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Catering/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| sandwiches | 7/20/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: Having a bridal shower for approx 32 people. Serving ham salad and chicken salad on croissants. ... A: Menu sounds very nice. I would figure about 2.5 ounces per sandwich...about a half a cup would be my ... | ||
| sandwiches | 7/20/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: Having a bridal shower for approx 32 people. Serving ham salad and chicken salad on croissants. ... A: 5 sandwiches per person of each type - but, I would adjust that to have more chicken salad than ham. ... | ||
| Price for making Mac & Cheese | 5/21/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I asked a friend of mine to make me Mac & Cheese for 75 people. He said I would need 6 pounds. What ... A: Good Morning, I am unable to answer your question; I do not do pricing. However, if you are ... | ||
| quiche | 4/15/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am making a large quiche in a chafer insert pan. Do not want to over cook but I know getting the ... A: pans - there are half pans that fit side by side in chafing dish...I would suggest using two. Will ... | ||
| party wings & fries | 4/7/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I was asked to cater a picnic at the park, however they would like to have party wings & fries. How ... A: Many variables here in your question. Are you just dropping off some disposable alumn. pans of wings ... | ||
| Luncheon for 35 senior ladies | 3/15/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I need some advice on portion control for this luncheon I am preparing for 35 senior ladies. I am ... A: Wendy, In the long run...you will be happier that it is a buffet. soooooo much easier on you labor ... | ||
| baked potatos for 40 | 2/22/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I wanted to know how to cook baked potatoes for 40 people, time/temp and how to keep them warm for ... A: I wrap mine in foil - cook on 350 to 375 for an hour to hour and a half depended on size of potato ... | ||
| Self cater - Appetizer Portions | 2/20/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am self catering my wedding reception and have decided on an appetizer buffet. The time is in the ... A: I was thinking 10 per person EXCLUDING the fruit cheese and veggie trays. Meatballs would be one of ... | ||
| Self cater - Appetizer Portions | 2/19/2011 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am self catering my wedding reception and have decided on an appetizer buffet. The time is in the ... A: Smart time of the day for the reception....guests will have had lunch and will not be expecting an ... | ||
| New Years Eve Party 200 people | 12/24/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: Volunteer Fire Co. have party for 200 people. Roast Beef Ham Baked Ziti Potatoe Salad Pasta Salad ... A: http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/Buffetchart2.html This web site will help you with amounts - ... | ||
| potatoe salad | 12/14/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I need to make potato salad for 125 people... how many lbs of potatoes should I use? A: Sam, Quite honestly, I do not know the answer to your question off the top of my head. I did a ... | ||
| Appetizers for Catering | 12/7/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I have a party for 42 guests and I am purchasing stuffed fresh mozzarella cheese (rolled with ... A: Menu sounds fantastic, by the way. In my opinion, a total of 15 pounds is way too much...especially ... | ||
| Olive bar | 12/7/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I'm having a graduation party for 50 ppl and two things we'll be serving are ham a fresh ham ( i ... A: Clarence, Sorry that I missed your question and did not answer promptly...my apologies. For a ... | ||
| Meal for 80 | 10/15/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am having a luncheon for 80 people (men). I'm serving flank steak, pasta with a marinara sauce, a ... A: You can probably figure how much of the bagged salad to buy from the bag itself - it should tell you ... | ||
| Meal for 80 | 10/15/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am having a luncheon for 80 people (men). I'm serving flank steak, pasta with a marinara sauce, a ... A: ..I might consider 8 - 10 instead. Are you purchasing premade salad mix? or preparing salad ... | ||
| Late lunch for a wedding | 9/3/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: My daughter is getting married and she is having a hot sit down supper catered however we are ... A: ..if 250 is the total expected guest list...I would definitely cut down that number for the late ... | ||
| Self-Catering Our Wedding | 8/31/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: My SO and I have just set our wedding date for October of 2011, and we're considering self-catering ... A: I do like the dessert buffet idea...but, am having a problem with it for a 6PM wedding...some things ... | ||
| Self-Catering Our Wedding | 8/31/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: My SO and I have just set our wedding date for October of 2011, and we're considering self-catering ... A: I think the non-traditional sounds smart and fun...I have a couple of questions before I answer your ... | ||
| Catering 30 yr high school reunion party for 200 ppl | 7/7/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I have just started my own catering & personal chef company and am currently building up the details ... A: ..wrote a really lengthy answer - but, it seems that it did not go thru as just recd word that I had ... | ||
| work summer party | 7/6/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am planning an Open House at our work facility for approximate. 144 employees and their families. ... A: First of all, you need to arrive at your estimated number of adults and children to plan for...you ... | ||
| Servers Needed | 6/21/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I have catered for many years. I am putting together a Holiday Feast dinner for 500 people. I am ... A: Definitely, the servers should be the busers and desert servers...too many people is almost as bad ... | ||
