board (from M&S or Waitrose)
Pork pies
Rolls
Butter
Sliced ham
Sliced beef
Jar pickles
Grapes
Celery
Crisps

We’ll also provide some sparkling wine, beers and soft drinks to start people off (byob for rest)

Glass hire
Paper plates
Knives

Will consider dessert later

Sounds lovely - when should we arrive?

Are you putting it on 10 different tables? And doing a seating plan? Or one big buffet table? The big table is easier unless you have staff to serve/clear up.

I'd add chutney to the list and breadsticks, houmous and olives

You’ll do better getting things from Costco as it’s a lot cheaper.

I'd really want some salads to go with your planned menu.

Costco.
Great cheese boards.
Pickles/ olives/ roast meats.
I would have some bowls naice cherry tomatos, maybe some pickled onions.
Cost co cakes are great, and cheap!

Sounds perfect. You can hire in fish and chip vans but the logistics of having 100 people queuing up would put me off. By putting food on tables you’d are avoiding folk having to stand in a line to eat.

Maybe French sticks instead or as well as rolls?

And red wine. Sorry

A hog roast is a very cheap way of feeding a large number of people. Cheese, on the other hand, is expensive.