Does this sort of catering option exist?

[JimHalpertsWife]

Big family trip up to the Scottish Highlands in May, each family will cook one night. 4x nights. 16 guests.

I'm seriously considering whether it wouldn't just be easier for us all to arrange with a local caterer to have a daily drop of a prepared evening meal we can just heat up?

So I'm thinking massive trays of, say, cottage pie, or a mac n cheese with pulled pork or whatever. Just so we can truly relax and not have to pre-shop or spend a whole day (per family) cooking for everyone.

I'm googling and the only real options are food vans or a private chef, neither of which would suit. They could just drop 2 days meals off, every other day. In big disposable trays.

Has anyone used this sort of thing before? Due to the quantity I don't think just buying multiple small ready cottage pie etc from M&S would be sensible. Needs to be big bulk food.

I haven't used them myself but people often recommend Cook ready meals, which I think can be bought in quite large sizes and frozen. If they were available somewhere not too far from your base, would that be any good?

Have you looked up party caterers, there are quite a few near me who would likely do this type of thing, but the Highlands huge so it depends where you'll be really.

Why not buy food to heat up? Lasagnes one night, pizzas another, curry, and maybe fish, some kind of potatoes and a green vegetable, for example. (Depends how much fridge/freezer space there is.)

Have you tried a fb group local to where you're going. There's a couple of caterers in my area who do the kind of thing you're looking for. They regularly post on fb with special offers or the weeks special etc

Just the quantities - 20 adults every evening, it's a lot of smaller portions of the same thing and storing them frozen would be a nightmare. Fine for a family of four.

This is a good idea!

Yes just google private caterers in the area. They will do this for you. Obviously you will be paying for their service and it may be more than you are anticipating.

Anyone know any ballpark figures for bulk "family favourite" pre-made meals?

Have you considered costco?

Cook do meals for 8, and I think they will deliver now? So could order a load of those, shove a few days' worth in the freezer? Looks like it's about £5 per portion, but I can't imagine you'd pay less than that for a caterer.

I would also wonder about doing a bit of a mix and match arrangement?

E.g. a couple of people make and bring a massive Bolognese and a big chilli which does the first two nights. Or ask everyone to bring a meal for 4 and do a potluck. Then get 3 or 4 night's worth of cook stuff in, and a night where you eat out at a pub or similar. Plus a supermarket order where you do pizzas or whatever one night.

It completely varies but they all pretty much charge per person. There are some that may do the lower scale of £6 to £10 per head for certain dishes. But will you be doing all the vegetables to accompany and the pudding etc. otherwise if you want 2 courses with vegetables and large puddings it’s going to come at a cost.

There will be loads that will be £25 per person upwards. I would contact the accommodation provider and ask for any local recommendations.

We had this in the lake district. She filled the freezer on the first day and then came on the Wednesday with another load of freezer dishes.

Sounds ideal!! Can I ask if you recall the price?

I have! And will price that option up too.

I would advise you check the fridge freezer and cooker sizes before buying too much in bulk. I’ve stayed in numerous houses that sleep that sort of number of people and some are great with industrial sized cookers and pans and others have less storage space than I have in my 2 bed flat!! You might be best posting on the Scotsnet page with an area to get local suggestions.

Oh I totally agree. One year we had a single family oven for everyone because the beautiful Aga next to it was completely cold and empty of oil. That was fun!!

Where exactly are you going? I may have suggestions.

Newtonmore/Kingussie/Aviemore region.