Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 7/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: My church group is holding a fundraiser where we will be cooking brisket. We plan to do chopped brisket and are selling 250 tickets. How many pounds of brisket do you think we will need?

ANSWER: Does 250 tickets mean you will have 250 people or 250 families or 250 couples?  I can't tell you the answer until I know how many PEOPLE will be there--not how many tickets are being sold.

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

QUESTION: The tickets will be for 250 people. Sorry about that.

ANSWER: That's OK!
You will need about 7-8oz of cooked brisket per person which is about 12 oz uncooked as it really shrinks! Figure right at 188 pounds uncooked or 125 pounds of cooked.


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

QUESTION: We've decided to give the 250 people the option of brisket or sausage so how much of each should we cook.

Answer
Oh dear--now you have a problem because you don't know which they will eat. This is why on wedding invites they have a little card that says something like "chicken or beef" and you check one and return it to the bride.
You will still need 7-8 oz of cooked meat entree per person, but now you don't know which will be more popular.  I'd say make half and half and hope for the best unless there is a way to make them choose before the food buying and prep begin--can you ask them when you sell the tickets "Beef or sausage?" and keep a list?  If not you make half and half and hope for the best!  You could also serve a mixed grill of half brisket half sausage.
Good Luck!