| Servers Needed | 6/20/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I have catered for many years. I am putting together a Holiday Feast dinner for 500 people. I am ... A: It sounds like you plan for the 24 servers to do their own dish up and then run the food to the ... | ||
| catering | 6/10/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I will be catering a luncheon buffet for Golf Tournament for approx 90 people. Menu will be ... A: To arrive at a sales price...you need to figure out what your costs will be. Food cost, labor cost, ... | ||
| Catering-Grad Party | 5/29/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I'm having a Grad Party with approximately 35-40 people. I can't be sure everyone will show up but I ... A: The more variety of items - ie: 4 choices of entree versus 2 - the more you will need, in my opinion ... | ||
| Catering | 5/11/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: We are having our sons graduation party in a week and was wondering how much of the following that ... A: I would suggest doing your calculations on 75 people...excluding the little ones...and, considering ... | ||
| Sandwich salad portions | 3/18/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: We are making food for a baby shower. We plan to have egg, ham, tuna and chicken salad between two ... A: I have to eyeball this sort of thing for finger sandwiches as it can vary on the number of ounces ... | ||
| 50th birthday buffet for 80 | 3/6/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am having a 50th birthday for my husband and 2 sisters on March 28th 2010. I expect to have about ... A: Carol, I tried to send a follow up to your note - and think that I just sent some sort of canned ... | ||
| 50th birthday buffet for 80 | 3/6/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am having a 50th birthday for my husband and 2 sisters on March 28th 2010. I expect to have about ... A: Good questions....and believe that I can help or at least give you some ideas and suggestions...tell ... | ||
| quiche for 50 | 2/27/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I am attempting my first catered brunch, quiche for 50 people, should I use 9 in. aluminum pie tins, ... A: Is it a buffet or plated? If plated, the the triangular pie piece shape would look better on the ... | ||
| Catering Cost | 2/5/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I'm doing to catering jobs and I'm concerned about what I should charge. The first is for 75 people ... A: First of all...get a feel for what others in your area are charging...some of this research can be ... | ||
| Catering Cost | 2/4/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I'm doing to catering jobs and I'm concerned about what I should charge. The first is for 75 people ... A: Pricing can vary depending on many factors. Are you preparing the food, placing in alum. containers ... | ||
| 30th birthday | 1/24/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I paid a catering company that coincidentally went out of business 2weeks ago and the owner will not ... A: Good grief! How horrible that someone would do this to you. I hope that you do seek any avenues to ... | ||
| Pricing | 1/5/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: How do I go about pricing for soups? I am also approaching restaurants to sell my desserts. How do ... A: Re licensing - you can check with your locals to find out for sure - I am no expert in that area - ... | ||
| Pricing | 1/5/2010 | Kay Cole |
| Q: How do I go about pricing for soups? I am also approaching restaurants to sell my desserts. How do ... A: just to sell retail a Qt. of soup - Or, wholesale to restaurants? ~ Regarding selling desserts to ... | ||
| Chicken at a wedding reception | 12/21/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: my fiance and I are getting married. We have decided on a buffet style reception, and going with ... A: Additional note 12-22 - David: It sounds like you have already eliminated the possible problems! ... | ||
| gathering | 12/17/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I plan on having some people in & out for the holidays. It will amount to about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. of ... A: ...I am thinking that you may be high on the amount of veggie pieces per person. Do you have some ... | ||
| gathering | 12/16/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: I plan on having some people in & out for the holidays. It will amount to about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. of ... A: Jeanine, If I were you, I would go with mini dollar type rolls for your little sandwiches - it would ... | ||
| Wedding catering | 12/7/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: and thank you for your time, I am hiring a catering company for my wedding, and our wedding will be ... A: Victoria, you could try asking a caterer...but, remember - quite honestly, they are in business to ... | ||
| Wedding catering | 12/7/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: and thank you for your time, I am hiring a catering company for my wedding, and our wedding will be ... A: Victoria, I doubt that there would be legal issues; however, I do not know your states's health ... | ||
| Daughter's Wedding | 12/1/2009 | Kay Cole |
| Q: My daughter is having a marquee wedding next June and I am doing the catering for 130 guests. Cold ... A: Dee. First of all, here is a web site that might be interesting reading for you on buffet amounts: ... | ||
Kay Cole
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I welcome questions regarding quantity of food and beverages for parties and major events. Also, I enjoy creating theme and scheme ideas for both corporate events, as well as social ~ not only food ideas, but decorations and service suggestions. I do not offer recommendation of caterers, however.
Experience
I have 13 years experience in hotel catering; and, an additional 15 years experience as owner/operator of catering/event design firm. I am currently a meeting planner.
Education/Credentials
All of my training has been "on the job." I have been fortunate to have been trained by the best in the industry.
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