Catering for a huge number!!!

whizzing

Here goes. We are having an anniversary party and we have the hall sorted, and the band. We have to use the paying bar that goes with the hall so that is sorted too. The problem is the buffet !! I want to do it myself but hubby is having a fit and thinks we should have caterers. I have looked into that and it costs a fortune. We had a party about 10 years ago and had about 120 guests. A few friends brought/made stuff and my m-i-l did a lot of the desserts. I and my hubby did do loads too and it was a lot of work. I think the guests might be nearer to 200 this time as the kids (teenagers) want to take friends too.

What should I have? It needs to be a buffet as there is little cooking facilities and that is too much hassle. I don't want to spend party time watching sausage rolls etc. I think I need a list of make and buy and I need help with ideas and quantities?

Errata

Some friends of mine had a big anniversary bash and booked the local mobile chippy and a mobile ice cream van. Both stayed for a couple of hours, guests fed, host and hostess hassle free. Everyone thought it was a terrific idea, a real novelty, and much nicer than sarnies/sausage rolls/stuff on sticks.

MRSMCAWBER

:j :j :j :j :j :j :j
OOOHHHH i love this kind of thing...love cooking , list making im getting all excited on your behalf:D

If you do decide to do it yourself..i would do huge batches of, pasta, rice and potato salads.....nice and filling and easy to prepare - great for vegetarians too:D
Places like Asda will let you buy a whole ham (if need be) and slice it up for you..they will also beable to tell you roughly how many slices you will get to a pound...having said that if you got to a local butcher they will probably do you a better deal for buying in bulk....the same with rolls from your local bakery and i would go for the tiny ones...saves loads of half eaten rolls... and i would think about buttering the rolls and putting them in baskets and rolling the cooked meats up and putting them on trays, so everyone can make their own....
Huge bowls of strawberries..get a friend off to a pick your own
I would think that catering for 200 yourself should save you a small fortune...hhhmmmm im getting carried away now...but i love catering
im sure i will be back with loads more ideas ...now theres a threat:D

carolannjo

I love this kind of thing as well. I usually go with what mrsmcawber says above. I have some good pasta and rice recipes you could have. I also do wraps as one wrap cuts into about 3 pieces and you can fill with salad, chicken tikka, mexican chicken etc. Also vol au vonts but the small size, fill with tuna, prawn cocktail, egg mayonnaise etc. Mini potato rostis are also great.
For puddings I do mini merigues sandwiched with fresh cream. Mini fairy cakes, as I have a tin for baking them which is half the size of a normal fairy cake. Mini rice krispie cakes and marshmallows as well. Caks etc can be made well in advance and frozen. Will follow this with interest as having big family do on 7th July

Joto_2

I say get the caters in. You don't have this kind of party very often and if you husband is willing to buy why put yourself through the hassle. Party frock, nails and hair done sound a much nicer alternative.

nearlyrich

I have done loads of big parties over the years, last one was for 150 people in a church hall last year for my sister's engagement do. I have some spreadsheets etc somewhere PM me if they might be useful. If you are doing it yourself you need a couple of reliable people to help, make sure they can take orders as you only want one cheif LOL, do the shopping the day before and make sure you have time to go home and get your gladrags on before the guests arrive.

whizzing

What great replies !! I am really hassled today but will post later when I get a chance. Keep looking at this thread as I would love more help and advice.

whizzing

Suggestions so far are: Any comments gratefully recieved. Especially as to which I should make, buy(tesco or costco), or get caters to supply platter.

Crisps
Chipolata Sausages
Chicken Satay/Chicken Gougons
Slices of Ham/Salami
French Bread
Salmon (half one)
Small rolls
Pasta Salad
Potato Salad
Coleslaw
Couscous
Salad
Pate
Dips and Sticks
Savory cases with fillings
Boiled Eggs
Tuna Mayonaise

MrsTinks

Costco if you can get in are really good! You can buy the desserts from there at a very good price! Huge cakes for £9.99 and apple cakes and chocolate cakes - you name it!
I would think about making sandwiches with filler from costco (very reasonable!) and then I'd think of the following:
Couscous salad - easy to make and quick!
Pasta salad - again easy to make and most people will eat...
Potato salad - you could buy this but it's cheap and cheerful to make - boil spuds, add chopped onions, mayo and chopped chives - job done!
Sliced cold meats - speak to your local butcher and ask for a couple of trays with a selection on them
Cheese boards - buy the boards at IKEA and cheese at either Tesco/Asda/Costco or where ever - buy large chunks and split between 2 or 3 boards.
Sausage rolls... well each to their own... I don't like them but lots of people do...
Chicken drumsticks - cook the night before and stick in a fridge - if you want to liven them up douse in BBQ sauce before cooking... again I would bulk order them from the butchers...
Sandwiches... as I say get filler from Costco and/or make cheese and pickle/ham/egg&cress/chicken mayo (buy a couple of chickens from butcher and cook then strip for meat)/prawn mayo
I would also if possible make some lasagna if there is an oven on site... these can be pre-made and just stuck in the oven during the morning and afternoon to be cooked/reheated
Crisps... buy multipacks... that way any not eaten can be taken home and consumed later too
cucumber/carrot/cellery fingers and dips...

Jodun

carolannjo, I'd be interested in your pasta and rice recipies! I'm having a BBQ for about 50 people in a couple of weeks, starting to panic a bit!!:eek: