Cooking for other people.

[jendifer]

A group of ten of us are going away at new year. Pre pandemic, we went on holiday together 2-3 times per year, with groups of up to 50 (although usually around ten). We have five under 5s.

We always share the cooking and washing up with some people taking charge and others helping. This year, I emailed to see who wants to do what and everyone has said that they’re not comfortable cooking for so many people.

So I’m curious - could you/would you cook for ten adults (with help if you wanted it)?

I easily can cook for a large crowd and often have ; but I would far rather do it all by myself than share the cooking with 10 other people faffing about in the same kitchen getting in my way.

Thanks folks - I’d begun to doubt myself as to whether I’m expecting too much of them! It’s been so long since we’ve all been away I was wondering if I was actually an anomaly!

I hate washing up but I do it because it has to be done! DH and I will each “ lead” a meal and will get some of them to chop and stir! I’ll do a rota.

@jendifer

A group of ten of us are going away at new year. Pre pandemic, we went on holiday together 2-3 times per year, with groups of up to 50 (although usually around ten). We have five under 5s.

We always share the cooking and washing up with some people taking charge and others helping. This year, I emailed to see who wants to do what and everyone has said that they’re not comfortable cooking for so many people.

So I’m curious - could you/would you cook for ten adults (with help if you wanted it)?

Have those people been away together before and therefore experienced the joint catering arrangements in the past? If so and they all say they’re not comfortable cooking for so many, does it mean they are talking from experience and didn’t enjoy it?

I'd be totally fine with it, but I understand why some people wouldn't if they're not confident. There's also the issue about unfamiliar/unsuitable equipment - a common complaint about large houses is that they don't always come with the large pans and multiple roasting trays and ovens needed to cook for a crowd.

I'd suggest that everyone willing to take a turn at cooking does so and those who don't can pay for a takeaway, or the appropriate number of pizzas plus sides or other family meal deals from somewhere like M&S.

I don't have an issue with it (I think that's probably thanks to growing up in Guides and Scouts where mass catering was common place!) but the hardest bit is often that accommodation which sleeps a large number of people isn't well equipped to cook for that number. I've stayed in some properties with the most shocking ovens and only small pans - we stayed in a chalet that slept 6 and I couldn't even fit spaghetti for 4 people in the largest pan!!
We tend to do simple food that doesn't take much prep and I often make something like spag bol at home and freeze it for the first or second night. My go-to meals for mass catering would be

• chilli & rice (we took a couple of slow cookers for the chilli and boil in the bag rice is easier for large portions) with nachos & dips
• jacket potatoes with loads of fillings and salads
• macaroni cheese
• spag bol with salad & garlic bread
• chicken roast dinner (chicken breasts wrapped in bacon)
• sausage & mash
• pizza if everyone is arriving at different times on the first night
• chippy or pub one evening
• BBQ in the summer
• fajitas

I think it is reasonable to remember that different people enjoy or are confident at different things.
Could you not say :
These are the things we need people to sign up for: then list:
Breakfast Saturday - cook. Clear up
Breakfast Sunday - cook clear up
Prep lunch Saturday (light buffet or packed lunch or whatever)
Prep lunch Sunday
Evening meal Saturday (either cook there, or pre-make something like a chilli or a curry and heat through there?)
Can someone bake a cake or two
Can someone prepare a quiz / games / whatever 'entertainment' you are doing
Can someone plan a route for the hike on Sunday

etc etc, and those not keen on cooking can still offer their services doing something else.

I've single-handedly cooked for more than 10 people many times in my life. Some, because I had to. Others, because I wanted to. I enjoy feeding people but don't necessarily like the act of cooking, if that makes sense.

I'll be fine with someone not wanting to do so. In fact, I completely understand.

@2bazookas

I easily can cook for a large crowd and often have ; but I would far rather do it all by myself than share the cooking with 10 other people faffing about in the same kitchen getting in my way.

Ah this is me too.

I'd be happy to cook for 10 people. I'd be happier with that than being one of the people being cooked for. I find that a lot of people are not as great as cooking as they think they are, especially if they have to do it for a larger group.