Expert: Kay Cole - 5/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: We are having our sons graduation party in a week and was wondering how much of the following that we need to feed 70 people.  His choice menu is Wings, chicken finger, cocktail wienies, meatballs, chicken salad sandwiches, ham roll ups, veggie tray, fruit tray, and cheese tray.  Along with his cake.  Can you help?

ANSWER: Hi - your menu sounds great! A couple of questions that effect quantities....time of day of the event....length of time.....breakdown on people - ie: # of young men your son's age / # of small children, if any.
My best,
K

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 2 pm     about 3 hours      10 young men, maybe 4 small children under age of 10, the rest is people 30 to 70 years of age

Answer
Hi again,

I would suggest doing your calculations on 75 people...excluding the little ones...and, considering young men can eat...plus many of the items will be extremely popular with that crowd.

I suggest having 3 per person on the wings - 225
2 per person on the chicken fingers - 150
2.5 per person on the cocktail wienies - 175/200
2 per person on the meatballs - 150
1.25 per person on the ham roll ups - 100/125

On the chicken salad...are they going to be finger sandwiches? 125/150 pieces
If on a croissant or such...I would suggest 50/75ish

That should give you approx 12 pieces total per person - which should be gracious plenty. (especially since you are between meal periods) I would not have a huge veggie tray - nor cheese tray for that matter.... with all the other options you have available.  You might consider putting the fruit tray with the cake.

I might be high - but, you run the risk of folks skipping lunch that day knowing they are coming to your party - and arrive starving! If you get extra people coming at last minutes, or if you get nervous about having enough...you can always hold one item back - to replace the first one that runs out.

I hope these thoughts help!
Best,
K