Catering ideas for a school reunion

[MrsBloxby]

Hi, I am organising a school reunion, I thought it would be easier to hold it at our sixth form because we were a very multi cultural school and there will be an issue with kosher, vegan and halal. Holding it at a private restaurant or hotel will be too tricky. Also its London so parking is a nightmare...

Do you think it will be ok to ask everyone to bring a dish? Grateful for any ideas...

Could you do vegetarian chilli and beef chilli with rice, nachos, cheese, guacamole etc so you can incorporate most dietary requirements but get a caterer to provide it?

Bring a dish sounds like a good idea.
It means there will be enough food for everyone without a big outlay in advance / having to guesstimate how many people will be coming.

Anyone who has a particular dietary requirement will at least have the dish they brought able to cater for them.

@jenthehen I like your menu ideas, but will it be tricky getting money off people...I wonder...

Im hoping the school will let us have the hall for a minimal fee.

@UsingChangeofName Yes that sounds good.

Definitely bring a dish. Maybe list sone stuff on a WhatsApp group and people could select something they want to bring or can add own.
Just list some stuff that would cover all bases

Bring a dish won't work for strictly kosher eaters, unless they eat what they bring themselves.

It will be safer to ask for vegetarian food as the majority will be able to eat this.

Some people may still need to bring their own food though.

@FavouriteSlippers good idea. Thanks.

@Mosaic123 yes thats true. I will set up food labels. Good point.

Multi cultural is perfect reason to do bring a dish. Yum!

But at least they won't be paying ££ for a ticket and then not getting anything to eat, plus, if everyone is bringing a dish for the table, it is easier to bring something for yourself to eat, than if everyone is queuing up for the paid for / catered food and you have to get your own packed lunch out.

I also like the idea of a list so we dont get just masses of cupcakes! I can get the plates, cups, napkins and spoons.

An event I went to that was bring a dish asked you to state in advance if you were bringing a sweet or savoury dish (but not what) so organisers had an idea of the balance - a few people said “happy to bring either” and the organisers let them know what it seemed was most needed.

@NewYearNewUsername23 thats s great tip.

Any idea on the best way to communicate, I qas thinking of a whatsapp group but then thought some people might not want to share their number in a large group....