Catering for a large crowd! 40ish!

[maldivemoment]

Considering a winter garden party for husbands birthday. It’s in December so will prob get marquee for garden. (We’re living in a do-er upper so indoors out of the question)

Anyone done anything similar? Any top tips? Fool proof recipes to feed a large crowd?( We have plenty of those heat tray type things so fairly simple to serve/keep food warm for the duration)

Thank you in advance

Cost up your ingredients, add time shopping, prepping, cooking, organising all your crockery and cutlery, and washing and clearing up. Estimate the additional energy costs of all of this. Factor in the stress you’ll inevitably share with your family. And then call a few caterers…. I think you’ll find that it’s worth outsourcing to the professionals.

I’m a pretty handy cook, and regularly host people for dinner/lunch etc with great pleasure. But over a certain size, catering in a domestic kitchen setting, it’s just not fun. I’ve also done a winter marquee party like you but got caterers in for the food and clearing up. They were fab and everyone was happy!

Who the fuck has a garden party on bloody December???

Sounds like a shit idea.

@00100001 😆

and I believe it’s ‘in’ bloody December, not ‘on.’ But thanks for the feedback

Pulled pork with buns for food.

I agree with PP though. I went to a December wedding in a barn and even with loads of heaters it was freezing and horrible. Please don't do this to your guests!

The other thing to consider is that if your guests are going to leave early because they are cold (like I would) is it worth the cost and effort of providing a proper spread of food? If I’m going to a party for only an hour I don’t need food while there.

Pizza oven? Loads of toppings?

Trouble is, things like chilli and stew and curry and jacket potatoes need cutlery and possibly a seat at a table.

I'd be tempted to get the bbq going. Add some warmth too.

Tons of hot dogs and burgers. Meat and veggies easily catered for.

You could jazz them up and do loaded hot dogs (so a pot of chilli that people can add a spoonful of to their hotdog. Or whatever else).

Then it's Just sauces, cheese, salads etc.

For dessert, I'd just buy cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, Victoria sponge. Pre cut them into slices. Jug of cream.

I'd be tempted to do a hot chocolate station too. Mini marshmallows, spray cream, sprinkles. All next to booze that you could add a slug of.

Having done a couple of outdoor parties in the winter, I'd also recommend some hay bakes. Can be used for seating but also, if the weather means mud underfoot you can spread it around to help with the mud/not slipping about.

Any room for a decent fire pit, or patio heaters?

hay bales

we did one for 30ish and we did a really nice roasted veg casserole and rice and then did marinated chicken thighs on the side. That way you aren’t doing two versions of the same dish. Agree that winter garden parties aren’t great though.

Ha ha spotted a typo, well done.

Nah, hanging round waiting for your pizza to cook x 10 nah

Takes 60 seconds

Pfft if you're cooking 10 consecutive pizzas in 10 minutes you're not being completely honest.

Sounds like great fun. I hosted my own wedding for 30 people during covid and tried to prepare as much as possible before, so we had pasta, salads, quiches, cold meats, breads, cheeses, smoked salmon, puff pastry tarts, a shortcrust pastry meat pie. Everyone was very complementary because of the home effort. Then big platters of bite size puddings too, and cake.

In an ooni outside pizza oven. I am being honest. Why on earth wouldn't I be honest?