Food/ Drink at party - do you supply enough for everyone to have all options?

[Thewheelweavesasthewheelwills]

I am an over caterer! If people are coming for any occasion there will be too much of everything. Now it is usually stuff that my family will be able to consume over the next few days, I can send home with people if they wish or I can freeze.

E.g. would be for my DS Christening I had Chicken Curry/ Lasagne + salads. There was enough for everyone to have both. Well in fact I had a full Lasagne left over and about 5 portions of curry. I had family over yesterday, I got cans of drink but instead of getting a mix I had enough coke/ 7-up/ orange for everyone to choose the same option.

As I said these things don't go to waste. I froze the Lasagne/ Curry plus sent some home with my mum/ ILs. Cans of drink will obv last for a long time.

What do others do? Just curious my DH laughs at me but lets me at it

I do the same as you, but am also (kindly) laughed at for being a mass over caterer. I cannot stand the idea of people leaving my house hungry or disappointed when I’ve invited them over for food.

I’m an over caterer, but as long as nothing goes to waste I think it’s fine!

You should see the amount of Prosecco we have left over from DD’s party - I didn’t want to run out so we have a tonne. DH doesn’t drink and I’m pregnant, so the stash isn’t going down! But it will be drink eventually….

It would depend on how many people!
The drinks, probably nearly enough for everyone.
The food, maybe 2/3 of each - so if 30 people, 20 options of each.

I do the same as you and freeze leftovers for the busy working weeks.

Nobody laughs at me though, they're just glad of the leftovers and my DMIL is often sent home with a portion for the next day.

Glad to see it's not just me! Thinks like BBQs I am a terror, but same as others once it doesn't get wasted I don't see the problem.

DH doesn't laugh as such, but smiles. My mum always benefits from my over catering, whenever she stays a few nights I send her home with a weeks worth of frozen dinners!!

Reduce choice and there will be less waste.
3 Mains sounds fine, ensure you have lots of freezer space and zip lock bags to portion up and freeze the leftovers.

Use accurate portion control for items more likely to be wasted.
Eg bread Rolls just allow one per person.
Puddings can be Individual portions.
Salads look nice in large bowls and can be relatively inexpensive but you can also serve Individual salads this is more time consuming.
Good portion control for buffets can be achieved using attractive platters or wooden boards for 6/8 or 10 depending on number of guests.
Allocate a specific number of eg sandwiches , pork pies sausage rolls, scotch eggs samosas and quiche per table and decorate with salad and crisps.
Say 10 large platters or wooden boards for 6 people .
You are doing fine.

@alwayscheery I've learnt my lesson with salads. The first few BBQs I hosted I was eating so much salad for the week. Now I do limit on that because the people I know don't seem to eat it!

I'm an over caterer but DH loves it as I make a real effort when we host, so we have nice leftovers for 3-4 days, as well as sending older family members home with a doggy bag etc.

I'd far prefer to over cater than for people to be unsatisfied or hungry at one of my events!

True.
A few tomatoes on the vine go down well and use some Lollo Rosso lettuce for garnish.

Realistically you know that no-one is going to want all of everything, but if you plan in using up or freezing leftovers, and assume around 2/3 of everyone will want any particular thing, you're unlikely to have disappointed guests or wasted food.

You can give yourself flexibility by serving you and DH last, so if something is running out, you can just have the other thing.

The best part about having people over is that you don't have to cook for a week afterwards 😆

I always do far too much too, I like to know there will be plenty but also have a plan for the leftovers.

I'd hate it if, say, the lasagne was much more popular and people couldn't have their first choice, although I'm sure they wouldn't really mind.

Keep it simple. Slow cooker with one dish and jacket potatoes

I call it country catering. The sort of mindset that farmers wives during the shearing or a clearing sale would get into. I just can’t help myself. And then there are school events as part of the parent committee. Oh. My. Goodness. Just let me loose …

@TheSandgroper I am a farmers wife 😂

Totally depends on the guests, what I'm serving and for how many. Knowing your audience really helps.

Agree with pp who said to reduce the number of options, it does make things easier. Particularly at buffets as people will often have a bit of everything.

Although if all your options can be reused so no waste it really isn't a problem.