Have I ordered enough finger/buffet food?

Have I ordered enough finger/buffet food?

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princeperch

Original Poster:

8,051 posts

256 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
I am organising a very informal and relaxed 40th party for my missus. It is on a Saturday afternoon starting at 3pm for 3 hours in a local church hall. Nothing fancy, just a few of her friends along and family and their kids etc.

There should be about 65/70 adults there and 20 or so children.

I have organised more than enough booze I think -i've budgeted for about 4 bottles of beer for every bloke that attends, or half a bottle of cava if you're a female, together with 10 bottles of red or white and various soft drinks.

The food is a little more tricky. I want low hassle and ease. So I've decided to get some Sainsbury's platters, and possibly a lot of cheese and crackers too, which I have yet to organise.

Ive budgeted roughly for 3 wraps per person attending, or 3 or 4 sandwich portions, plus more than enough crisps/sausage rolls/salami and french stick to go on the side.

The problem is at the back of my mind I know I'm a greedy bugger when I'm being fed by others but I know I can't judge others by my own glutinous standards.

Assuming plenty of crisps/french stick/cheeses on the side, does the below order seem adequate for the people I have coming?

I don't mind ordering more if needs be but it would be genuinely distressing to be chucking away 200 quids worth of sandwiches at the conclusion of the event.

Any thoughts welcome!




princeperch

Original Poster:

8,051 posts

256 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all

sherman

14,023 posts

224 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
An adult will eat 4 sandwich triangles, 2 wraps,2-4 sausage rolls/sausages.
Not all people will eat at the buffet. Some will have eaten before coming.
Not all adults will eat a cupcake if they are drinking.
Children will eat half of the adult amount if they sit still for long enough.

Crisps will be eaten but only budget half a normal size pack per person.
Cheese will not be eaten in any great quantities
Same for crackers.
Provide some simple dips/sauces that people can put on their plate.

Provide about 40 boxes to take cupcakes away or you may end up with about 40 cakes fo take home.

Soft drinks wise
juice cartons or froot shoots are easy to give to the kids and avoids spills.

Provide tap water. Not everyone will want to drink juice all night. It can be a jug on the end of the 'bar' that is kept topped up and some glasses next to it for people to help them selves

TownIdiot

2,166 posts

8 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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As you say you are a greedy bugger.
So buy enough to satisfy someone like you times all the guests

Nothing worse than an ungenerous party


You can take home the leftovers

andrewcliffe

1,167 posts

233 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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You'll be eating party food leftovers for a week.

markiii

3,965 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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4 bottles of beer seems very low and give women free cava I feel you'll eat through double that

ambuletz

11,078 posts

190 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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What's the demographic?

I only ask because your profile says london. White people tend to go for snacks/finger food. Other cultures (african, carribbean and I'm sure some others) that's just really not good, it has to be actual food (rice, , curry, stew, bbq, salad etc.).

It's quite surprising how different the two are.

princeperch

Original Poster:

8,051 posts

256 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
markiii said:
4 bottles of beer seems very low and give women free cava I feel you'll eat through double that
4 bottle of beer for every bloke going. A fair few will be driving so those who are not driving might end up with 5 or 6 each in reality if the drivers only have 1 or 2.

It's difficult because I want everyone to have enough but I don't want to end up taking a load of stuff home.





Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 2nd October 23:47

princeperch

Original Poster:

8,051 posts

256 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
ambuletz said:
What's the demographic?

I only ask because your profile says london. White people tend to go for snacks/finger food. Other cultures (african, carribbean and I'm sure some others) that's just really not good, it has to be actual food (rice, , curry, stew, bbq, salad etc.).

It's quite surprising how different the two are.
Demographic is white. I definitely do not have the headspace to see with stews or a BBQ.

TownIdiot

2,166 posts

8 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
princeperch said:
4 bottle of beer for every bloke going. A fair few will be driving so those who are not driving might end up with 5 or 6 each in reality if the drivers only have 1 or 2.

It's difficult because I want everyone to have enough but I don't want to end up taking a load of stuff home.





Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 2nd October 23:47
If you don't want to take stuff home just ask some of your mates to drink and eat it all.

markiii

3,965 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2024
quotequote all
princeperch said:
markiii said:
4 bottles of beer seems very low and give women free cava I feel you'll eat through double that
4 bottle of beer for every bloke going. A fair few will be driving so those who are not driving might end up with 5 or 6 each in reality if the drivers only have 1 or 2.

It's difficult because I want everyone to have enough but I don't want to end up taking a load of stuff home.





Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 2nd October 23:47
You need sor on the booze. My local majestic will let you return up to 30% unopened of a bulk order

Master Bean

4,123 posts

129 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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Nobody goes to a party for the buffet. They are want to mingle and chat. People won't starve.

hidetheelephants

28,308 posts

202 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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sherman said:

Provide tap water. Not everyone will want to drink juice all night. It can be a jug on the end of the 'bar' that is kept topped up and some glasses next to it for people to help them selves
I'd say have 5-6 jugs given the number of people and that it's a daytime event with food, with ice and lemon for proper fanciness.

Bill

54,879 posts

264 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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3-6 is a slightly odd time for actual food, too soon after lunch and only really hitting evening meal time for kids. I'd go with cake and some bags to send spare home with your guests. And make sure there's a tea urn.

Bill

54,879 posts

264 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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And really don't forget the bags... My wife did once and the only thing she had to hand were nappy sacks! hehe

Alickadoo

2,430 posts

32 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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What's with the cupcakes?

What's that about?

wyson

2,964 posts

113 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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I think halve all those amounts of food, it would still be generous. As others have said, the time of the party, its more about grazing and nibbling than having a full meal.

If you are anxious about the quantities, have uber eats on standby.

I think the beer / cava quantities are fine, because it will keep.

Only thing I would suggest is getting some of that made by a local firm. A ‘bakery’ near me caters for parties, sure, much more expensive than Sainsbury’s but the quality is better as everything is freshly made. Bread baked in house. Sandwiches and rolls constructed the morning you collect, so hasn’t been sat in a fridge for 2 days, transported across half the country.

I’m not a fan of supermarket sandwiches and wraps!

Edited by wyson on Thursday 3rd October 09:10

geeks

9,915 posts

148 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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Alickadoo said:
What's with the cupcakes?

What's that about?
Its a birthday party and people generally like cake?

Pent

286 posts

28 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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No matter what you order. You will have leftovers.
As someone else has said. 3-6 is difficult time if you have kids.

Just get a few items and enjoy yourself. You won’t be able to please everyone and nor should you, it’s about friends and family coming together. Not about the amount of food and free booze.

jonsp

1,074 posts

165 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
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said:
I think halve all those amounts of food, it would still be generous.
Agree.

You'd have to think 3pm on Saturday some people will think we'd best have lunch before we go in case there isn't much food.

There's also too much beer - 4 bottles for a bloke is too much to safely drive.

That said the food all looks nice so it will do for Saturday dinner/Sunday