Not enough food at function

neilmcl

susancs wrote: »

When you put it like that it does seem very little for what was charged for what is probably a lunchtime buffet. I had a look at Brakes who seem to be a leading food supplier for the catering industry and there sugguested menu for 20 people if multiplied by five seems to sugguest OP was not provided with enough food for 100 people.
http://www.brake.co.uk/_assets/Brakes_Thaw_Serve_Buffet_Menu.pdf

It wasn't a lunchtime buffet, it was what they were calling a finger buffet.

unholyangel

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

A funeral is food wise a light snack situation, it's not a wedding or any other feast. It's a cup of tea and a sandwich and a biscuit more or less and go. They were there to remember the deceased not to gorge. There was plenty on offer to share...given the food supplied some people took more for whatever reason and the food ran out is how I read it.

This may come as a shock, but there are different customs throughout the UK when it comes to a funeral.

I've seen wakes go well into the wee hours. Would dread to think at their reactions had they only been given a cup of tea and a sandwich - its just not the done thing up here.

neilmcl

unholyangel wrote: »

This may come as a shock, but there are different customs throughout the UK when it comes to a funeral.

I've seen wakes go well into the wee hours. Would dread to think at their reactions had they only been given a cup of tea and a sandwich - its just not the done thing up here.

Couldn't agree more.

naedanger

neilmcl wrote: »

How long does it take to have a conversation as follows:

OP: "Can you put on a finger buffet for a 100 for a funeral wake?"

Golf Club: "Yes certainly that'll come to £1,250.00 inclusive"

OP: "What exactly will be served as part of that?"

Golf Club: "100 mini sausage rolls, samosas, 50 rounds of sandwiches etc"

OP: "Oh dear, that's not a lot for £1,250.00, I'll think I'll go somewhere else."

I would expect the golf club to be more knowledgeable about specifying catering supply contracts than the op. It is their business after all. Any time I have bought any significant service the provider has specified exactly what they would be providing without me having to prompt them. Why did the supplier not realise they should be specifying what they would be providing for £1,250? Their failure to do this, in my view, shows a certain lack of professionalism on their part.

Personally I think the lack of itemisation is more likely to be held against the caterer than the op.

neilmcl

naedanger wrote: »

I would expect the golf club to be more knowledgeable about specifying catering supply contracts than the op. It is their business after all. Any time I have bought any significant service the provider has specified exactly what they would be providing without me having to prompt them. Why did the supplier not realise they should be specifying what they would be providing for £1,250? Their failure to do this, in my view, shows a certain lack of professionalism on their part.

Personally I think the lack of itemisation is more likely to be held against the caterer than the op.

So if you ring up a restaurant for night out and they say they're only serving a set menu, wouldn't you thing it reasonable to ask what is on the menu? Or if you arrange a wedding feast do you not think it reasonable to ask what would be on the menu either, or would you just leave it up to the caterers to surprise you on the day!

It's a simple, and somewhat obvious question to ask given the circumstances.

Feral_Moon

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

A funeral is food wise a light snack situation, it's not a wedding or any other feast. It's a cup of tea and a sandwich and a biscuit more or less and go. They were there to remember the deceased not to gorge. There was plenty on offer to share...given the food supplied some people took more for whatever reason and the food ran out is how I read it.

So you'd be happy with a quarter sandwich and a cocktail sausage? That may suffice in a private wake but this was a public bar with alcohol. People often get drunk at a wake so ensuring enough food is available is vital, hence the finger buffet as no one wants to eat formally at a wake. Some people can't face food, others turn to food as a comfort.

I truly believe the OP has been ripped off and I'd be steaming if I was supplied so little food at a wake for the numbers subscribed, regardless of cost. It's disrespectful.

susancs

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

A funeral is food wise a light snack situation, it's not a wedding or any other feast. It's a cup of tea and a sandwich and a biscuit more or less and go. They were there to remember the deceased not to gorge. There was plenty on offer to share...given the food supplied some people took more for whatever reason and the food ran out is how I read it.

In regard to our recent family funeral a bit of a sandwich and a biscuit would not have been much of an offering for family members who left home at 4am to catch a flight, hired a car and drove it into London with only a short time to spare until the funeral mass and burial, bearing in mind that due to family and work commitments they had to leave about 3pm to drive to the airport to give back the hire car and catch an evening plane home. There were 35 family members who flew over and back to Ireland on the day and at least 10 who travelled a distance from other parts of the UK by car to get to the funeral.

naedanger

neilmcl wrote: »

So if you ring up a restaurant for night out and they say they're only serving a set menu, wouldn't you thing it reasonable to ask what is on the menu?

This does not seem a good analogy for many reasons.

But to answer your question, I don't think I have ever asked, when booking, what was on the menu. (Generally knowing the type of restaurant is sufficient.)

Do you know any restaurant that would have a fixed menu that only gave the price and not the food that would be provided for that price?

Or if you arrange a wedding feast do you not think it reasonable to ask what would be on the menu either, or would you just leave it up to the caterers to surprise you on the day!

Do you know any wedding caterer that would supply a price without saying what they were providing for that price?

In my experience they will either ask what price you are looking to pay and then specify what they will provide for that price, or alternatively show you various options with each showing both the price per head and what would be provided.

I cannot imagine a caterer just giving a price with no details of what was being provided.

Feral_Moon

neilmcl wrote: »

So if you ring up a restaurant for night out and they say they're only serving a set menu, wouldn't you thing it reasonable to ask what is on the menu? Or if you arrange a wedding feast do you not think it reasonable to ask what would be on the menu either, or would you just leave it up to the caterers to surprise you on the day!

It's a simple, and somewhat obvious question to ask given the circumstances.

Non sequitur.

daytona0

naedanger wrote: »

Do you know any restaurant that would have a fixed menu that only gave the price and not the food that would be provided for that price?

A chinese buffet?

"All you can eat Chinese for £11.99"

Some are absolutely dire/salt-ridden. Some are absolutely divine. Some are in the middle.

Do you know any wedding caterer that would supply a price without saying what they were providing for that price?

A Chinese one? :rotfl: